Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Uzbek Air Forces

Uzbekistan Air Force badge

Active 1992 present
Country Uzbekistan
Branch Air force and air defense
Role Air defense of Uzbekistan
Size 15,000
Garrison/HQ Tashkent
Engagements Tajikistan civil war
Insignia

Roundel

The Air and Air Defence Forces are the aerial arm of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Uzbekistan. It was formed following the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991, though the
military was not created by the Uzbek government until 1992. The Air Force consists of 10,000
to 15,000 personnel, with most of them being Russians as of 1995.[1]

Contents
1 History
2 Organization
o 2.1 List of units
o 2.2 Aircraft
2.2.1 Current inventory
o 2.3 Ranks
 3 References

History
In March 1994, the Russian Federation signed a treaty with Uzbekistan in training of pilots. The
Uzbek Air Force is assisted by the Russian Air Force, though an air academy has been made to
train Uzbeks at Ozizak. As of that year, some thirteen airbases were active in Uzbekistan. The
Air Force was to follow the Soviet doctrine, supported by the Uzbekistan Ground Forces.

During the Tajik civil war in 1992, the Tajikistan government was supported by Uzbekistan.
Helicopters of the Air Force fought the Muslim rebels at a United Tajik Opposition base. Later,
the Uzbek Air Force was said to have destroyed the last holdouts of rebels in eastern Tajikistan.
A member of the Uzbek defense ministry was made the Tajik Minister of Defence.

Due to an agreement in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia helped maintain the
aircraft of the Uzbek Air Force and sold them more aircraft at a cheaper price than to other
interests, such as the United States. In Operation Enduring Freedom, the US government and
NATO had an aviation company repair much of the Air Force's aircraft, as it was deemed
inoperable by them. Russia tried to undermine US efforts to reach out to Uzbekistan, especially
at a 2002 conference in Tashkent, where members of various aviation companies were present.

The talks failed, and the Uzbek government had cut off the US aid in the form of helicopter
repairs.[1]

Organization

Uzbekistan governmental plane Boeing 767-300.

Air defence patch

The Uzbek air forces consist of units formerly part of the 49th Air Army of the Turkestan
Military District headquartered at Tashkent. There are two remaining combat units, at Karshi-
Khanabad and Dzhizak.

The 60th Separate Brigade is the former 735th Bomber Aviation Regiment combined with the
former 87th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.[2] It has 31 Su-24s, 32 MiG-29s, and 6
Su-27s. Other recently disbanded units include the 61st Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kakaydy,
which was itself a merger with the previous 115th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and the 62nd
Fighter Aviation Regiment at Andijan. Regiments at both bases were disbanded in 1999. As
many as 26 stored Su-17s, apparently in very bad condition, remain at Chirchiq (see Google
Earth 4130'05.69"N 6933'44.90"E).

List of units

60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade (Karshi-Khanabad)(60 BAP), Su-24/Su-24MR,

Su-27- (31 Su-24, 32 MiG-29, 6 Su-27, 1200 personnel.)
Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade, Dzhizak, Su-25 (Su-25, L-39, Mi-8, Mi-24)
Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment, Fergana, n-12, 12, 26, 26
Separate Mixed Aviation Squadron, Tashkent, n-24, u-134
65th Separate Helicopter Regiment Kagan, Bukhara Mi-6,8. According to the IISS
Military Balance 2002 28 Mi-6, 29 Mi-8. Former 396th Separate Helicopter Regiment,
Southern Group of Forces
66th Separate Helicopter Regiment, Chirchiq, Mi-8/24/26 helicopters. The IISS Military
Balance 2002 listed Uzbekistan with 42 Mi-24, 29 Mi-8,1 Mi-26
12th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade
Radio-Technical Brigade

Aircraft

Current inventory

Uzbekistani Air Force maintenance personnel tow an Air Force Su-24 Fencer aircraft at Karshi-
Khanabad Air Base.
Note
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service
s
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia multirole 39[3]
Su-25 Russia attack 20[3]
Su-27 Russia fighter 30[3]
 Transport
An-12 Ukraine heavy transport 2[3]
An-26 Ukraine transport 4[3]
Il-76 Russia heavy transport 3[3]
CASA C-295W Spain transport 4[4]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Russia utility Mi-8/17 40[3]
H-225 France utility 8[4]
AS-350 France light utility 8
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-24/35 25[3]
Trainer Aircraft
L-39 Czech Republic jet trainer 2[3]

Ranks

Lieutena Major Senior

Englis Colonel Lieutenant Majo Captai Lieutena
nt Genera Colonel Lieutena
h General Colonel r n nt
General l nt

General
Uzbek General General Polkovni Podpovkoln Mayo Kapita Katta
polkovni leytenant
leytenant mayor k ik r n leytenant
k
Senior Junior
Englis
Sergean Sergeant Sergea Private
h
t nt

Uzbek Katta Kichik Oddiy

Serjant
serjant serjant askar