Myanmar Air Force

Myanmar Air Force / Burmese Air Force Tatmadaw Lei
Founded	16 January 1947
Country	Myanmar
Branch	Air Force
Role	Air Defence, Counter Insurgency
Size	23,000 personnel 70 Training Aircraft 15 Transport Aircraft 112 Fighter and bomber 100 Helicopter
Part of	Myanmar Armed Forces
Nickname(s)	Tatmadaw Lei
Commanders
Minister of Defence	Lt. General Wai Lwin
Ceremonial chief	Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Commander-in-Chief (Air)	Maj. General Khin Aung Myint
Insignia
Roundel
Air Force Ensign
Air Force Ensign (1948-1974)
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-5M
Bomber	A-5M
Fighter	F-7M Airguard
Helicopter	Mil Mi-35
Interceptor	Mikoyan MiG-29
Reconnaissance	Soko G-4 Super Galeb
Trainer	PC-7
Transport	Y-8D

The Myanmar Air Force (Burmese language: တပ်မတော် (လေ), pronounced: [taʔmədɔ̀ lè]) is the aerial branch of Myanmar's armed forces, the Tatmadaw. It is mainly used in counter-insurgency campaigns, and, on a smaller, scale, in relief missions^{[citation needed]}, 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, four Austers and three Supermarine Spitfires transferred from the 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 the Myanmar Army in counter-insurgency operations.

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 Myanmar.

In 1953, Myanmar Air Force bought 30 Supermarine Spitfires from Israel and 20 Supermarine Seafires from the United Kingdom; and 40 Hunting Provost T-53 and 8 de Havilland Vampire Mark T55s from the United Kingdom in 1954. 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, the Myanmar Air Force bought 10 Cessna 180 aircraft from the United States. The same year, six Kawasaki Bell 47Gs formed its first helicopter fleet. The following year, Myanmar Air Force procured 21 Hawker Sea Fury aircraft from the United Kingdom and nine de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otters from Canada. In 1958, it procured seven additional Kawasaki Bell 47Gs and 12 Vertol H-21 Shawnees from the United States. 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 Aérospatiale Alouettes) in Meiktila.

On 15 February 1961, an unmarked Republic of China Air Force Consolidated PB4Y Privateer came into Burmese air space carrying supplies for Chinese Kuomintang forces fighting in northern Burma, and was intercepted by three Hawker Sea Fury fighters of Myanmar Air Force. Intruding bomber and one MAF fighter crashed into Thailand.

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.

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.

In 1975 the Myanmar Air Force took delivery of 18 Bell 205A and seven Bell 206B helicopters from the United States under the International Narcotic Control Program (INCP). In March 1975, it bought 20 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 trainers from Italy.

Between 1976 and 1987, the Myanmar Air Force bought seven Pilatus PC-6 Turbo porter STOL aircraft; and 16 Pilatus PC-7 and 10 Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers from Switzerland. These aircraft were deployed in Lashio for close air support for counter insurgency operations.

Modernization programme (1990 - present)

In the early 1990s, the Myanmar Air Force upgraded its facilities and introduced two new Air Base headquarters and existing Air Base headquarters were renamed. It also significantly upgraded its radar and electronic warfare facilities. Myanmar Air Force bought more than 100 aircraft from China, which included F7 IIK interceptors, FT-7 Trainers, A-5C Ground Attack Aircraft, FT-6M trainers, K-8 trainers and Y-8 transport aircraft. In December 1990, Myanmar Air Force took the first delivery of 10 F7 IIK interceptors and two FT-7 Trainers followed by another batch of 12 F7 IIK interceptors in May 1993. Further deliveries of F7 IIK interceptors were made in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

By 2000, Myanmar Air Force has received 62 F7 IIK interceptors from China. Israel was contracted to refurbish and upgrade all operational F-7s and FT-7s: these were to get the Elta EL/M-2032 air-to-air radar, Rafael Python Mk. III and even Litening laser-designator pods. The same equipment was then installed on the two-seater FT-7 fighter trainers as well. In a related deal, Israel delivered to Myanmar at least one consignment of laser-guided bombs, but no deliveries of any other weapons are known. Since the Elbit contract was won in 1997, the air force has acquired at least one more squadron of F-7 and FT-7 aircraft from China, but these were not upgraded.

