Unit Name: | Royal Cambodian Air Force |
Country: | Cambodia |
Allegiance: | HM The King |
Type: | Air force |
Role: | Aerial warfare |
Command Structure: | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces |
Garrison: | Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
Motto: | "Central Khmer: ការពារព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា" (Khmer) |
Mascot: | Aafra Zarnaz Auhona |
Battles: |
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Commander1: | General Soeung Samnang |
Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Fin flash |
The Royal Cambodian Air Force (Central Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស|Kâng Toăp Cheung Akas in Central Khmer pronounced as /kɑːŋtɔəp cəːŋ ʔaːkaːh/;) is the branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces which is charged with operating all military aircraft in Cambodia.
The Royal Cambodian Air Force is commanded by General Soeung Samnang, who has four deputy commanders beneath him. The Air Force itself is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence.
Air Force headquarters are located at Phnom Penh International Airport and is still sign posted Pochentong Air Base. The only operational aircraft at Pochentong Air Base are from the VIP squadron. Maintenance of aircraft and helicopters is also at Pochentong. The airworthy Z-9 and Mi-17 helicopters from the helicopter squadron are based at Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport.
Recently, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense plans to purchase five L-39NG light fighter jets from the Czech Republic. In the past, the Cambodian Air Force has already purchased Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-171 helicopters.
In the past some F-22 fighters were operational. These aircraft in 2023 could be seen on ground in Phnom Penh international airport.
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transport | ||||||
Airbus A320 | France | VIP transport | 1[1] | |||
Xian MA60 | China | transport | 2[2] | |||
Harbin Y-12 | China | transport / utility | 1 | |||
Britten-Norman BN-2 | United Kingdom | transport | 1 | |||
Helicopters | ||||||
Mil Mi-8 | Russia | transport | 9 | |||
Mil Mi-17 | Russia | transport | 6 | |||
Harbin Z-9 | China | utility | 9 | 1 Harbin Z-9 was lost in an accident on 12 July 2024 | ||
Eurocopter AS350 | France | 3 | ||||
AgustaWestland AW109 | Italy | utility | 2[3] | |||
Trainer | ||||||
Aero L-39 | Czechoslovakia | trainer / light attack | L-39C | 5[4] |
See main article: article and Royal Cambodian Air Force FC. The force maintains a professional association football team as one of its branches, which formerly played in the C-League.