Republic of Vietnam Air Force

*Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa*

Emblem of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force

**Founded**
1960

**Country**
Vietnam

**Type**
Air force

**Role**
Air defense
Air warfare

**Size**
132,750 personnel
3,940 aircraft

**Part of**
Republic of Vietnam Military Forces

**Headquarters**
National Defence Building

**Nickname(s)**
RVNAF
KLVNCH

**Motto(s)**
 Tổ Quốc — Không Gian
("Fatherland — Space")

**March**
 Không quân Việt Nam hành khúc

**Anniversaries**
1 July (RVNAF Day)

**Engagements**
Vietnamese Civil War
Cold War
Gulf War (1991)
Kosovo War
War on Terror

**Commanders**

**RVNAF Chief of Staff**
General Vũ Diệp Quyền

**Secretary of the Air Force**
Vũ Việt Khải

**Insignia**

**Flag**

**Roundel**

Low visibility

**Fin flash**

**Aircraft flown**

**Attack**

**Bomber**

**Electronic warfare**

**Fighter**

**Patrol**

**Reconnaissance**

**Trainer**

**Transport**

**Unmanned combat**

The **Republic of Vietnam Air Force** (**RVNAF**; Vietnamese: *Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa, KLVNCH*; French: *Force aérienne vietnamienne, FAVN*) (sometimes referred to as the **Vietnamese Air Force** or **VNAF**) is the aerial branch of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces, the defence force of the Republic of Vietnam.

The RVNAF began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world's fourth largest air force at the height of the Cold War in 1974, just behind the Soviet Union, the USA, and the Republic of China. Other sources state that VNAF was the sixth largest air force in the world, just behind the Soviet Union, the USA, China, France and West Germany. It is an often neglected chapter of the history of the Vietnamese Civil War as they operated in the shadow of the United States Air Force (USAF). Today, with rigorous training and massive investment in the air superiority role in modern warfare, the RVNAF is the second largest in the world by active fighter aircraft with 3,940. A majority being upgraded 4th-gen aircraft with a large contingent of the world's second fully-operational 5th-gen fighter, the VF-23 Dragon.

## Airbases

* Bien Hoa
* Binh Thuy
* Cam Ranh
* Cần Thơ
* Dalat
* Da Nang
* Nha Trang
* Phan Rang
* Phu Cat
* Pleiku
* Quảng Ngãi
* Tan Son Nhut
* Tây Ninh
* Thủ Dầu Một
* Tuy Hoa
* Vinh
* Dong Hoi
* Gia Lam
* Hạ Long
* Haiphong
* Hoa Lac
* Kep
* Lào Cai
* Noi Bai
* Sơn La
* Thanh Hoá
* Thanh Xuân
* Yen Bai
* Haikou
* Sanya

## Aircraft inventory

*Main article: Aircraft of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces*

The RVNAF uses both Vietnamese-developed aircraft and internationally-contracted aircraft, primarily from the United States. Prior to 1978, the RVNAF flew French aircraft.

### Designations

The RVNAF and RVNN share similar designations, with the exception of helicopters. The RVNN uses the ARVN's naming designations due to nearly all RVNAF surplus helicopters transferred to the Army in 1968.

* VA – Attack
* VB – Bomber
* VC/VP – Transport/VIP Transport
* VE – Special Electronic
* VF – Fighter
* VH – Search and rescue
* VK – Tanker
* VM – Multi-mission
* VCT - Helicopters (VMT - Navy, Army)
* VO – Observation
* VR – Reconnaissance
* VT – Trainer
* VTG – Trainer gliders
* VU – Utility
* VUAV – Unmanned combat
* VX - Concept aircraft designation

After 1968, a majority of RVNAF helicopters were transferred to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Air Corps, which have their own naming designations.

## Personnel

The RVNAF currently touts 132,750 active Airmen. Recruitment for the RVNAF is on par with that of the RVNN with one in three conscripts selecting the RVNAF. The current RVNAF Chief of Staff is General Vũ Diệp Quang. The Secretary of the Air Force—a civilian position in the Ministry of Defence is Vũ Việt Khải.

### Training

It takes 120 hours of flight time at the Air Force Academy in Vung Tau or at Airbase Noi Bai to earn Air Force wings. This extra time—compared to American standard of 50 hours—assures Vietnamese pilots are more prepared for any additional air-related mishaps and are extra skilled in dogfighting. In recent years, with the advent of advanced aircraft and missile systems putting an emphasis on beyond visual range engagements, the extra flight time has been used to help pilots learn how to coordinate between AEWCS, radar, and advanced targeting. The Navy incorporates similar requirements to earn Navy wings. Airmen cadets also learn how to shoot, disarm, and avoid SAM, MANPADS, and other anti-air systems.

All pilots for Air Vietnam undertake the same rigorous flight training as RVNAF pilots.