Turkmen Air Force
The Turkmen Air Force is the air force branch of the armed forces of Turkmenistan. It was formed from former Soviet Air Forces units within that region of the Turkestan Military District. The Turkmen Air Force inherited some 300 Soviet aircraft, and has pilots trained in Ukraine.[2]
Turkmen Air Force | |
---|---|
Türkmen howa güýçleri | |
Turkmen Air Force insigia | |
Country | |
Branch | Air force |
Role | Aerial defense |
Size | 3,000 personnel, 72 aircraft |
Headquarters | Ashgabat |
Colors | Yellow, Blue, White |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
Notable commanders | Colonel Gurbanguly Gurbangulyyev[1] |
Insignia | |
Flag | |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | MiG-29, Su-25 |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-17, Mil Mi-24 |
Transport | An-26, An-74 |
Aircraft
The IISS in 2012 said the Air Force had 3,000 personnel with 94 combat capable aircraft.[3]
The total number of aircraft is 78[4][5] It said there were two fighter/ground attack squadrons with MiG-29/MiG-29UB (total of 24 both types), Sukhoi Su-17 Fitter-Bs (65) and two Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoots (with 41 more being refurbished). It reported one transport squadron with Antonov An-26 'Curl' (1), and Mi-8s and Mi-24s (8 and 10 listed in service respectively). Training units had Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter-As (3 listed in service) and L-39 Albatros. Air defence missile units had SA-2, SA-3, and SA-5.
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
MiG-29 | Russia | multirole | 24[5] | |||
Sukhoi Su-25 | Russia | attack | 20[5] | |||
Transport | ||||||
Antonov An-26 | Russia | transport | 1[5] | |||
Antonov An-74 | Russia | heavy transport | 2[5] | |||
Helicopters | ||||||
Mil Mi-17 | Russia | utility | 15[5] | |||
Mil Mi-24 | Russia | attack | 10[5] | |||
AgustaWestland AW109 | Italy | attack / utility | 3[4] | |||
Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||||
Selex ES Falco | Italy | surveillance | 3[4] |
Organization
- 99th Aviation Base (former 67th Mixed Aviation Regiment) (Mary-2 airbase) with MiG-29 and Su-25.[6]
- 47th Separate Mixed Aviation Squadron (Аk-Tepe/Ashkabad) with Аn-26/24, Mi-24 and Mi-8.
- 107th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Ak-Tepe) with 38 MiG-23 and 20 MiG-25 (not operational).
- 31st Separate Aviation Squadron (Chardzhou/Turkmenabad) with MiG-21, Su-7, L-39, Yak-28 and Аn-12 (not operational). Former 366th Independent Helicopter Squadron.
- 55th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Balkanabat) with MiG-23М (not operational). Former 179th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 56th Storage Base (Kyzyl-Arvat) with MiG-23. Former 217th Fighter/Bomber Aviation Regiment
- 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment 'Turkmenbashi' (Bikrova/Ashkabad) with 2K11 Krug
- 2nd Radio-Technical Brigade
References
- http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3033
- Игорь Елков, Вся постсоветская рать: Какая из бывших советских республик всех сильнее, Российская газета - Неделя №3893 от 7 октября 2005 г.
- IISS 2012 p.290
- "Arms Transfers Database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- Vad777, Turkmenistan Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine