Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) ( French : " Aviation royale canadienne " ( ARC ) ) , formerly Air Command ( AIRCOM ) , is the air force of Canada . The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces . As of 2013 , operating 258 manned aircraft and 9 UAV s , the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 14 , 500 Regular Force and 2 , 600 Primary Reserve personnel , supported by 2 , 500 civilians . Lieutenant - general Yvan Blondin , , is the current Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff . The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for all aircraft operations of the Canadian Forces , enforcing the security of Canada ' s airspace and providing aircraft to support the missions of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army . The RCAF is a partner with the United States Air Force in protecting continental airspace under the North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) . The RCAF also provides all primary air resources to and is responsible for the National Search and Rescue Program . The RCAF traces its history to the Canadian Air Force which was formed in 1920 . The Canadian Air Force was incorporated into the Department of National Defence in 1923 and granted royal sanction in 1924 by King George V . In 1968 the RCAF was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Navy , and the Canadian Army , as part of the unification of the Canadian Forces . Air units were split between several different commands : Air Defence Command ( interceptors ) , Air Transport Command ( airlift , search and rescue ) , Mobile Command ( tactical fighters , helicopters ) , Maritime Command ( anti - submarine warfare , maritime patrol ) , as well as Training Command . In 1975 some commands were dissolved ( ADC , ATC , TC ) , and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command ( AIRCOM ) . Air Command was renamed the " Royal Canadian Air Force " in August 2011 . The Royal Canadian Air Force has served in the Second World War , the Korean War , the First Gulf War as well as several United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations . As a NATO member , the force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century . History . 1920 – 1968 . The Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 as the successor to a short - lived two - squadron air force formed during the First World War in Europe , also named the Canadian Air Force . The new air force , managed by the Air Board , was largely focused on civilian operations such as forestry , surveying and anti - smuggling patrols . In 1923 , the Air Board was amalgamated into the Department of National Defence , and one year later , the Canadian Air Force was granted the royal title , becoming the Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) . In the late 1920s , the air force evolved into more of a military organization . The RCAF suffered budget cuts in early 1930s , but began to rebuild throughout the latter part of the decade . However , by the end of the 1930s the RCAF was not considered a major military force . With the implementation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War , the RCAF was significantly expanded to become the fourth largest allied air force . During the war the RCAF was involved in operations in Great Britain , northwest Europe , the north Atlantic , Egypt , Italy , Sicily , Malta , Ceylon , India , Burma , and with home defence . After the war , the RCAF reduced its strength . Because of the rising Soviet threat to the security of Europe , Canada joined NATO in 1949 , and the RCAF established No . 1 Air Division RCAF consisting of four wings with three fighter squadrons each , based in France and West Germany . In 1950 , the RCAF became involved with the transport of troops and supplies to the Korean War ; however , it did not provide RCAF combat units . Members of the RCAF served in USAF units as exchange officers and several flew in combat . At the same time , the Pinetree Line , the Mid - Canada Line and the DEW Line radar stations , largely operated by the RCAF , were built across Canada because of the growing Soviet nuclear threat . In 1957 , Canada and the United States created the joint North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) . Coastal defence and peacekeeping also became priorities during the 1950s and 1960s . 1968 – present . In 1968 the Royal Canadian Navy , Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army were amalgamated to form the Canadian Forces , a single command structure under the Department of National Defence , at the time overseen by Liberal Defence Minister Paul Hellyer . The controversial merger maintained several existing organizations and created some new ones : In Europe , No . 1 Air Division , operated Canadair CF - 104 Starfighter nuclear strike / attack and reconnaissance under NATO ' s 4 ATAF ; Air Defence Command : operated McDonnell CF - 101 Voodoo interceptors , CIM - 10 Bomarc missiles and the SAGE radar system within NORAD ; Air Transport Command : provided strategic airlift for the NATO and UN Peacekeeping missions ; and Training Command . Aviation assets of the Royal Canadian Navy were combined with the RCAF Canadair CP - 107 Argus long - range patrol aircraft under the new Maritime Air Group of Maritime Command . In 1975 , the different commands , and the scattered aviation assets , were consolidated under Air Command ( AIRCOM ) . In the early 1990s , Canada provided a detachment of CF - 18 Hornets for the air defence mission in Operation Desert Shield . The force performed combat air patrol s over operations in Kuwait and Iraq , undertook a number of air - to - ground bombing missions , and , on one occasion , attacked an Iraqi patrol boat in the Persian Gulf . In the late 1990s , Air Command ' s CF - 188 Hornet s took part in the Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia , and in the 2000s , AIRCOM was heavily involved in the Afghanistan War , transporting troops and assets to Kandahar . Later in the decade - long war , AIRCOM set up a purpose - specific air wing , Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing , equipped with several CH - 146 Griffon and CH - 147 Chinook helicopters , CC - 130 Hercules and leased CU - 170 Heron UAV s in support of the Canadian Forces and ISAF mission . The wing stood down on 18 August 2011 . From 18 March to 1 November 2011 the RCAF was engaged in Operation Mobile , Canada ' s contribution