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{{short description|Aerial branch of Myanmar's armed forces}} | |||
] | |||
{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} | |||
{{Infobox military unit | |||
| unit_name = Myanmar Air Force | |||
| native_name = {{Native name|my|တပ်မတော် (လေ)}} | |||
| image = ] | |||
| image_size = | |||
| caption = Emblem of the Myanmar Air Force | |||
| start_date = {{start date and age|1947|01|15|df=yes}} | |||
| country = {{flag|Myanmar}} | |||
| allegiance = | |||
| branch = | |||
| type = ] | |||
| role = ] | |||
| size = {{ubl|15,000 personnel<ref name=IISS1>{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=February 13, 2024 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1032780047 |edition=1st |pages=297–298|location=London}}</ref>|356 aircraft<ref name=IISS1 />}} | |||
| command_structure = {{armed forces|Myanmar}} | |||
| garrison = | |||
| garrison_label = | |||
| nickname = Tatmadaw (Lay) | |||
| patron = | |||
| motto = | |||
| colours = | |||
| colours_label = | |||
| march = | |||
| mascot = | |||
| anniversaries = 15 December 1947 | |||
| equipment = | |||
| equipment_label = | |||
| battles = {{Tree list}} | |||
*] | |||
**] | |||
**] | |||
**] | |||
**] | |||
**] | |||
{{Tree list/end}} | |||
| decorations = | |||
| battle_honours = | |||
| battle_honours_label = | |||
| flying_hours = | |||
| website = <!-- Commanders --> | |||
| commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Commander in Chief flag of Myanmar.svg|size=25px}} ] ] | |||
| commander1_label = ] | |||
| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Ministry of Defense (Myanmar).svg|size=25px}} ] ] | |||
| commander2_label = ] | |||
| commander3 = ] ] ] | |||
| commander3_label = Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force | |||
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia --> | |||
| identification_symbol = ] | |||
| identification_symbol_label = ] | |||
| identification_symbol_2 = ] | |||
| identification_symbol_2_label = ] | |||
| identification_symbol_3 = | |||
| identification_symbol_3_label = | |||
| identification_symbol_4 = ] | |||
| identification_symbol_4_label = ] | |||
| aircraft_attack = ] | |||
| aircraft_helicopter = ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| aircraft_helicopter_attack = ] | |||
| aircraft_interceptor = ] | |||
| aircraft_patrol = ] | |||
| aircraft_trainer = ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| aircraft_transport = ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| aircraft_fighter = ], ], ] | |||
}} | |||
The '''Myanmar Air Force''' ({{langx|my|တပ်မတော် (လေ)|Tatmadaw (Lay)|Armed Forces (Air Force)}}, {{IPA|my|taʔmədɔ̀ (le)|pron}}) is the aerial branch of the ], the armed forces of ]. The primary mission of the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) since its inception has been to provide transport, logistical, and ] to the ] in ] operations.<ref name="Myoe">{{Cite book |last=Aung Myoe |first=Maung |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1355/9789812308498/html |title=Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948 |date=2009-01-22 |publisher=ISEAS Publishing |isbn=978-981-230-849-8 |doi=10.1355/9789812308498}}</ref> It is mainly used in ], and, on a smaller scale, in relief missions,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/ROAP/Civil%20Military%20Coordination/images/RCG_05042017_Final_electronic.pdf | pages=79–82 | title=Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination in Emergencies: Towards a Predictable Model | publisher=Regional Consultative Group on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific | year=2017 | access-date=6 June 2019 | archive-date=6 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006153327/https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/ROAP/Civil%20Military%20Coordination/images/RCG_05042017_Final_electronic.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> especially after the deadly ] of May 2008. | |||
Personnel: '''15,000 all ranks''' | |||
==History== | |||
The Myanmar Air Force (Tatmdaw Lei) was formed on 24 December 1947. In 1948, the order of battle for Tatmadaw Lei include 40 Oxfords, 16 Tiger Moths, 4 Austers and 3 Spitfires with a few hundred personnel. The Mingaladon Air Base headquarters was formed on the 16 June 1950. No.1 Squadron, Equipment Holding Unit and Air headquarters - Burma Air Force, and the Flying Training School, were placed under the base. A few months later, on 18 December 1950, No. 2 Squadron was formed with nine Dakotas as transport squadron. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit with Vampire Mark T55s was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base and by the end of 1953, Tatmadaw Lei has 3 Airbase headquarters (Mingaladon, Hmawbi and Meiktila). | |||
===Post-independence era (1948–1990)=== | |||
The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) was formed as the ] on 16 January 1947, while ] (as ] was known until 1989) was still under ]. By 1948, the fleet of the new air force included 40 ]s, 16 ]s, four ]s, and three ]s transferred from the ], and had a few hundred personnel.<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
The Mingaladon Air Base HQ, the main air base in the country, was formed on 16 June 1950. No.1 Squadron, Equipment Holding Unit and Air High Command - Burma Air Force, and the Flying Training School, were placed under the jurisdiction of the base. A few months later, on 18 December 1950, No. 2 Squadron was formed with nine ] as a transport squadron. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base with ], and by the end of 1953 the Burmese Air Force had three main airbases, at ], ], and ], in central Burma.<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
In late 1955, Tatmadaw Lei formed a Maintenance Air Base in Mingaladon, No. 501 Suadrop Group (Hmawbi Airbase) and No. 502 Squadron Group (Mingaladon Air Base). Five years later, No. 503 Squadron Group was formed with No. 51 Squadron (Otters and Cessnas) and No. 53 Squadron *Bell 47Gs/Huskys and Alouettes) in Meiktila. In 1962, Tatmadaw Lei opened a radar station in Mingaladon and a mobile radar station in Lwemwe (near Tachileik). In December 1964, Tatmadaw Lei had 323 officers and 5677 other ranks and it acquired T-33 Jet trainers and a new radar station, which could operate within a 120-mile radius was opened in Namsang. In 1966, new radar stations were opened and existing stations were upgraded. The Namsang Radar staton was upgraded to cover about a 200-mile radius and renamed to No.71 Squadron. In the same year Tatmadaw Lei formed No. 1 Airborne Battalion with 26 officers and 750 other ranks.<ref>DSHMRI Documents</ref> | |||
In 1953, the Burmese Air Force bought 30 ]s from ] and 20 ]s from the ], and in 1954 it bought 40 ] T-53s and 8 ] Mark T55s from the ]. In late 1955, the Burmese Air Force formed a Maintenance Air Base in Mingaladon, No. 501 Squadron Group (Hmawbi Airbase) and No. 502 Squadron Group (Mingaladon Air Base). In 1956, the Burmese Air Force bought 10 ] aircraft from the ]. The same year, 6 ] formed its first helicopter unit. The following year, the Burmese Air Force procured 21 ] aircraft from the ] and 9 ]s from ]. In 1958, it procured 7 additional Kawasaki Bell 47Gs and 12 ]s from the ].<ref name="Myoe"/> Five years later, No. 503 Squadron Group was formed with No. 51 Squadron (]s and ]s) and No. 53 Squadron (Bell 47Gs, ]s, and ]) in ].<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
====Modernization Progamme==== | |||
In the early 1990s, Tatmadaw lei upgraded its facilities and introduced two new Air Base headquarterss and existing Air Base headquarterss were renamed. It also significantly upgraded its radar and electronic warfare facilities. | |||
Consequently, Israel was contracted to refurbish and upgrade all the surviving 36 F-7s and FT-7s: these were to get the Elta EL/M-2032 air-to-air radar, Rafael Python Mk.III and even Litening laser-designator pods. The same equipment was then installed on the two-seater FT-7 fighter trainers as well. In a related deal, Israel delivered to Myanmar at least one consignment of laser-guided bombs, but no deliveries of any other (except mentioned) weapons are known. Since the Elbit contract was won in 1997, the air force has acquired at least one more squadron of F-7 and FT-7 aircraft from China, but these were not upgraded. | |||