Between 1992 and 2000, Myanmar Air Force took delivery of 36 A-5C Ground Attack Aircraft from China. In addition, Myanmar Air Force also bought 20 Soko G-4 Super Galeb armed jet trainers from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Myanmar Air Force procured a range of helicopters from Russia and Poland between 1991 and 1997. It bought 20 PZL-Swidnik Mil Mi-2 and 13 PZL W-3 Sokol helicopters from Poland and 13 Mil Mi-17 from Russia. These helicopters were put into counter insurgency operations against ethnic rebels in Irrawaddy delta. 4 Mil Mi-2, 4 PZL W-3 Sokol and 2 Bell 205 helicopters were grouped as an air detachment stationed in Bogalay for "Operation Monediang" in October 1991. During this operation, Mil Mi-2 were fitted with a wide range of weapons to provide ground attack and air cover for heliborne Air Assault operations. 4 Mil Mi-2 of the air detachment made a total of 80 sorties over 17 targets with nearly 82 flying hours. 4 PZL W-3 Sokol helicopters, unarmed and used for troop transport carrying 20 airborne commandos, each flew 443 missions with 197 flying hours. Bell 205 carried out search and rescue, and they flew 263 missions with over 114 flying hours.

In 2001, Myanmar Air Force bought 12 Mig-29 Fighter Aircraft (10 MiG-29Bs and two MiG-29UB two seats trainers) from Russia. This was followed by additional order of 20 Mig-29 (10 MiG-29B, 6 MiG-29SE and 4 MiG-29UB )as part of $570 Million defense package in December 2009. Myanmar Air Force also ordered 10 Mil Mi-35 gunship helicopters as part of $71 Million defence package signed in December,2009.

Despite these modernization measures, the capability of Myanmar Air Force remained questionable, due to its absent during Battle of Border Post 9631 with Thais and the rescue missions of the cyclone Nargis.

Commanders in Chief and Chiefs of Air Staff since 1948

Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Air Staff in chronological order

• 1. Wing Commander Saw Shi Sho
• 2. Major Tommy Clift
• 3. Lieutenant Colonel Thura Selwyn James Khin
• 4. Brigadier General Thura Tommy Clift
• 5. Brigadier General Thaung Dan
• 6. Major General Thura Saw Phyu
• 7. Major General Ko Gyi
• 8. Lieutenant General Tin Tun
• 9. Lieutenant General Thein Win
• 10. Lieutenant General Tin Ngwe
• 11.Lieutenant General Kyaw Than
• 12.Major General Myint Swe
• 13.General Myat Hein
• 14.Lieutenant General Khin Aung Myint
• 15.Lieutenant general Mg Mg Kyaw

Organisations

Personnel: 23,000 all ranks (including 1 Airborne Battalion with twenty six officers and 750 other personnel of other ranks).

• 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)
• Myeik Air Base HQ
• Namsang Air Base HQ
• Taungoo Air Base HQ - No.47 Helicopter Squardron
• Meikhtila (Shante) Air Base HQ - for training 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 (decade). In early 2000, Tatmadaw established 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.

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	Years	Notes
Lt. General Soe Win	1997–2004	Later became Prime Minister
Lt. General Myint Hlaing	2004–2010
Lt. General Sein Win	2010 - current

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 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.

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.

Sector Operation Centers	Headquarters	Notes
Northern SOC	Myitkyina
Southern SOC	Myeik
Western SOC	Sittwe
Eastern SOC	Tachilek
South Eastern SOC	Ye, Myanmardisambiguation needed
Central SOC	Meiktila

