The Georgian Air Force is the air force of the Defense Forces of Georgia. It was established as part of the Georgian Armed Forces in 1992 and dissolved in 2010, when it was incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces. As of September 2009, the Georgian Air Force had 2,971 military and civilian personnel. As part of reforms in the Georgian military, the Air Force was reestablished as a separate branch of the Defense Forces in 2016.
History
The Georgian Air Force and Air Defense Division was established on January 1, 1992. On August 18, 1998, the two divisions were unified in a joint command structure and renamed the Georgian Air Force. The first combat flight was conducted by Izani Tsertsvadze and Valeri Nakopia on September 19, 1992, during the separatist war in Abkhazia. This date was later designated as the Georgian Air Force Day. Relative to the Georgian ground forces, the air force was comparatively underfunded following Georgian independence. During the August 2008 war with Russia, The Georgian Ministry of Defense reported 5 air force personnel were killed in action. In 2010, the Georgian Air Force was reorganized. It was abolished as a separate branch and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces as Air and Air Defense brigades.
Reestablishment and modernisation
In 2012 the Georgian military, with government approval, decided to reestablish the air force as its own separate arm. It will undergo a massive transformation and modernisation process, getting rid of almost its entire Soviet helicopter inventory and replace it with US and French aircraft. It was also announced by the ministry of defense that six Su-25 aircraft would be sold at an unknown date to add to the finances. As a result of the 2014 Wales summit, Georgia was granted a NATO military assistance package which includes support in acquiring military equipment from alliance members and partners, practically lifting the unofficial arms ban on Georgia. In 2016, the Air Force was reestablished as one of the four branches of the Defense Forces.
Ranks
Commissioned officers
Mission and objectives
The objectives of the Georgian Air Force are defined as follows:
Warfare and mobilization readiness of the Air Forces sub-units
Protection of sovereignty and control of the air space of Georgia
