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The Myanmar Air Force flag, featuring the Air Force roundel. It is one of the few roundels in the world not based on the national flag; rather it features the Golden Triangle, as a reference to Myanmar's geographical location. Founded Country Branch Role Size Partof Nickname 16 January 1947 Myanmar (Burma) Air Force Air Defence, Counter Insurgency 23,000 Myanmar Armed Forces Tatmadaw Lei Commanders Minister of Defence Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief (Air) Major General Hla Min General Min Aung Hlaing Lieutenant General Myat Hein Insignia Roundel
Aircraft flown Attack Bomber Fighter Helicopter Interceptor Reconnaissance Trainer Transport A-5M A-5M F-7M Airguard Mil Mi-35 Mikoyan MiG-29 Soko G-4 Super Galeb PC-7 Y-8D
The Myanmar Air Force (Burmese: (), pronounced[tamd l]) is the aerial branch of Myanmar' armed forces, the Tatmadaw. It is mainly used in counter-insurgency campaigns, 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 was formed on 16 January 1947, while Myanmar (also known as Burma) was still under British rule. By 1948, the new air force fleet included 40 Airspeed Oxfords, 16 de Havilland Tiger Moths, 4 Austers and 3 Supermarine Spitfires transferred from Royal Air Force with a few hundred personnel. The primary mission of Myanmar Air Force since its inception has been to provide transport, logistical, and close air support to Myanmar Army in counter-insurgency operations. in its entire history, the air force has never been in air to air battle.[1] 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 Myanmar Air Force Badge 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 Dakotas as a transport squadron. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit with De Havilland Vampire Mark T55s was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base and by the end of 1953, The Burmese Air Force had 3 main airbases, at Mingaladon, Hmawbi and Meiktila, in central Myanmar.[1] In 1953, Myanmar Air Force bought 30 Supermarine Spitfire from Israel and 20 Supermarine Seafire from United Kingdom and 40 Hunting Provost T-53 and 8 De Havilland Vampire Mark T55 from United Kingdom in 1954. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit with De Havilland Vampire Mark T55s was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base and by the end of 1953, The Myanmar Air Force had 3 main airbases, at Mingaladon, Hmawbi and Meiktila, in central Myanmar.[1] 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, Myanmar Air Force bought 10 Cessna 180 air crafts from United States. The same year, for the first time, introduced 6 Kawasaki Bell 47G to its helicopter fleet. The following year, Myanmar Air Force procured 21 Hawker Sea Fury aircraft from United Kingdom, six Beachcraft from United States and nine de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter from Canada. In 1958, it procured 7 additional Kawasaki Bell 47G and 12 Vertol H-21 Shawnee from United States.[1] 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 Alouettes) in Meiktila.[1] 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 Air Force had 323 officers and 5677 other ranks and it acquired Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star Jet trainers and a new radar station, which could operate within a 120-mile 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 radius and renamed to No.71 Squadron. In the same year Myanmar Air Force formed the No. 1 Airborne Battalion with 26 officers and 750 other ranks.[2] On 1 January 1967, the Myanmar 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. 502 Air Base HQ in Meiktila. It also maintained airfield detachments in Lashio and Kengtung to cope with the insurgency of Burmese Communicaty Party in the northeast border region of the country.[1] In 1975 took delivery of 18 Bell 205A and 7 Bell 206B from the United States under International Narcotic Control Program (INCP). In March, 1975, Myanmar Air Force bought 20 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 trainers from Italy.[1]
Myanmar Air Force Between 1976 to 1987, Myanmar Air Force bought 7 Pilatus PC-6 Turbo porter STOL aircraft (2 in 1976, 2 in 1977 and 3 in 1978), 16 Pilatus PC-7 (8 in 1979 and 9 in 1980) and 10 Pilatus PC-9 (in 1987) turboprop trainers from Switzerland. These aircraft were deployed in Lashio for close air support for counter insurgency operations.[1]
Organisations
Personnel: 23,000 all ranks (including 1 Airborne Battalion with twenty six officers and 750 other personnel of other ranks).[1] Air Force headquarters, Ministry of Defense (Naypyitaw) Aircraft Production and Repair Base Headquarters (Mingaladon) 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 (established in 2000) Myitkyina Air Base HQ (former 503 Air Base) Myike Air Base HQ Namsang Air Base HQ Taungoo Air Base HQ Meikhtila (Shante) Air Base HQ - for trainning and operation, another airbase at Meikthila is helicopter training base. Homemalin Air Base HQ Myanmar Air Force also utilized civilian airfields as front-line air fields in case of foreign invasion.
