Nepalese Army Air Service
The Nepal Air Force (NAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Nepalese Armed Forces. Established on December 9, 1950, it is one of the oldest air forces in South Asia. Initially, the NAF operated with just one aircraft, a World War II-era British-made "Fairy Battle" biplane. Over the years, the air force expanded its fleet and capabilities. In the early years, the NAF primarily focused on transport and reconnaissance missions, but it later incorporated fighter jets and helicopters. Currently, the NAF operates various aircraft, including helicopters like the HAL Dhruv and Mi-17, and fighter jets like the Chinese-made Shenyang J-6 and American-made Bell OH-58D Kiowa. The air force is responsible for conducting various operations, including search and rescue missions, humanitarian assistance, aerial firefighting, and providing air support to ground forces during conflicts. The NAF also actively participates in joint military exercises with other countries and has a long-standing tradition of bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries like India and China.
Key facts
| Official Name | Nepalese Army Air Service |
| Local Name | рдиреЗрдкрд╛рд▓реА рд╕реЗрдирд╛ рд╡рд╛рдпреБ рд╕реЗрдирд╛ (Nepali Sena Vayu Sena) |
| Country | ЁЯЗ│ЁЯЗ╡ Nepal |
| World rank | #129 |
| Active aircrafts | 15 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 2 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | 10 | |
| Transport | 5 | |
Aircrafts most used by Nepalese air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi-17 Hip-H | 4 | Soviet transport helicopter, prominently deployed during Afghan War, globally used for cargo, troop transport, and rescue missions. | |
| An-28 Cash | 3 | Soviet light transport aircraft, widely deployed in civil and military roles during the Cold War era. | |
| H125M / AS550 Fennec | 2 | French military variant helicopter, notable for service in Desert Storm and Afghanistan, widely employed for scouting and light attack roles. | |
| SA315 Alouette II | 2 | French light helicopter, renowned for its high-altitude service in the Himalayas during the 1960s and subsequent global deployments. | |
| AW139 | 1 | Italian multi-purpose helicopter, highly significant in SAR, EMS, offshore transportation, law enforcement roles, since its introduction in 2003. | |
| BN-2B Defender | 1 | British light-utility aircraft, notably deployed for surveillance, logistical operations, and transport duties in various global regions. | |
| CN-235 | 1 | Spanish-Indonesian transport aircraft, widespread use in the civil sector, military services, and humanitarian aid, developed during the late 20th century. | |
| Dhruv | 1 | Indian utility helicopter, notable for extensive deployment in diverse Indian military and civil operations since the early 2000s. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Nepal Army Air Wing
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | Mi-17 | ||
| H125M/AS350 | |||
| SA315 | |||
| AW139 | |||
| Dhruv ALH | |||
| Transport | M28 | ||
| BN-2 | |||
| CN235 |