Aircraft inventory

Current aircraft

photo	Name	Country	Type	Quantity	Armament/Notes
Fighter/Interceptor Total - 51
	Chengdu F-7M Airguard	China	fighter interceptor	25	PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, R.550 Magic, AIM-9 Sidewinder 2 x 30mm Machine gun 12 x 50m Rocket
	Mikoyan MiG-29	Russia	Air-superiority fighter, multirole fighter	20 MiG-29B 6 MiG-29SE Total 26	RVV-AE, PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, R-27 (air-to-air missile), R-77 (missile) 30mm Gsh 30-1
Fighter Ground Attack Total - 40
	Shenyang J-6	China	fighter-ground attack	1	3x 30 mm NR-30 cannons Up to 250 kg (550 lb) of unguided bombs
	A-5C	China	fighter-ground attack	21	NORINCO TYPE 23-2K 23mm PL-2, PL-5, PL-7 BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs 57mm,90mm, 130mm Rocket
	Soko G-4 Super Galeb	Yugoslavia	ground attack/ advanced jet trainer	6	PL-2, PL-5, PL-7 BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs 23mm Cannon
	Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	China	Advanced Jet Trainer/Light attack	50	1× 23 mm cannon pod 57 mm unguided rocket pods PL-5, PL-7 BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs
Training Aircraft Total - 73
	Chengdu FT-7S Airguard	China	Advanced Fighter Trainer	6	PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, R.550 Magic, AIM-9 Sidewinder 2 x 30mm Machine gun 12 x 50m Rocket
	MiG-29UB	Russia	Advanced Fighter Trainer	6	PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, R-27 (air-to-air missile), R-77 (missile) 30mm Gsh 30-1
	Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop Advanced Training aircraft/ bomber	10	BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs
	Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer	Switzerland	Light Bomber Trainer	16	BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs
	Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	China	Advanced Jet Trainer/Light attack	12, 38 more on order	1× 23 mm cannon pod 57 mm unguided rocket pods PL-2, PL-5, PL-7 BL755 Cluster Bombs, Matra Durandal Anti-Runaway Bombs
	PT-6	China	Basic Trainer	25	Only this trainer unarmed
Transport Total - 23
	Shaanxi Y-8	China	turboprop transport	4
	Fokker F-27 Friendship	Netherlands	turboprop transport	2	unarmed
	Fairchild Hiller FH-227	USA	turboprop transport	2	unarmed
	ATR 72	France	twin-engined turboprop passenger/transport aircraft	2	VIP transportation for domestic flight ( ATR-72 and ATR-42 )
	Antonov An-148	Ukraine	twin-engined jet passenger/transport aircraft	2	VIP transportation for domestic flight
	Cessna 180 Skywagon	USA	light utility/liaison aircraft	4	unarmed
	Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter	Switzerland	liaison aircraft	5	unarmed
	Harbin Y-12	China	Utility	2	unarmed
Surveillance aircraft Total - 6
	Britten-Norman Islander	UK	Utility aircraft/Maritime Surveillance	5	unarmed
	Cessna 550 Citation	USA	business jet/liaison aircraft/surveillance	1	unarmed, Camera
Helicopters Total - 140
	Mil Mi-35/Mil Mi-24V	USSR	Attack helicopter	60 Another 10 ordered in 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
	Mil Mi-17	USSR	transport helicopter	26	machine gun/gunship
	Bell UH-1 Iroquois	USA	training helicopter	10	machine gun/gunship
File:Sokol05th2.jpg	PZL W-3 Sokół Falcon	Poland	multipurpose utility helicopter	10	twin 23 mm GSz-23Ł cannon and four pylons for weapons / gunship platform
	Mil Mi-2	Poland	small, lightly armored transport helicopter	19	23 mm NS-23 gun, 7,62 mm machine gun and 2x 57 mm unguided rocket pods Mars-2. Optional 7,62 mm machine gun
	HAL Dhruv Pole Star	India	utility helicopter	1	anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket pods for 70 mm and 68 mm rockets
	Bell 205 JetRanger	USA	multipurpose utility helicopter	12	machine gun and rocket launchers?
	Bell 206 JetRanger	USA	multipurpose utility helicopter	6	machine gun and rocket launchers?
	Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III	France	light utility helicopter	9	two side-mounted machine guns
UAV Total - 35
	Sky 02A	China	UAV	11	Color CCD Video Camera and Infra Red Video Camera
	Yellow Cat A2	Myanmar	UAV	24	Moving target indicator,Color CCD Video Camera and Infra Red Video Camera(same as Sky 02A)

Markings

Myanmar Air Force Fokker F27-500 in 2005.

Myanmar Air Force Shaanxi Y8 in 2009.

Myanmar Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 at Yangon International Airport, Mingaladon Township, Myanmar.

Myanmar national insignia (white triangle with yellow field in the center and borders in blue) is usually applied on six positions. The serialling system of Myanmar Air Force aircraft is suggested to serve as both – unit and individual aircraft identity, this could not be confirmed so far, however. Most of the older airplanes carried the serials with the prefix “UB” and the numbers in Burmese. Sometimes the serials were outlined in white. Combat aircraft generally carry serials in black.

Type	Serials & Markings
Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III	dark green overall, large black serial on the boom
Bell 206 JetRanger	camouflage colours unknown.
Fokker F-27 Friendship	white overall, double black cheat line along the fuselage, black serial on the forward part of the fin.
Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter	dark earth on light earth over, sky under, white serial on the rear fuselage.
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer	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.
Pilatus PC-9	same as Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer;
Soko G-4 Super Galeb	dark olive drab over, sky under; white serial on the nose.
Chengdu J-7 Airguard (F-7IIK)	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.
A-5	dark green/dark earth/sand over, sky under; black serial on the fin.
PZL W-3 Sokół Falcon	black or dark green overall, national marking on the fin, no serials visible.
Mikoyan MiG-29	"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.
Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	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.

See also

• Myanmar Army
• Myanmar Navy
• Military Intelligence of Myanmar
• Myanmar Police Force
• Myanmar Frontier Forces

References

• Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182, No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
• World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 333 Sheet 05