| Unit Name: | Aviation and Air Defense Command |
| Start Date: | (as Georgian Air Force) |
| Country: |  Georgia |
| Type: | Air force |
| Role: | Aerial warfare |
| Command Structure: | Georgian Defence Forces |
| Garrison: | Alekseevka, Tbilisi |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Anniversaries: | 19 September |
| Battles: | |
| Website: | MOD Website in georgian |
| Commander1: | President Salome Zourabichvili |
| Commander1 Label: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Commander2: | Irakli Kobakhidze |
| Commander2 Label: | Prime Minister |
| Commander3: | Irakli Chikovani |
| Commander3 Label: | Minister of Defense |
| Commander4: | Maj. Gen. Giorgi Matiashvili[1] |
| Commander4 Label: | Chief of Defense Forces |
| Commander5: | Colonel Sergo Ninua [2] |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Flag |
The Aviation and Air Defence Command of the Defence Forces (Georgian: თავდაცვის ძალების ავიაციისა და საჰაერო თავდაცვის სარდლობა|tr),[2] (formerly Georgian Air Force (sak’art’velos sahaero dzalebi)) is the air force of the Defense Forces of Georgia. It was established as part of the Georgian Armed Forces in 1992 and merged into Army Air Section in 2010. As part of reforms in the Georgian military, the Air Force was reestablished as a separate command of the Defense Forces in 2016.[3]
The Georgian Air Force and Air Defense Division was established on January 1, 1992. On August 18, 1998, the two divisions were unified in a joint command structure and renamed the Georgian Air Force.[4]
The first combat flight was conducted by Izani Tsertsvadze and Valeri Nakopia on September 19, 1992, during the separatist war in Abkhazia. This date was later designated as the Georgian Air Force Day.[4]
In 2010, the Georgian Air Force was abolished as a separate branch and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces as Air and Air Defense sections.[5]
The Georgian Air Force was formally re-established in 2016 but all fixed wing aircraft were left abandoned till 2020. Under the leadership of Georgian Minister of Defense Irakli Garibashvili the Air Force was re-prioritized and aircraft owned by the Georgian Air Force are being modernized and re-serviced after they were left abandoned for 4 years. The Minister of Defense also announced plans to acquire strike drones to increase Georgia's combat readiness.[6]
See main article: Georgian military ranks.
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
The objectives of the Georgian Air Force are defined as follows:
Functions of the Georgian Air Forces:
The two major airfields are located near Tbilisi at Vaziani and Marneuli.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | ||||||
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Soviet Union | CAS | Su-25KM Su-25UB | 2 2 | 2 in storage. 1 lost in 2024.[7] | |
| Transport | ||||||
| Antonov An-2 | Soviet Union | transport | 6 | |||
| Antonov An-28 | Soviet Union | transport | 2[8] | |||
| Yakovlev Yak-40 | Soviet Union | transport | 2 | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | utility | Mi-8/171 | 15 | ||
| Mil Mi-14 | Soviet Union | ASW / SAR | 2 | |||
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | attack | 9 | |||
| Bell UH-1 | United States | utility | UH-1H | 12 | ||
| Trainer aircraft | ||||||
| Aero L-39 | Czechoslovakia | trainer / light attack | 8 | |||
| Elbit Hermes 450 | Israel | reconnaissance | 1+ | |||
| Name | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface-to-air missiles | ||||||
| 9K37 Buk | Soviet Union | Medium range | Buk-M1 | 1−2 batteries | Former Ukrainian vehicles.[9] | |
| 9K33 Osa | Soviet Union | Short range | Osa-AKM | 6−10 batteries | Former Ukrainian vehicles, modernized before delivery. | |