On 15 February 1961, an unmarked ] ] came into Burmese air space carrying supplies for Chinese ] forces fighting in northern Burma, and was intercepted by three ] fighters of the Burmese Air Force. The intruding bomber and one Burmese fighter crashed in ] during the incident.<ref name=ColdList> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514025909/http://myplace.frontier.com/~anneled/ColdWar.html |date=14 May 2013 }} ''myplace.frontier.com.'' Retrieved: 28 May 2013.</ref> On 17 February, a team from Burmese 9th Front Brigade left for the crash site. A 12.7mm bullet was fired into the fuselage of UB-466, hitting pilot officer Peter as well,{{clarification needed|date=October 2024}} breaking five of his ribs. Peter was recorded in the history of Burmese Air Force as an airman who gave his life for the country and the people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thitlwin.com/2017/10/19/post_140048.html|date=19 October 2017|title=Three Burmese airmen fight in the first air battle in Southeast Asia}}</ref> | |||
====Administrative and Support Units==== | |||
In 1962, a new radar station in Mingaladon and a mobile radar station in Lwemwe (near Tachileik) were put into operation. By December 1964, the Burmese Air Force had 323 officers and 5,677 other ranks and it acquired ] jet trainers and a new radar station, which could operate within a 120-mile (193-km) radius, was opened in ]. In 1966, the radar arm of the air force underwent a complete overhaul and upgrade, with new radar stations being operated. The Namsang Radar station was upgraded to cover about a 200-mile (322-km) radius and renamed No.71 Squadron. In the same year, the Burmese Air Force formed the No. 1 ] with 26 officers and 750 other ranks.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} | |||
* Air Force headquarters, Ministry of Defence | |||
* Maintenance Air Base (Mingaladon) | |||
* Ground Training Base (Meiktila) | |||
* Fly Training Base (Shante) | |||
On 1 January 1967, the Burmese Air Force reorganized its command structure. No. 501 Squadron Group in ] became No. 501 Air Base HQ; No. 502 Squadron Group in Mingalardon became No. 502 Air Base HQ; and No. 503 Squadron Group in ] became No. 503 Air Base HQ in Meiktila. It also maintained airfield detachments in ] and ] to cope with the insurgency of ] in the northeast border region of the country.<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
====Air Bases==== | |||
* Hmawbi Air Base headquarters (former 501 Air Base) | |||
* Mingaladon Air Base headquarters (former 502 Air Base) | |||
* Myitkyinar Air Base headquarters (former 503 Air Base) | |||
* Namsang Air Base headquarters | |||
* Taungoo Air Base headquarters | |||
*meikhtilar(shante)Air base for trainning and operation.another airbase at meikthilar is helicopter trainning ground. | |||
* Homemalin new Air base (at sagaing division)can be seen at google earth website via internet. | |||
note:Hmawbi airbase was decommissioned . | |||
In 1975, the Burmese Air Force took delivery of 18 ]A and seven ]B helicopters from the United States under the International Narcotic Control Program (INCP). In March 1975, it bought 20 ] trainers from ].<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
====Equipment==== | |||
====Fighters/Interceptors==== | |||
*52 × ]s equipped with ] ] ]). | |||
*12 × ] (Russia) (** Additional Mig-29s ordered in 2006**) | |||
Between 1976 and 1987, the Burmese Air Force bought seven ] Turbo porter STOL aircraft; and 16 ] and 10 ] turboprop trainers from ]. These aircraft were deployed in ] for close air support in counter-insurgency operations.<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
====Fighters/Ground Attack==== | |||
*16 × ] (PRC) | |||
*48 × ] (PRC) | |||
In 1989, the Burmese Air Force was renamed the Myanmar Air Force in accordance with the country changing its name from ] to ]. | |||
====Counterinsurgency==== | |||
*12 × ] (Yugoslavia) | |||
*7 × Pilatus PC-9(Switzerland) | |||
*14 × Pilatus PC-7(Switzerland) | |||
===Modernisation programme (1990–present)=== | |||
====Transport==== | |||
In the early 1990s, the Burmese Air Force upgraded its facilities and introduced two new air base headquarters and existing air base headquarters were renamed. It also significantly upgraded its radar and electronic warfare facilities. The Burmese Air Force bought more than 100 aircraft from the ], which included ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
*6 × SAC Y-8D2/Antonov An-12 (PRC) | |||
*2 × Fokker F-27 (Netherlands) | |||
*3 × Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B (US) | |||
*3 × Beechcraft D-18S (US) | |||
By 2000, the Myanmar Air Force had received 62 ] from ].<ref name="Myoe"/> Assistance from ] was sought to refurbish and upgrade all operational ]: these were to get the ] ] air-to-air radar,<ref> ''Airforce-Technology.com.'' Retrieved: 1 December 2010.</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} ] Mk. III and even ] laser-designator pods. The same equipment was then installed on the two-seater FT-7 fighter trainers as well. In a related deal, Israel transferred at least one consignment of laser-guided bombs, but no deliveries of any other weapons are known.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Since the ] contract was won in 1997, the air force had acquired at least one more squadron of F-7 and FT-7 aircraft from China, but these were not upgraded. | |||
====Training & Maritime Survillence==== | |||
*2 × Mig-29UB (Russia) - more on order | |||
*10 × GAIC FT-7 (PRC) | |||
*4 × Shanyang FT-6 (PRC) | |||
*24 × ] | |||
*5 × Pilatus PC-7 (Switzerland) | |||
*2 × ] (Transferred by India in August 2006) | |||
Between 1992 and 2000, the Myanmar Air Force took delivery of 36 ]. In addition, the Myanmar Air Force also bought 20 ] armed jet trainers from ] in 1991, but only approximately 6 aircraft were delivered due to the breakup of Yugoslavia. | |||
====Liaison Aircrafts==== | |||
] and Indian Prime Minister ], pass in front of the MAF Honour Guards during an arrival ceremony at the ] in 2017.]] | |||
*4 × Cessna 180 (US) | |||
The Myanmar Air Force procured a range of helicopters from ] and ] between 1991 and 1997; it bought 20 PZL-Swidnik ] and 13 ] helicopters from Poland and 13 ] from ]. These helicopters were put into counter-insurgency operations against ethnic rebels in the ] delta. Four ], four ], and two ] helicopters were grouped as an air detachment stationed in ] for "Operation Monediang" in October 1991. During this operation, ] were fitted with a wide range of weapons to provide ground attack and air cover for heliborne ] operations. Four ]s of the air detachment made a total of 80 sorties over 17 targets with nearly 82 flying hours. Four ] helicopters, unarmed and used for troop transport carrying 20 airborne commandos, each flew 443 missions with 197 flying hours. ] helicopters carried out ], and they flew 263 missions with over 114 flying hours.<ref name="Myoe" /> | |||
*1 × Cessna 550 (US) | |||
*5 × Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter | |||
In 2001, the Myanmar Air Force bought 12 ] (10 MiG-29Bs and two MiG-29UB two seats trainers)<ref name="Myoe" /> from ]. This was followed by an additional order of 20 MiG-29 (10 MiG-29B, 6 MiG-29SE and 4 MiG-29UB) as part of a $570 million defence package in December 2009. 10 MiG-29B were upgraded to SM (mod) standard in 2017.<ref name="Myanmar MiG-29 Upgrade Revealed">{{cite web|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-03-28/myanmar-mig-29-upgrade-revealed-will-malaysia-follow |title=Myanmar MiG-29 Upgrade Revealed |publisher= ainonline.com |access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref> The air force also ordered 10 ] gunship helicopters as part of a $71 million defence package signed in December 2009.<ref name="mizzima">{{cite news|date=23 December 2009|url=http://archive-1.mizzima.com/news/world/3200-russia-burma-sign-arms-deal.html|title=Russia, Burma sign arms deal|access-date=2018-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171313/http://archive-1.mizzima.com/news/world/3200-russia-burma-sign-arms-deal.html|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
====Helicopters==== | |||
Despite these modernisation measures, the capability of the Myanmar Air Force remained questionable, due to its absence during the Battle of Border Post 9631 with ] and the rescue missions related to ] in May 2008. | |||
*11 × ] (Russia) | |||
*22 × ] (US) | |||
