| Georgian Air Force საქართველოს საჰაერო ძალები sak’art’velos sahaero dzalebi | |
|---|---|
 Georgian Air Force flag | |
| Active | 1991– 2010 |
| Country |
 Georgia |
| Size | 2.971 personnel, 144 aircraft |
| Garrison/HQ | Alekseevkadisambiguation needed, Tbilisi |
| Engagements | Georgian Civil War, 2008 South Ossetia war |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |
 |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-25, Mi-24 |
| Trainer | Yak-52, L-39 |
| Transport | Mi-8, UH-1 |
The Georgian Air Force (Georgian language: საქართველოს საჰაერო ძალები , sak’art’velos sahaero dzalebi) was an air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces from its establishment in 1992 until 2010, when it was incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces. As of September 2009, the Georgian Air Force had 2,971 military and civilian personnel.[1]
History[]
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.[1]
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.[1] Relative to the Georgian ground forces, the air force was comparatively underfunded following Georgian independence. During the August 2008 war with Russia, Georgian aircraft were initially active, but were soon grounded by Russian air superiority. The Russians claimed at least 3 Su-25 and 2 L-29 destroyed.[2] The Georgian Ministry of Defense reported 5 air force personnel were killed in action.[3]
In 2010, the Georgian Air Force was reorganized. It was abolished as a separate branch and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces as Air and Air Defense brigades.[4]
Mission and objectives[]
The objectives of the Georgian Air Force are defined as follows:
- Warfare and mobilization readiness of the Air Forces sub-units
- Protection of sovereignty and control of the air space of Georgia
- The fight against air terrorism
- Participate in the fight against terrorism on land and at sea
- Air defence of state entities and troops
- Destruction of land and naval targets at the enemy's front line and tactical inmost. Providing air support for friendly land and naval forces
- Participation in collective and multinational exercises.
Functions of the Georgian Air Forces:
- Troop and cargo transportation
- Search and rescue of downed aircraft and pilots
- MEDEVAC
- Informing the leadership of the Air Force and the Army about enemy air assaults
- Destruction of enemy manpower, land and naval targets
- Air forces landing
- Aerial reconnaissance
The two major airfields are located near Tbilisi at Alekseevkadisambiguation needed and Marneuli.
Aircraft inventory[]
| Aircraft | Origin | Role | Number | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Inventory | ||||||
| Su-25KM/U/UB Scorpion/'Frogfoot' | USSR | Ground Attack Aircraft/Night Attack | 12 | 8 Night Attack “Scorpion” Upgrade, Under License of TAM.[5] | ||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czechoslovakia | Military Trainer Aircraft | 9 | |||
| Elbit Hermes 450 | Israel | Unmanned aerial vehicle | 7 | |||
| Elbit Skylark | Israel | Unmanned aerial vehicle | N/A | |||
| Mil Mi-35 'Hind' | Ukraine | Attack Helicopter | 1 | |||
| Mi-24V 'Hind-E'/Mi-24P 'Hind-F' | Ukraine | Attack Helicopter | 21/19 | |||
| Mi-8T 'Hip-C' | USSR | Utility Helicopter | 16 | Former Soviet Union | ||
| Mi-14PS 'Haze-C' | USSR | Naval Helicopter | 18 | Former Soviet Union | ||
| Bell UH-1H Iroquois | USA | Utility Helicopter | 40 | |||
| Bell 212 | USA | Utility Helicopter | 6 | |||
| Mil Mi-2 | USSR | Utility Helicopter | 2 | Former Soviet Union | ||
| Weapon | Type |
|---|---|
| Air Defense Weapons | |
| SA-18 Grouse | MANPADS |
| SA-7 Grail | MANPADS |
| Grom (missile) | MANPADS |
| 9K33 | Amphibious SAM |
| SPYDER | Medium Range SAM |
| Buk M1 | Medium Range SAM |
| S-125 | Strategic SAM |
| 57 mm AZP S-60 | Auto Cannon |
| ZSU-23-4 | Self-propelled AA gun |
| Bombs and Missiles[6] | |
| Mark 82 bomb | Low-Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bomb |
| Mark 83 bomb | Low-Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bomb |
| GBU-16 | Laser-Guided bomb |
| Python 5 | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| R-73 AA-11 Archer | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Kh-29 | air-to-surface TV guided Missile |
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Georgia. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Defence Today 27: 1. September 2009. Accessed February 10, 2012.
- ↑ Georgian Air Force. The Global Security. Accessed February 10, 2012.
- ↑ List of Casualties among the Georgian Military Servicemen. Ministry of Defense of Georgia. Accessed on February 10, 2012.
- ↑ Structure of Land Forces. Ministry of Defense of Georgia. Accessed on February 10, 2012.
- ↑ "Bulgaria sells ten Su-25s to Georgia"
- ↑ "Fighter SU-25KM (Scorpion)". Geo-army.ge. 2010-06-28. http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=9&lang=en. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
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The original article can be found at Georgian Air Force and the edit history here.