to Operation Unified Protector in Libya . Seven CF - 188 Hornet fighter aircraft and several other aircraft served under Task Force Libeccio as part of the military intervention . On 16 August 2011 , the Government of Canada announced that the name " Air Command " was being changed to the air force ' s original historic name : Royal Canadian Air Force ( along with the change of name of Maritime Command to Royal Canadian Navy ) . The change was made to better reflect Canada ' s military heritage and align Canada with other key Commonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation . The new RCAF continues to use Air Command ' s badge and Latin motto , which are different from the original RCAF ' s . There has been no restoration of the traditional uniforms or rank structure of the historical service yet . Aircraft . The Royal Canadian Air Force has approximately 391 aircraft in service , which is the sixth largest air force in the Americas , after the United States Air Force , United States Navy , United States Army , United States Marine Corps and Brazilian Air Force . Leased and contractor aircraft . The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade . Transport aircraft have been leased as required . Weapons and other equipment . Weapons systems are used by the CF - 188 Hornet , CP - 140 Aurora , CH - 146 Griffon and the CH - 124 Sea King helicopters ( the latter to be replaced by CH - 148 Cyclone ) . ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Manufacturer ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Country of Origin ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Weapon ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Type ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | In Service ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Notes ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Manufacturer ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Origins ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Name ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Type ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | In Service ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Notes Retired weapons . ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Weapon ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Country of manufacture ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Type ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | In service ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | # Current structure . The Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force , located at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa , commands and provides strategic direction to the Air Force . The commander of 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region , based in Winnipeg , is responsible for the operational command and control of Air Force activities throughout Canada and worldwide . 2 Canadian Air Division , established in June 2009 , consists of training establishments . There are 13 wing s across Canada , 11 operational and two used for training . Wings represent the grouping of various squadron s , both operational and support , under a single tactical commander reporting to the operational commander . Ten wings also include a Canadian Forces base along with other operational and support units . The rank of General is held by an air officer serving as Chief of the Defence Staff . The Chief of the Air Force Staff holds the rank of Lieutenant - General . Divisions are commanded by Major - Generals . Brigadier - Generals are typically second - in - command of a Division . Wings are commanded by Colonels . Squadrons are commanded by Lieutenant - Colonels . Majors are typically second - in - command of squadrons , or flight commanders . Captains , Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants are the junior level leaders in RCAF squadrons and headquarters . 2 Canadian Air Division . 2 Canadian Air Division is commanded by Brigadier - General Bruce Ploughman . From 2011 to 2013 the commanding officer was Brigadier - General Martin Galvin . The initial announcement of the Division , published after it was created on June 25 , 2009 , said : Brigadier - General Rick Pitre assumed command of the Canadian Force ’ s most recent formation , the newly established 2 Canadian Air Division / Air Force Doctrine and Training Division in a formal ceremony at 17 Wing , Winnipeg on Thursday , June 25 . The Air Force has embarked on what Brig . Gen . Pitre calls “ a new and exciting chapter in our rich air force history . ” Commander 2 Canadian Air Division is now responsible for all Air Force doctrine , individual training and education . In addition to the Canadian Aerospace Warfare Centre located at 8 Wing Trenton , Brigadier General Pitre will oversee the conduct and management of training establishments at : 15 Wing Moose Jaw , 16 Wing Borden , and a new Air Force Training Centre comprising several Air Force schools and training institutions In addition , he will have oversight of training conducted by the Prairie Cadet Region . The Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering ( CFSATE ) , located in Borden , Ontario , delivers Aerospace Engineering Officers and conducts apprentice level training for various trades , including Avionics , Aviation , Aircraft Structures and Imagery technicians . The role of CFSATE is to provide the Air Force with qualified personnel to ensure Aircraft serviceability . CFSATE develops and carries out individual aerospace engineering training in accordance with approved doctrine and standards . Former units . Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing . As the tasking authority responsible for the Canadian Contracted Air Transport Unit , the wing commander provided advice , co - ordination and supervision over its six leased Mi - 8 medium lift helicopters . The air wing had about 450 personnel , serving with the Theatre Support Element in the Persian Gulf region and the Tactical UAV Flight at Kandahar Airfield . The wing officially stood down on 18 August 2011 . Rank structure . Commander - in - Chief Officer rank structure Non - commissioned member rank structure Recognition . On 9 November 1984 , Canada Post issued " Air Force " as part of the Canadian Forces series . The stamps were designed by Ralph Tibbles , based on an illustration by William Southern . The 32¢ stamps are perforated 12 x 12 . 5 and were printed by Ashton - Potter Limited .