*20 × ] (Poland) | |||
*20 × ] (Poland) | |||
*?? × ] (India - transferred in late 2006) | |||
*6 × Bell 206 Jet Ranger (US) | |||
*6 × SA-316B Alouette III (France) | |||
====Serials and Markings ==== | |||
The Burmese national insignia (white triangle with yellow field in the center and borders in blue) is usually applied on six positions. The serialling system of TL’s aircraft is suggested to serve as both – unit and individual aircraft identity, this could not be confirmed so far, however. Most of the older airplanes carried the serials with the prefix “UB” and the numbers in Burmese. Sometimes the serials were outlined in white. Combat aircraft generally carry serials in black. | |||
A contract had been signed in December 2015 with ] for the purchase of ] multirole fighter, which was jointly developed by ] and ], to Myanmar Air Force. However, in March 2018 it was reported that the deal for the purchase of ] has been suspended by Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.morning.pk/2018/03/pakistan-suspends-jf-17-deal-myanmar/ |title=Pakistan suspends JF- 17 deal with Myanmar - the Morning Mail |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826203117/http://www.morning.pk/2018/03/pakistan-suspends-jf-17-deal-myanmar/ |archive-date=26 August 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> However, four JF-17 Block-IIs were seen at Air Force Day celebrated in December 2018. Under a bilateral contract, the MAF ordered six ]SM fighters from ] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/24658/Russia_Begins_Assembly_Of_Su_30SMs_Meant_For_Myanmar#.XZeP9i3L1R0|title=Russia Begins Assembly Of Su-30SMs Meant For Myanmar|website=www.defenseworld.net|access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref> | |||
- SA.316B Alouette III: Dark Green overall, large black serial on the boom: UB6101 (unit unknown). | |||
Since the ] in February 2021, Myanmar Air Force aircraft have been used in airstrikes on villages,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/over-70-civilians-trapped-by-myanmar-junta-airstrikes-on-sagaing-village.html|title=Over 70 Civilians Trapped by Myanmar Junta Airstrikes on Sagaing Village|date=12 August 2022|website=The Irrawaddy}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=October 2024}} killing noncombatant civilians including elders, humanitarian workers and children while forcing thousands of others to flee their homes. | |||
- UH-1H: camouflage colours unknown, serials reported to be 6201 thru 6218 (unit unknown). | |||
==Commanders in Chief and Chiefs of Air Staff since 1948== | |||
- F.27 Troopship: white overall, double black cheat line along the fuselage, black serial on the forward part of the fin: 5001 (unit unknown). | |||
Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Air Staff in chronological order: | |||
- PC-6B: Dark Earth on Light Earth over, Sky under, white serial on the rear fuselage: 50+04 (unit unknown). | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!ID | |||
!Rank | |||
!Name | |||
!Serial | |||
|- | |||
|1 | |||
|] | |||
|Saw Shi Sho | |||
|BAF1020 | |||
|- | |||
|2 | |||
|] | |||
|Tommy Clift (T. Clift) | |||
|BAF1005 | |||
|- | |||
|3 | |||
|] | |||
|] Selwyn James Khin | |||
|BAF1009 | |||
|- | |||
|4 | |||
|] | |||
|] Tommy Clift | |||
|BAF1005 | |||
|- | |||
|5 | |||
|] | |||
|Thaung Dan | |||
|BAF1042 | |||
|- | |||
|6 | |||
|] | |||
|] Saw Phyu | |||
|BAF1047 | |||
|- | |||
|7 | |||
|] | |||
|Ko Gyi | |||
|BAF1059 | |||
|- | |||
|8 | |||
|] | |||
|Tin Tun | |||
|BAF1127 | |||
|- | |||
|9 | |||
|] | |||
|Thein Win | |||
|BAF1193 | |||
|- | |||
|10 | |||
|] | |||
|Tin Ngwe | |||
|BAF1312 | |||
|- | |||
|11 | |||
|] | |||
|Kyaw Than | |||
|BAF1334 | |||
|- | |||
|12 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|BAF1587 | |||
|- | |||
|13 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|BAF1682 | |||
|- | |||
|14 | |||
|] | |||
|Khin Aung Myint | |||
|BAF1754 | |||
|- | |||
|15 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|BAF1925 | |||
|- | |||
|16 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|BAF1982 | |||
|} | |||
== Rank structure == | |||
- PC-7: Dark Grey or Dark Olive Green overall, black anti-glare panels in front of the cockpit, ruder checkered in black and yellow, serials in white, split by the national marking: 23+01 thru 23+16 (two of original Swiss civil codes are also known: HB-HQA and HB-HQB), (Flying School). | |||
{{main|Military ranks of Myanmar}} | |||
===Commissioned officer ranks=== | |||
- PC-9: like above; serials unknown (unit unknown). | |||
The rank insignia of ]s. | |||
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" | |||
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} | |||
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Myanmar}} | |||
|} | |||
===Other ranks=== | |||
- G-4 Super Galeb: Dark Olive Drab over, Sky under; white serial on the nose: 371, 376 (Fighter Training School/COIN Squadron). | |||
The rank insignia of ]s and ]. | |||
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" | |||
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}} | |||
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Myanmar}} | |||
|} | |||
==Organisations== | |||
- F-7M: Dark Grey and Dark Green over, Light Blue underneath, national markings on the top of the fin and on rear fuselage (over the trailing edge); serial in White split by the national marking: 16+22. | |||
*Air Force headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Naypyitaw)<ref name="Myoe"/> | |||
*Aircraft Production and Repair Base Headquarters (Hmawbi) | |||
*Air Force - Ground Training Base (Meiktila) | |||
*Air Force - Fly Training Base (Shante) | |||
==Air bases== | |||
- A-5M: Dark Green/Dark Earth/Sand over, Sky under; black serial on the fin: 1503 (unit unknown, but could be the 1st Wing). | |||
*] HQ | |||
*] HQ (former 501 Air Base) | |||
*] HQ (former 502 Air Base) | |||
*] HQ | |||
*] HQ (former 503 Air Base) | |||
*] HQ | |||
*] HQ | |||
*] HQ | |||
*] HQ is close to ] in neighboring Pyitharyar | |||
*] - helicopter training and operations base | |||
*] HQ | |||
] | |||
Myanmar Air Force also utilised civilian airfields as front-line air fields in case of foreign invasion. | |||
- W-3: Black or Dark Green overall, national marking on the fin, no serials visible. | |||
=== Air defence === | |||
- MiG-29: "Russian" Light Blue overall, with "Azur" Blue and Light Blue fields on upper surfaces; national markings on the fin and behind the cockpit; serial in Arabic characters applied in black on the fin, and repeated in Burmese characters of each side of the cockard: 27+09/2709. | |||
{{Main|Office of the Chief of Air Defence (Myanmar)}} | |||
The Office of the chief of Air Defence is one of the major branches of the ]. It was established as the Air Defence Command in 1997 but was not fully operational until late 1999. It was renamed the Bureau of Air Defence in the early 2000s.In early 2000s, the Tatmadaw established the Myanmar Integrated Air Defence System (MIADS) with help from ], ] and ]. It is a tri-service bureau with units from all three branches of ]. All Air Defence assets except Anti-Aircraft Artillery are integrated into MIADS.<ref name="IndraStra Global Editorial Team">{{cite web|url=https://www.indrastra.com/2015/12/ANALYSIS-Myanmar-Integrated-Air-Defense-System-0516.html?m=1|title=Myanmar Integrated Air Defense System|author=IndraStra Global Editorial Team|access-date=7 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031065753/https://www.indrastra.com/2015/12/ANALYSIS-Myanmar-Integrated-Air-Defense-System-0516.html?m=1|archive-date=31 October 2020|url-status=live|df=dmy-all|date=2020-10-30}}</ref> | |||
==Equipment== | |||
- K-8: White over, red under; wings in white with red wingtips, rudder checkered in yellow and black, black serials on the fin, repated large around the national marking on the rear fuselage: 39+07 (Flying School). | |||
=== Aircraft === | |||
] sits on the tarmac]] | |||
] lifts off from ]]] | |||
] Fantan]] | |||
]]] | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft | |||
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin | |||
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type | |||
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant | |||
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service | |||