Air Defence
Bureau of Air Defense
The Air Defence Command was formed during the late 1990s but was not fully operational until late 1999. It was renamed Bureau of Air Defense in the early 2000s. In early 2000, Tatmadaw established Air Bases of Myanmar AF 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 within Tatmadaw arsenal are integrated into MIADS. AAA guns are mostly unguided and deploy to use in barrage-style firing against attacking aircraft. MIADS is directly answerable to Bureau of Air Defence under Ministry of Defence.[2] In 2010, Myanmar Air Defense Command has completed installation of optical fiber communication network throughout the country. Those network are to be used for Air defense operations between Central Command HQ from capital & several air bases, early warning radar stations & mobile anti air craft missile & artillery units. After completion of fiber optic project & radar stations, MIADS (Myanmar Integrated Air Defense System) becomes the most advance AD system in the region.
Chief of Staff of Air Defence Lt. General Soe Win Lt. General Myint Hlaing Lt. General Sein Win Years 19972004 20042010 2010 - current Notes Later became Prime Minister
Sector Operations Commands Under MIADS, the country was divided into six Air Defense Sectors, each controlled by a Sector Operations Center (SOC) and reporting directly to the National Air Defense Operations Center (ADOC) in Yangon. Each SOC transmitted data back to Intercept Operations Centers (IOC), which in turn controlled SAM batteries and fighter/interceptor squadrons at various Air Bases. Each IOC was optimized to direct either SAMs or fighter/interceptor aircraft against incoming enemy aircraft or missile. Each IOC was connected to observer and early warning area reporting posts (RP) via military owned underground fibre optic cable network. There were about 100
Myanmar Air Force radar stations located at approximately 40 sites throughout the country. New Air Defence radars such as 1L117 radars, Galaxy Early Warning Radar and P series radars are installed in all radar stations.[5] Each Sector Operation Center (SOC) is commanded by a Major General and it consists of one air defense division from Myanmar Army and one fighter-interceptor wing from Myanmar Air Force. Sometimes Air Defense Frigates from Myanmar Navy also operates under the direct command of respective SOC. Each Air Defense division is commanded by a Brigadier General and consists of three Air Defense Tactical Operations Command (TOC) and support units. One Medium Range Surface to Air Missile Tactical Operations Command (MRSAM-TOC), with three battalions equipped with Buk M-1 or Kub missile system is deployed in an Area Defense Belt role. One Short Range Air Defense Tactical Operations Command (SHORAD-TOC), with three battalions equipped with Tor M-1 missile system is deployed in a Point Defense role for critical areas such as radar stations, fighter bases and SOC headquarters. One Electronic Reconnaissance Tactical Operations Command (EIR-TOC) with 6 to 8 radar and communication companies for early warnings and interdiction detection. Each fighter-interceptor wing commanded by a Brigadier General and is composed of three Fighter squadrons of either MiG-29 and F-7M Airguard Interceptors (ten air crafts per squadron) and their ground base support units.[5]
Sector Operation Centers Northern SOC Southern SOC Western SOC Eastern SOC South Eastern SOC Central SOC Headquarters Myitkyina Myeik Sittwe Tachilek Yay Meiktila Notes
Aircraft inventory
Current aircraft
Name Country Type Quantity Fighter/Interceptor Chengdu J-7 Airguard (F-7IIK) Mikoyan MiG-29 People's Republic of China fighter interceptor 25 (As of February 2011) [6] equipped with French R550 Magic air-to-air missiles Armament
Russia
multirole fighter-interceptor
32 (10 MiG-29B (Fulcrum-A) and 2 MiG-29UB (Two seat trainers) currently in [7] operation., Ordered additional 20 MiG-29( 10MiG-29B, 6 MiG-29SE and 4 MiG-29UB ) as part of $570 Million [8] defence package in December, 2009 [6]
30mm cannon, R73 WVR AAMs, R77 and R 27 BVR AAMs, S9 and S18 rockets,500 and 250kg bombs (currently not more than 3 airframes have complete avionics including HUD) equipped with French R550 Magic air-to-air missiles
Shenyang J-6
fighter-ground attack
internal cannon armament and bombs [6] 30mm cannon, rocket pods and bombs
A-5C
fighter-ground attack
7
fighter-ground attack 12 ( delivery to complete in 2012 ) Negotiated with china for replacement of Nanchang Q-5 attack aircraft guided air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles Total of six underwing pylons for gun pods (e.g. FFV Uni 12.7mm pods), rocket pods and bombs
