Turkmen Air Force
The Turkmenistan Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. It holds the responsibility of protecting Turkmenistan's airspace and supporting ground forces during combat operations. The Air Force was established in 1992, following Turkmenistan's independence from the Soviet Union. Its primary aircraft inventory consists of mainly Soviet-era aircraft, including MiG-29 and MiG-21 fighter jets, Su-25 ground attack aircraft, and An-26 transport planes. The Air Force also operates a small number of helicopters for utility and transport purposes. In recent years, Turkmenistan has undertaken efforts to modernize its Air Force, procuring new aircraft like the L-39 and PC-9 training aircraft. The Air Force also benefits from ongoing cooperation and training programs with other countries, including Russia. Its main airbases are located in Ashgabat, Mary, and Turkmenbashi. The Turkmenistan Air Force is structured into several units, including fighter, attack, transport, and helicopter squadrons, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining a capable and operational force.
Key facts
| Official Name | Turkmen Air Force |
| Local Name | Türkmenistanyň Harby howa güýçleri |
| Country | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan |
| World rank | #77 |
| Active aircrafts | 86 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 8 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | 55 | |
| Helicopters | 26 | |
| Transport | 5 | |
Aircrafts most used by Turkmen air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiG-29 Fulcrum | 24 | Soviet twin-engine fighter jet, notable in late Cold War clashes, widely exported and integral to various aerial engagements globally. | |
| Su-25 Frogfoot | 20 | Soviet close air support aircraft, prominent during Afghan War, designed for ground targets engagement under heavy fire conditions. | |
| Mi-8 Hip | 15 | Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally. | |
| Mi-24 Hind | 10 | Soviet attack helicopter, renowned for Cold War use, predominantly deployed for airborne assault, close combat, and anti-armour roles. | |
| M-346 Master | 6 | Italian trainer jet, renowned for its advanced-technology and operational flexibility, extensively used by Israel, Italy, Singapore and Poland. | |
| EMB 312 Tucano | 5 | Brazilian military trainer aircraft, utilized heavily in the 1980s, known for participation in the Iran–Iraq war. | |
| An-72/74 Coaler | 2 | Ukrainian transport jet, recognized for Cold War era service, notably deployed for freight, troop transport, and Antarctic operations. | |
| G.222 | 2 | Italian tactical military transporter, produced during the Cold War, notably employed by NATO and UN peacekeeping missions. | |
| An-26 Curl | 1 | Soviet twin-engined transport aircraft, widely utilized in both civilian and military roles since the 1960s. | |
| AW109 | 1 | Italian multipurpose helicopter, notable for its use in law enforcement, air ambulance and military roles since the late 1970s. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Turkmenistan Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | M-346FA | ||
| EMB-314 (A-29) | |||
| MiG-29 | |||
| Su-25 | |||
| Helicopters | Mi-8 | ||
| Mi-24 | |||
| AW109 | |||
| AW139 | |||
| Transport | An-74 | ||
| C-27J | |||
| An-26 |