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | ] | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|6<ref>{{cite web |title=Россия завершила поставку ВВС Мьянмы шести истребителей Су-30СМЭ |website=ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием |date=2024-12-28 |url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2024/1228/103084222/detail.shtml |language=ru |ref={{sfnref |ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием |2024}} |access-date=2024-12-31}}</ref> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| 36<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|6 used for ]<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ]/] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| 13 | |||
|3 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Россия поставила ВВС Мьянмы три вертолета Ми-17 |website=ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием |date=2025-01-09 |url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2025/0109/110584281/detail.shtml |language=ru |ref={{sfnref |ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием |2025}} |access-date=2025-01-14}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|38<ref name="World Air Forces 2024">{{cite web |last = Hoyle |first = Craig |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=98881|title = World Air Forces 2024|publisher= ] |year= 2023 |access-date= 15 March 2024}}</ref> | |||
|5 used for ]<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|24<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | ] | |||
|- | |||
| ] / ] | |||
| ] / ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|10<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|of which four are ]s<ref name="janes.com">{{Cite web|title=Myanmar Air Force inducts new aircraft|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/myanmar-air-force-inducts-new-aircraft|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Janes.com|date=17 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
| 7<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
| 5<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|2<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/world/asia/myanmar-coup-military-tatmadaw-kyaw-thaung.html|title=Worldly, Charming, and Quietly Equipping a Brutal Military|first=Hannah|last=Beech|work=The New York Times |date=24 December 2021|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|7<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|5<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|] capable aircraft (Retired ) | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | ]s | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|13<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|3<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] / ] | |||
| ] | |||
| 2<ref name="shephardmedia.com">{{Cite web|title=Myanmar Air Force bolsters fleet with the commission of new aircraft|url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/myanmar-air-force-inducts-new-aircraft|access-date=2023-01-10|website=shephardmedia.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] / liaison | |||
| | |||
|22<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|15+ | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|11<ref name=":0">The Military Balance 2024, p.298</ref> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|12<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | ] | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] trainer | |||
| | |||
|3<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|Unknown | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
|3+ | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
|20<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" /> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|61<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
| 16<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|10<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|3<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|22<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|MTX-1A | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|MTX-1B | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | ] | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|unknown <ref name="Is Myanmar Using Armed Chinese Drones For Counterinsurgency?">{{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/is-myanmar-using-armed-chinese-drones-for-counterinsurgency/|title = Is Myanmar Using Armed Chinese Drones For Counterinsurgency?|publisher= thediplomat.com |year= 2016 |doi = |access-date= 10 July 2020|url-access=registration}}</ref> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weinberger (Foreign Policy)|first=Sharon|date=10 May 2018|title=China Has Already Won the Drone Wars|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-trump-middle-east-drone-wars/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023095907/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-trump-middle-east-drone-wars/|archive-date=23 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|produced under license<ref>{{Cite web|last=United Nations Human Right Office of the High Commissioner|first=OHCHR|date=August 2019|title=Arms and Military Equipment Suppliers to the Tatmadaw|url=https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM-Myanmar/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary/Infographic2_Arms_and_Military_Equipment_Suppliers.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023041726/https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM-Myanmar/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary/Infographic2_Arms_and_Military_Equipment_Suppliers.pdf|archive-date=23 October 2020|website=]}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|Sky 02 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
|11<ref name="Is Myanmar Using Armed Chinese Drones For Counterinsurgency?"/> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|Yellow Cat A2 | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| | |||
|22<ref name="Is Myanmar Using Armed Chinese Drones For Counterinsurgency?"/> | |||
|domestic variant of the ] | |||
|} | |||
== |
=== Armament === | ||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
<div class="references-small"><references/></div> | |||
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name | |||
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin | |||
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Type | |||
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="5" | ] | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|340 missiles obtained<ref name=SIPRI>{{cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=SIPRI Trade Register|publisher=]|access-date=17 August 2020|archive-date=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513073842/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
|200 missiles obtained<ref name="sipri1">{{cite web|title=Arms Transfers Database|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|access-date=7 October 2021|archive-date=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513073842/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| Air to air ] missile | |||
|60 missiles obtained<ref name="sipri1"/> | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| Air to air ] missile | |||
|100 missiles obtained<ref name="sipri1"/> | |||
|- | |||
|] | |||
|] | |||
| Air to air ] Missile | |||
|285 missiles obtained<ref name="sipri1"/> | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | ] | |||
|- | |||
||] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|30 missiles obtained<ref name=SIPRI/> | |||
|- | |||
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | ] | |||
|- | |||
||] | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|unknown<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/how-china-russia-keep-myanmar-juntas-deadly-aerial-campaign-aloft.html | title=How China, Russia Keep Myanmar Junta's Deadly Aerial Campaign Aloft | date=12 June 2023 }}</ref> | |||
|} | |||
== |
===Radars=== | ||