Xian JH-7
Yugoslavia
Switzerland
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander Hongdu K-8 Karakorum
16
unarmed
[10]
unarmed
turboprop transport
unarmed
turboprop transport
unarmed
United States twin-engined turboprop passenger/transport aircraft France twin-engined turboprop passenger/transport aircraft twin-engined jet passenger/transport aircraft
unarmed
ATR 72
Antonov An-148
Russia
Cessna 180 Skywagon Cessna 550 Citation Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter Harbin Y-12
United States light utility/liaison aircraft United States business jet/liaison aircraft Switzerland liaison aircraft
unarmed
unarmed
unarmed
China
Utility
[11]
unarmed
Helicopters Mil Mi-35/Mil Mi-24V (Hind-E) Soviet Union Attack helicopter 60. 10 ordered as part of $71 Million defence package signed in [3] December,2009. Another 50 ordered in [4] September 2010 Gunship - twin-barrel GSh-23L 23mm nose mounted cannon, 8 AT-6 Spiral missile, B-8V20 Rocket pods with 20 S-8 rocket S-8 80mm Rockets, S-24 240mm rockets machine gun/gunship machine gun/gunship
11 10 remain operational
8
Poland multipurpose utility helicopter 10 twin 23mm GSz-23 cannon and four pylons for weapons / gunship platform 23mm NS-23 gun, 7,62mm machine gun and 2x 57mm unguided rocket pods Mars-2. Optional 7,62mm machine gun anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket pods for 70mm and 68mm rockets machine gun and rocket launchers? machine gun and rocket launchers? two side-mounted machine guns
Mil Mi-2
Poland
19
India
utility helicopter
Bell 205 JetRanger Bell 206 JetRanger Arospatiale SA 316B Alouette III
United States multipurpose utility helicopter United States multipurpose utility helicopter France light utility helicopter
12
8 or 9
Myanmar Air Force Soko G-4 Super Galeb at SOKO factory in Mostar, SFR Yugoslavia.
Myanmar Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 at Yangon International Airport, Mingaladon Township, Myanmar.
Type Arospatiale SA 316B Alouette III Bell 206 JetRanger Fokker F-27 Friendship Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer
Serials & Markings dark green overall, large black serial on the boom: UB6101 (unit unknown)
camouflage colours unknown, serials reported to be 6201 through 6218 (unit unknown). white overall, double black cheat line along the fuselage, black serial on the forward part of the fin: 5001 (unit unknown).
dark earth on light earth over, sky under, white serial on the rear fuselage: 50+04 (unit unknown).
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 through 23+16 (two of original Swiss civil codes are also known: HB-HQA and HB-HQB), (Flying School). same as Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer ; serials unknown (unit unknown). dark olive drab over, sky under; white serial on the nose: 371, 376 (Fighter Training School/COIN Squadron).
Pilatus PC-9 Soko G-4 Super Galeb Chengdu J-7 Airguard (F-7IIK) A-5 PZL W-3 Sok Falcon Mikoyan MiG-29
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. dark green/dark earth/sand over, sky under; black serial on the fin: 1503 (unit unknown, but could be the 1st Wing). black or dark green overall, national marking on the fin, no serials visible.
"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. white over, red under; wings in white with red wingtips, rudder checkered in yellow and black, black serials on the fin, repeated large around the national marking on the rear fuselage: 39+07 (Flying School).
10
References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Myoe, Maung Aung: Building the Tatmadaw Defence Services Historical Museum and Research Institute http:/ / www. mizzima. com/ news/ world/ 3200-russia-burma-sign-arms-deal. html http:/ / www. irrawaddy. org/ article. php?art_id=19419 Defense Services Museum, Yangon Adam Baddeley (February 2011). "The AMR Regional Air Force Directory 2011" (http:/ / www. asianmilitaryreview. com/ upload/ 201102172337151. pdf). Asian Military Review. . Retrieved 19 July 2011. [7] Bernama News: From Thai Military Blog (http:/ / www. bloggang. com/ mainblog. php?id=skyman& month=10-10-2006& group=3& blog=1) [8] http:/ / en. rian. ru/ business/ 20091223/ 157331457. html [9] http:/ / www. asianmilitaryreview. com/ upload/ 201102172337151. pdf [10] Burma Buys 50 Fighter Jets From China (http:/ / www. irrawaddy. org/ article. php?art_id=18726) [11] Harbin Y-12#Military operators
World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 333 Sheet 05
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License
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