Myanmar Air Force
| Myanmar Air Force / Burmese Air Force Tatmadaw Lei |
|
|---|---|
Myanmar Air Force's emblem
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| Founded | 15 December 1947 |
| Country |
 Myanmar |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Air defence, counter-insurgency |
| Size | 23,000 personnel 229 aircraft |
| Part of | Myanmar Armed Forces |
| Nickname(s) | Tatmadaw Lei |
| Commanders | |
| Minister of Defence | Lt. General Sein Win |
| Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces | Sr. General Min Aung Hlaing |
| Commander-in-Chief (Air) | General Khin Aung Myint |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Flag |  |
| Ensign (1948–1974) | .svg) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | A-5M |
| Bomber | A-5M |
| Fighter | CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, Chengdu J-7 |
| Helicopter | Mil Mi-35 |
| Interceptor | Mikoyan MiG-29 |
| Reconnaissance | Soko G-4 Super Galeb |
| Trainer | PC-7, K-8W, Grob G-120 TP |
| Transport | Y-8D, Y 8F200, ATR 42 |
The Myanmar Air Force (Burmese: တပ်မတော် (လေ), pronounced: [taʔmədɔ̀ lè]), known until 1989 as the Burmese Air Force, is the aerial branch of Myanmar's armed forces, the Tatmadaw. The primary mission of the Myanmar Air Force since its inception has been to provide transport, logistical, and close air support to the Myanmar Army in counter-insurgency operations. It is mainly used in internal conflicts in Myanmar, and, on a smaller scale, in relief missions, especially after the deadly Cyclone Nargis of May 2008.
The Myanmar Air Force was formed as the Burmese Air Force on 16 January 1947, while Burma (as Myanmar was known until 1989) was still under British rule. By 1948, the fleet of the new air force included 40 Airspeed Oxfords, 16 de Havilland Tiger Moths, four Austers, and three Supermarine Spitfires transferred from the Royal Air Force, and had a few hundred personnel.
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 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 Douglas Dakotas as a transport squadron. In 1953, the Advanced Flying Unit was formed under the Mingaladon Air Base with de Havilland Vampire T55s, and by the end of 1953 the Burmese Air Force had three main airbases, at Mingaladon, Hmawbi, and Meiktila, in central Burma.
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