The Air Force has several radar installations including the three-dimensional surveillance ], the ] ] system, the ] defensive radar, and the Galaxy ] system, which is linked with ].<ref name="IndraStra Global Editorial Team"/><ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-981-230-848-1 |title=Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948|page=107|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272092747|last=Maung|first= Aung Myoe|year=2009|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies }}</ref><ref name="archive.org">{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Myanmar (Burma)|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3111|page=3112|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=China's People|first=Military|date=4 September 2014|title=外媒:中国售缅甸机动雷达 巴基斯坦评价不错|url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0904/c1011-25600701.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225071918/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0904/c1011-25600701.html|archive-date=25 December 2020|access-date=25 December 2020|website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=19034|title=Junta Stations New Missile Battalion on Border|author=THE IRRAWADDY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015044630/https://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=19034|archive-date=15 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=SIPRI/> | |||
{{Portal|Current events/Southeast Asia}} | |||
*] | |||
==Markings== | |||
Myanmar ] (white triangle with yellow field in the centre and borders in blue) is usually applied on six positions. The serialling system of Myanmar Air Force aircraft is suggested to serve as both – unit and individual aircraft identity, this could not be confirmed so far, however. Most of the older aeroplanes carried the serials with the prefix "UB" and the numbers in Burmese. Sometimes the serials were outlined in white. Combat aircraft generally carry serials in black. | |||
==Accidents and incidents== | |||
On 11 June 2014, a ] caught fire and crashed on to farmland near ] of ] at 8:30 a.m. (local time). Two pilots safely ejected.<ref>{{cite web |title=မကွေးလေတပ်စခန်းက MIG 29 တိုက်လေယာဉ်ပျက်ကျ | |||
|url=https://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/mig19-carck-down-06112014115249.html | |||
|website=Radio Free Asia | |||
|language=my | |||
|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
<ref>{{cite web |title=ေလ့က်င့္ေရးတုိက္ေလယာဥ္ပ်က္က် | |||
|url=https://burmese.voanews.com/a/army-plane-crashs/1934469.html | |||
|website=VOA News | |||
|date=11 June 2014 | |||
|language=my | |||
|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
<ref>{{cite web |title=ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 166859 | |||
|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/166859 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
On 10 February 2016, a ] aircraft crashed after taking off from ], killing 5 military personnels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/myanmar-military-plane-crash-kills-4.html|title = Myanmar military plane crash kills 4|work=The Jakarta Post|date=2016-02-10|access-date=2022-02-18}}</ref> | |||
On 14 June 2016, a ] crashed near the ] at being refueled at the ] airbase, killing three military servicemen on board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/military-helicopter-crash-kills-3-in-myanmar/589573|title = Military helicopter crash kills 3 in Myanmar|date=2016-06-14|access-date=2022-02-18}}</ref> | |||
]: On 7 June 2017, a ] was reported missing {{convert|30|nmi|km}} west to ]. The aircraft was carrying 122 people. There were no survivors. | |||
On 3 April 2018, An F-7 fighter aircraft of Taungoo Air Base crashed into a farm near KyunKone Village in ]. The aircraft was on a training route during the crash while trying to land the ground at around 11:30 am, killing its pilot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Myanmar military training jet crashes, pilot killed | |||
|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/world/myanmar-military-training-jet-crashes-pilot-killed-1502616800.html | |||
|website=thestatesman|date=3 April 2018 | |||
|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
On 16 October 2018, two F-7Ms crashed near ], ], killing both pilots and a civilian on the ground. Both aircraft struck a broadcast tower. One plummeted into a rice paddy, while the other nose-dived near a Buddhist pagoda in the ] of central Myanmar.<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/asia/myanmar-fighter-jet-crash-student.html |title=2 Myanmar Fighter Jets Crash, Killing Pilots and an 11-Year-Old |newspaper=The New York Times |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017182808/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/asia/myanmar-fighter-jet-crash-student.html |archive-date=17 October 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all |last1=Beech |first1=Hannah |last2=Nang |first2=Saw }}</ref> | |||
On 3 May 2021, one Mi-35 helicopter was shot down near the town of ] in Kachin province by the ] in response to the MAF's air raid. There was no confirmation from the MAF nor the ] on which AA system was used by the KIA in the incident.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/04/asia/myanmar-military-helicopter-parcel-bomb-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Kachin rebels shoot down military helicopter as parcel bomb kills 5 in central Myanmar|newspaper=CNN |date=2021-05-04|access-date=2022-02-18|agency=Reuters }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Operation 1027 Delivered Three Months of Humiliation to Myanmar's Junta |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/conflicts-in-numbers/operation-1027-delivered-three-months-of-humiliation-to-myanmars-junta.html |access-date=March 5, 2024 |website=The Irrawaddy}}</ref> | |||
On 11 June 2021, a ] crashed on its landing approach to ]'s airport, killing 12 people including a senior Buddhist monk, the abbot of Zay Kone Monastery in ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/myanmar-military-plane-crash-kills-12--including-senior-monk-14992124 |title=Myanmar military plane crash kills 12, including senior monk |work=CNA|date=11 Jun 2021}}</ref> | |||
On 16 February 2022, an A-5 fighter jet crashed near Ohn Taw village in ].<ref name="A5 crash">{{Cite web|date=17 February 2022|title=Fighter jet crashes in Myanmar, killing pilot|work=Aerotime Hub|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/30259-fighter-jet-crashes-in-myanmar-killing-pilot|access-date=17 February 2022|first=Valius|last=Venckunas}}</ref> | |||
On 29 March 2022, a ] crashed and injured five people on board near ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-helicopter-crashes-in-chin-state.html|access-date=2022-03-30|date=2022-03-29|title=Myanmar Junta Helicopter Crashes in Chin State|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
On 11 November 2023, a K-8W trainer aircraft of the Myanmar Air Force crashed in ], ]. Local rebels claimed to have shot it down, while the Myanmar Air Force claimed that it was a mechanical failure, and the pilot was later captured.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incident Hongdu K-8W Karakorum 3942 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/347782 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> | |||
On 3 January 2024, a ] was shot down by the ] using FN-6 MANPAD in Waimaw Township, ], killing all seven people on board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accident Mil Mi-17 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/349577 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> | |||
On 16 January 2024, the ] successfully shot down an FTC-2000G trainer/fighter of the Myanmar Air Force in the Namhpatkar area of ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Junta Fighter Jet Shot Down By KIA in Northern Shan State |url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/junta-fighter-jet-shot-down-kia-northern-shan-state |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Burma News International |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In January 2024, a Myanmar Air Force Y-8 on a mission to evacuate troops who had sought refuge in ], ], overshot its landing in ]. There were no deaths but the plane was badly damaged.<ref name="Y8d">{{cite web| url=https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinese-shaanxi-y-8d-aircraft-crashes-in-india-was/amp/|date=2024-01-23|access-date=2024-01-27|publisher=The EurAsian Times|title=Made In China Shaanxi Y-8 Aircraft Crashes In India; Was Operated By Myanmar To Ferry Its Soldiers|first=Ashish|last=Dangwal}}</ref> | |||
On 29 January 2024, the ] shot down a Junta helicopter above ] near the Thai border. During the incident Brigadier General Aye Min Naung, the 44th LI Division commander, Colonel Soe Tun Lwin, LI Battalion 9's acting commander, pilot Colonel Toe Oo and two army captains were supposedly killed according to military sources.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/five-myanmar-junta-officers-killed-in-helicopter-crash.html |date=2024-01-29|access-date=2024-01-30|publisher=Irrawady|title=MFive Myanmar Junta Officers Killed in Helicopter Crash}}</ref> | |||
On 29 February 2024, one MiG-29SMT fighter of Myanmar Air Force crashed in southwest of Salin District, Magway Region. This aircraft crashed when it was on its way to combat mission, Myanmar military blamed the crash on a technical failure. One pilot ejected successfully and escaped the crash.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incident MiG-29SMT 2721 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/352082 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Myanmar's military blames technical fault for crash of fighter jet on training flight |url=https://apnews.com/article/mig-jet-fighter-crash-magway-6baa3a10b61205c4ff406acae47d51cd |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> | |||
On 2 August 2024, a Myanmar Air Force Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin crashed after take off near ], Yangon. The aircraft was on a training flight and the cause of the crash was blamed on an engine failure. 2 were injured and 2 was killed. The deceased was identified as Maj-Gen Soe Thin Latt and Copilot Col Myo Thaung.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incident AS365 Hmawbi|url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/two-myanmar-military-officers-killed-in-yangon-helicopter-crash/|access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Myanmar Now |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
{{Portal|Myanmar|Current events}} | |||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | |||
==References== | |||
{{commons category|Air force of Myanmar}} | |||
{{Reflist|2}} | |||
==Bibliography== | |||
*{{cite journal |last1=Aloni|first1=Shlomo|last2=Arnold|first2=Peter R.|name-list-style=amp |title=From Israel to Burma: Operation Orez, Supplying and Ferrying Spitfires, Part Two|journal=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 1999 |issue=79 |pages=2–11 |issn=0143-5450}} | |||
*{{cite journal |last1=Gurdon|first1=Philip|title=A Sudden & Dusty Arrival: Belly-landing a Spitfire During a Ferry Flight |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |page=60 |issn=0143-5450}} | |||
*Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". '']'', Vol. 182, No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012. pp. 40–64. {{ISSN|0015-3710}}. | |||
*{{cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |title=2023 World Air Forces |publisher=] |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90733 |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=3 January 2023}} | |||
*''World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 333 Sheet 05 | |||
{{Association of SouthEast Asian Nations Armed Forces}} | |||
{{Air forces}} | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 14:30, 19 January 2025
Aerial branch of Myanmar's armed forces
Myanmar Air Force | |
---|---|
တပ်မတော် (လေ) (Burmese) | |
Emblem of the Myanmar Air Force | |
Founded | 15 January 1947; 78 years ago (1947-01-15) |
Country | Myanmar |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size |
|
Part of | Tatmadaw |
Nickname(s) | Tatmadaw (Lay) |
Anniversaries | 15 December 1947 |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces | Senior General Min Aung Hlaing |
Minister of Defence | General Mya Tun Oo |
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force | General Htun Aung |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Fin flash | |
Ensign | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Nanchang Q-5 |
Fighter | Sukhoi Su-30, Mikoyan MiG-29, JF-17 Thunder |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-17, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Aérospatiale Alouette III, PZL W-3 Sokół |
Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-35P |
Interceptor | F-7llK |
Patrol | Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander |
Trainer | Yak-130, FTC 2000G, K-8W, Grob G 120TP, HAL HJT-16 Kiran, K-8 Karakorum |
Transport | Shaanxi Y-8, Harbin Y-12, Beechcraft 1900, ATR 42, ATR 72, Fokker 70 |
The Myanmar Air Force (Burmese: တပ်မတော် (လေ), romanized: Tatmadaw (Lay), lit. 'Armed Forces (Air Force)', pronounced [taʔmədɔ̀ (le)]) is the aerial branch of the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar. The primary mission of the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) since its inception has been to provide transport, logistical, and close air support to the Myanmar Army in counter-insurgency operations. It is mainly used in internal conflicts in Myanmar, and, on a smaller scale, in relief missions, especially after the deadly Cyclone Nargis of May 2008.
History
Post-independence era (1948–1990)
The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) was formed as the Burmese Air Force on 16 January 1947, while Burma (as Myanmar was known until 1989) was still under British rule. By 1948, the fleet of the new air force included 40 Airspeed Oxfords, 16 de Havilland Tiger Moths, four Austers, and three Supermarine Spitfires transferred from the Royal Air Force, and had a few hundred personnel.
The Mingaladon Air Base HQ, the main air base in the country, was formed on 16 June 1950. No.1 Squadron, Equipment Holding Unit and Air High Command - Burma Air Force, and the Flying Training School, were placed under the jurisdiction of the base. A few months later, on 18 December 1950, No. 2 Squadron was formed with nine Douglas Dakotas as a transport squadron. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base with de Havilland Vampire T55s, and by the end of 1953 the Burmese Air Force had three main airbases, at Mingaladon, Hmawbi, and Meiktila, in central Burma.
In 1953, the Burmese Air Force bought 30 Supermarine Spitfires from Israel and 20 Supermarine Seafires from the United Kingdom, and in 1954 it bought 40 Percival Provost T-53s and 8 de Havilland Vampire Mark T55s from the United Kingdom. In late 1955, the Burmese Air Force formed a Maintenance Air Base in Mingaladon, No. 501 Squadron Group (Hmawbi Airbase) and No. 502 Squadron Group (Mingaladon Air Base). In 1956, the Burmese Air Force bought 10 Cessna 180 aircraft from the United States. The same year, 6 Kawasaki Bell 47Gs formed its first helicopter unit. The following year, the Burmese Air Force procured 21 Hawker Sea Fury aircraft from the United Kingdom and 9 de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otters from Canada. In 1958, it procured 7 additional Kawasaki Bell 47Gs and 12 Vertol H-21 Shawnees from the United States. Five years later, No. 503 Squadron Group was formed with No. 51 Squadron (de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otters and Cessna 180s) and No. 53 Squadron (Bell 47Gs, Kaman HH-43 Huskies, and Aérospatiale Alouettes) in Meiktila.
On 15 February 1961, an unmarked Republic of China Air Force Consolidated PB4Y Privateer came into Burmese air space carrying supplies for Chinese Kuomintang forces fighting in northern Burma, and was intercepted by three Hawker Sea Fury fighters of the Burmese Air Force. The intruding bomber and one Burmese fighter crashed in Thailand during the incident. On 17 February, a team from Burmese 9th Front Brigade left for the crash site. A 12.7mm bullet was fired into the fuselage of UB-466, hitting pilot officer Peter as well, breaking five of his ribs. Peter was recorded in the history of Burmese Air Force as an airman who gave his life for the country and the people. In 1962, a new radar station in Mingaladon and a mobile radar station in Lwemwe (near Tachileik) were put into operation. By December 1964, the Burmese Air Force had 323 officers and 5,677 other ranks and it acquired Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet trainers and a new radar station, which could operate within a 120-mile (193-km) radius, was opened in Namsang. In 1966, the radar arm of the air force underwent a complete overhaul and upgrade, with new radar stations being operated. The Namsang Radar station was upgraded to cover about a 200-mile (322-km) radius and renamed No.71 Squadron. In the same year, the Burmese Air Force formed the No. 1 Airborne Battalion with 26 officers and 750 other ranks.
On 1 January 1967, the Burmese Air Force reorganized its command structure. No. 501 Squadron Group in Hmawbi became No. 501 Air Base HQ; No. 502 Squadron Group in Mingalardon became No. 502 Air Base HQ; and No. 503 Squadron Group in Meiktila became No. 503 Air Base HQ in Meiktila. It also maintained airfield detachments in Lashio and Kengtung to cope with the insurgency of Communist Party of Burma in the northeast border region of the country.
In 1975, the Burmese Air Force took delivery of 18 Bell 205A and seven Bell 206B helicopters from the United States under the International Narcotic Control Program (INCP). In March 1975, it bought 20 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 trainers from Italy.
Between 1976 and 1987, the Burmese Air Force bought seven Pilatus PC-6 Turbo porter STOL aircraft; and 16 Pilatus PC-7 and 10 Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers from Switzerland. These aircraft were deployed in Lashio for close air support in counter-insurgency operations.
In 1989, the Burmese Air Force was renamed the Myanmar Air Force in accordance with the country changing its name from Burma to Myanmar.
Modernisation programme (1990–present)
In the early 1990s, the Burmese Air Force upgraded its facilities and introduced two new air base headquarters and existing air base headquarters were renamed. It also significantly upgraded its radar and electronic warfare facilities. The Burmese Air Force bought more than 100 aircraft from the People's Republic of China, which included F7 IIK interceptors, FT-7 Trainers, A-5C Ground Attack Aircraft, FT-6M trainers, K-8 trainers and Y-8 transport aircraft.
By 2000, the Myanmar Air Force had received 62 F7 IIK interceptors from China. Assistance from Israel was sought to refurbish and upgrade all operational F-7s and FT-7s: these were to get the Elta EL/M-2032 air-to-air radar, Rafael Python Mk. III and even Litening laser-designator pods. The same equipment was then installed on the two-seater FT-7 fighter trainers as well. In a related deal, Israel transferred at least one consignment of laser-guided bombs, but no deliveries of any other weapons are known. Since the Elbit contract was won in 1997, the air force had acquired at least one more squadron of F-7 and FT-7 aircraft from China, but these were not upgraded.
Between 1992 and 2000, the Myanmar Air Force took delivery of 36 A-5C Ground Attack Aircraft. In addition, the Myanmar Air Force also bought 20 Soko G-4 Super Galeb armed jet trainers from Yugoslavia in 1991, but only approximately 6 aircraft were delivered due to the breakup of Yugoslavia.
The Myanmar Air Force procured a range of helicopters from Russia and Poland between 1991 and 1997; it bought 20 PZL-Swidnik Mil Mi-2 and 13 PZL W-3 Sokol helicopters from Poland and 13 Mil Mi-17 from Russia. These helicopters were put into counter-insurgency operations against ethnic rebels in the Irrawaddy River delta. Four Mil Mi-2, four PZL W-3 Sokol, and two Bell 205 helicopters were grouped as an air detachment stationed in Bogalay for "Operation Monediang" in October 1991. During this operation, Mil Mi-2 helicopters were fitted with a wide range of weapons to provide ground attack and air cover for heliborne air assault operations. Four Mil Mi-2s of the air detachment made a total of 80 sorties over 17 targets with nearly 82 flying hours. Four PZL W-3 Sokol helicopters, unarmed and used for troop transport carrying 20 airborne commandos, each flew 443 missions with 197 flying hours. Bell 205 helicopters carried out search and rescue, and they flew 263 missions with over 114 flying hours.
In 2001, the Myanmar Air Force bought 12 MiG-29 Fighter Aircraft (10 MiG-29Bs and two MiG-29UB two seats trainers) from Belarus. This was followed by an additional order of 20 MiG-29 (10 MiG-29B, 6 MiG-29SE and 4 MiG-29UB) as part of a $570 million defence package in December 2009. 10 MiG-29B were upgraded to SM (mod) standard in 2017. The air force also ordered 10 Mil Mi-35 gunship helicopters as part of a $71 million defence package signed in December 2009.
Despite these modernisation measures, the capability of the Myanmar Air Force remained questionable, due to its absence during the Battle of Border Post 9631 with Thailand and the rescue missions related to Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
A contract had been signed in December 2015 with Pakistan for the purchase of JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter, which was jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, to Myanmar Air Force. However, in March 2018 it was reported that the deal for the purchase of JF-17 Thunder has been suspended by Pakistan. However, four JF-17 Block-IIs were seen at Air Force Day celebrated in December 2018. Under a bilateral contract, the MAF ordered six Su-30SM fighters from Russia in 2018.
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar Air Force aircraft have been used in airstrikes on villages, killing noncombatant civilians including elders, humanitarian workers and children while forcing thousands of others to flee their homes.
Commanders in Chief and Chiefs of Air Staff since 1948
Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Air Staff in chronological order:
ID | Rank | Name | Serial |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Wing Commander | Saw Shi Sho | BAF1020 |
2 | Major | Tommy Clift (T. Clift) | BAF1005 |
3 | Lieutenant Colonel | Thura Selwyn James Khin | BAF1009 |
4 | Brigadier General | Thura Tommy Clift | BAF1005 |
5 | Brigadier General | Thaung Dan | BAF1042 |
6 | Major General | Thura Saw Phyu | BAF1047 |
7 | Major General | Ko Gyi | BAF1059 |
8 | Lieutenant General | Tin Tun | BAF1127 |
9 | Lieutenant General | Thein Win | BAF1193 |
10 | Lieutenant General | Tin Ngwe | BAF1312 |
11 | Lieutenant General | Kyaw Than | BAF1334 |
12 | Major General | Myint Swe | BAF1587 |
13 | General | Myat Hein | BAF1682 |
14 | General | Khin Aung Myint | BAF1754 |
15 | General | Maung Maung Kyaw | BAF1925 |
16 | General | Htun Aung | BAF1982 |
Rank structure
Main article: Military ranks of MyanmarCommissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Myanmar Air Force |
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ဗိုလ်ချုပ်မှူးကြီး bauilaʻ khayupaʻ mahūʺkarīʺ |
ဒုတိယ ဗိုလ်ချုပ်မှူးကြီး dautaiya bauilaʻ khayupaʻ mahūʺkarīʺ |
ဗိုလ်ချုပ်ကြီး bauilaʻ khayupaʻ karīʺ |
ဒုတိယ ဗိုလ်ချုပ်ကြီး dautaiya bauilaʻ khayupaʻ karīʺ |
ဗိုလ်ချုပ် bauilaʻ khayupaʻ |
ဗိုလ်မှူးချုပ် bauilaʻ mahūʺkhayupaʻ |
ဗိုလ်မှူးကြီး bauilaʻ mahūʺkrīʺ |
ဒုတိယ ဗိုလ်မှူးကြီး dautaiya bauilaʻ mahūʺ krīʺ |
ဗိုလ်မှူး bauilaʻ mahūʺ |
ဗိုလ်ကြီး bauilaʻ krīʺ |
ဗိုလ် bauilaʻ |
ဒုတိယ ဗိုလ် dautaiya bauilaʻ |
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Myanmar Air Force |
No insignia | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
အရာခံဗိုလ် ’araākhaṃ bauilaʻ |
ဒုတိယအရာခံဗိုလ် dautaiya ’araākhaṃ bauilaʻ |
အုပ်ခွဲတပ်ကြပ်ကြီး aupaʻ khavai tapaʻ karpaʻ karīʺ |
တပ်ကြပ်ကြီး tapaʻ karpaʻ karīʺ |
တပ်ကြပ် tapaʻ karpaʻ |
ဒုတိယတပ်ကြပ် dautaiya tapaʻ karpaʻ |
တပ်သား tapaʻ saāʺ |
တပ်သားသစ် tapaʻ saāʺ sacaʻ |
Organisations
- Air Force headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Naypyitaw)
- Aircraft Production and Repair Base Headquarters (Hmawbi)
- Air Force - Ground Training Base (Meiktila)
- Air Force - Fly Training Base (Shante)
Air bases
- Pathein Air Base HQ
- Hmawbi Air Base HQ (former 501 Air Base)
- Mingaladon Air Base HQ (former 502 Air Base)
- Magway Air Base HQ
- Myitkyina Air Base HQ (former 503 Air Base)
- Myeik Air Base HQ
- Namsang Air Base HQ
- Taungoo Air Base HQ
- Shante Air Base HQ is close to Meikhtila in neighboring Pyitharyar
- Meiktila Air Base - helicopter training and operations base
- Homemalin Air Base HQ
Myanmar Air Force also utilised civilian airfields as front-line air fields in case of foreign invasion.
Air defence
Main article: Office of the Chief of Air Defence (Myanmar)The Office of the chief of Air Defence is one of the major branches of the Tatmadaw. It was established as the Air Defence Command in 1997 but was not fully operational until late 1999. It was renamed the Bureau of Air Defence in the early 2000s.In early 2000s, the Tatmadaw established the Myanmar Integrated Air Defence System (MIADS) with help from Russia, Ukraine and China. It is a tri-service bureau with units from all three branches of Myanmar Armed Forces. All Air Defence assets except Anti-Aircraft Artillery are integrated into MIADS.
Equipment
Aircraft
Armament
Name | Origin | Type | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Air-to-air missile | ||||||
PL-2 | China | Air to air missile | 340 missiles obtained | |||
PL-5 | China | Air to air missile | 200 missiles obtained | |||
PL-12 | China | Air to air BVR missile | 60 missiles obtained | |||
R-27 | Russia | Air to air BVR missile | 100 missiles obtained | |||
R-73 | Russia | Air to air Short range IR Missile | 285 missiles obtained | |||
Anti-ship missile | ||||||
YJ-83 | China | 30 missiles obtained | ||||
Aerial bomb | ||||||
LY-502 | China | unknown |
Radars
The Air Force has several radar installations including the three-dimensional surveillance YLC-2 Radar, the P-37 Early-warning radar system, the JLP-40 defensive radar, and the Galaxy EWR system, which is linked with Integrated Air Defence office.
Markings
Myanmar national insignia (white triangle with yellow field in the centre and borders in blue) is usually applied on six positions. The serialling system of Myanmar Air Force aircraft is suggested to serve as both – unit and individual aircraft identity, this could not be confirmed so far, however. Most of the older aeroplanes carried the serials with the prefix "UB" and the numbers in Burmese. Sometimes the serials were outlined in white. Combat aircraft generally carry serials in black.
Accidents and incidents
On 11 June 2014, a Mig-29UB caught fire and crashed on to farmland near Myothit township of Magway at 8:30 a.m. (local time). Two pilots safely ejected.
On 10 February 2016, a Beech 1900 aircraft crashed after taking off from Naypidaw Airport, killing 5 military personnels.
On 14 June 2016, a Mi-2 helicopter crashed near the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway at being refueled at the Taungngu airbase, killing three military servicemen on board.
2017 Myanmar Air Force Shaanxi Y-8 crash: On 7 June 2017, a Shaanxi Y-8 was reported missing 30 nautical miles (56 km) west to Dawei. The aircraft was carrying 122 people. There were no survivors.
On 3 April 2018, An F-7 fighter aircraft of Taungoo Air Base crashed into a farm near KyunKone Village in Taungoo. The aircraft was on a training route during the crash while trying to land the ground at around 11:30 am, killing its pilot.
On 16 October 2018, two F-7Ms crashed near Magway, Myanmar, killing both pilots and a civilian on the ground. Both aircraft struck a broadcast tower. One plummeted into a rice paddy, while the other nose-dived near a Buddhist pagoda in the Magway region of central Myanmar.
On 3 May 2021, one Mi-35 helicopter was shot down near the town of Moemauk in Kachin province by the Kachin Independence Army in response to the MAF's air raid. There was no confirmation from the MAF nor the KIA on which AA system was used by the KIA in the incident.
On 11 June 2021, a Beechcraft 1900 crashed on its landing approach to Pyin Oo Lwin's airport, killing 12 people including a senior Buddhist monk, the abbot of Zay Kone Monastery in Pyinmana.
On 16 February 2022, an A-5 fighter jet crashed near Ohn Taw village in Sagaing Region.
On 29 March 2022, a Mi-17 helicopter crashed and injured five people on board near Hakha, Chin State.
On 11 November 2023, a K-8W trainer aircraft of the Myanmar Air Force crashed in Hpruso Township, Karenni State. Local rebels claimed to have shot it down, while the Myanmar Air Force claimed that it was a mechanical failure, and the pilot was later captured.
On 3 January 2024, a Mi-17 was shot down by the Kachin Independence Army using FN-6 MANPAD in Waimaw Township, Kachin State, killing all seven people on board.
On 16 January 2024, the Kachin Independence Army successfully shot down an FTC-2000G trainer/fighter of the Myanmar Air Force in the Namhpatkar area of northern Shan State.
In January 2024, a Myanmar Air Force Y-8 on a mission to evacuate troops who had sought refuge in Mizoram, India, overshot its landing in Lengpui Airport. There were no deaths but the plane was badly damaged.
On 29 January 2024, the Karen National Liberation Army shot down a Junta helicopter above Myawaddy Township near the Thai border. During the incident Brigadier General Aye Min Naung, the 44th LI Division commander, Colonel Soe Tun Lwin, LI Battalion 9's acting commander, pilot Colonel Toe Oo and two army captains were supposedly killed according to military sources.
On 29 February 2024, one MiG-29SMT fighter of Myanmar Air Force crashed in southwest of Salin District, Magway Region. This aircraft crashed when it was on its way to combat mission, Myanmar military blamed the crash on a technical failure. One pilot ejected successfully and escaped the crash.
On 2 August 2024, a Myanmar Air Force Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin crashed after take off near Hmawbi Airport, Yangon. The aircraft was on a training flight and the cause of the crash was blamed on an engine failure. 2 were injured and 2 was killed. The deceased was identified as Maj-Gen Soe Thin Latt and Copilot Col Myo Thaung.
See also
References
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