Royal Cambodian Air Force

Savaş Düzeni · Cambodia

Royal Cambodian Air Force

កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស

The Royal Cambodian Air Force is one of the smallest air forces in Asia: founded as the Aviation Royale Khmère by royal decree on 22 April 1954, it grew to 211 aircraft under American aid by 1975, was scattered in the Khmer Rouge victory, rebuilt around 19 Soviet MiG-21s in the 1980s, and today flies no combat jets at all — only a few dozen transports and helicopters, which is why the 2025 border war with Thailand was fought in the air by one side only.

Ulusal işaretlemeA white Angkor Wat on a red disc ringed in blue
0Savaş uçağı
3Aktif hava üsleri
1954Kurulan
23Emekli olan türler
ÜlkeCambodiaKurulan1954DurumAktifMerkez OfisPhnom Penh (Pochentong)KomutanSoeung Samnang
Hikaye

The Royal Cambodian Air Force story: Sihanouk’s neutral air force, the Khmer Air Force at war and a border war without fighters

1954–1970: Sihanouk’s neutral air force, supplied by everyone

Cambodia’s air force was created by a royal decree of Prince Norodom Sihanouk on 22 April 1954 as the Aviation Royale Khmère (AVRK), commanded by his personal physician, Colonel Dr Ngo Hou. It began with four Morane-Saulnier Criquets and three Cessnas, and French instructors opened a flying school at Pochentong that October. Sihanouk’s neutrality meant accepting aircraft from anyone: T-6G trainers, C-47s and H-34 helicopters from the United States; 16 AD-4N Skyraiders and Alouettes from France; four Fouga Magisters in 1961; and, from November 1963, MiG-17Fs, a MiG-15UTI, An-2s and Il-14s from the Soviet Union, with J-5 fighters from China. By March 1970, according to Wikipedia’s account of the service, the AVRK had 1,250 officers and airmen and 143 aircraft of 23 types — a museum of the Cold War rather than an air force, and very hard to keep flying.

1970–1975: the Khmer Air Force at war

After the coup of March 1970 the air arm sided with the Khmer Republic and was renamed the Khmer Air Force on 8 June 1971. It was nearly wiped out first: on the night of 21–22 January 1971 a North Vietnamese sapper raid on Pochentong destroyed or badly damaged 69 aircraft, including the MiGs. American aid rebuilt it around T-28D fighter-bombers, AC-47 and AU-24 gunships, UH-1 helicopters and C-123K transports, and by January 1975 Brigadier General Ea Chhong commanded about 10,000 people and 211 aircraft. The record was mixed. T-28 pilots flew up to 70 sorties a day in October 1973 and, in March 1974, destroyed at least 125 trucks in one strike at Dambe; but disloyal pilots also bombed the presidential palace in March 1973, killing 43 people according to Wikipedia’s sources, and attacked Phnom Penh twice more before the end.

1975–1989: Khmer Rouge, Vietnamese invasion and the MiG-21s

When Phnom Penh fell on 17 April 1975, 97 aircraft escaped to Thailand with their crews. The Khmer Rouge salvaged what was left, including 22 T-28Ds and 20 UH-1s, and flew a handful from Ream until United States Navy jets bombed the field during the Mayaguez incident on 15 May 1975. Democratic Kampuchea also received fighter aircraft from China and used forced labour, more than 10,000 workers by 1977, to build a jet airfield at Kampong Chhnang that was never finished. After Vietnam took Phnom Penh on 7 January 1979, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea rebuilt a small air arm with Soviet and Vietnamese help. Its centrepiece was 19 second-hand MiG-21bis and three MiG-21UM trainers delivered from the USSR in 1982, with three more trainers from Bulgaria, alongside Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters and An-24 transports; about 1,500 personnel trained in Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

1993–2024: a helicopter air force

The State of Cambodia’s forces were merged into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces on 24 September 1993, after the Paris Peace Accords and the UN-run election. The MiG-21s did not survive the peace. Cambodia sent them to Israel for an upgrade to MiG-21-2000 standard, but, according to Wikipedia’s list of operators, which cites Gordon, Dexter and Komissarov, only one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM came back rebuilt, and by 2007 all were reported stored and out of service. The L-39 trainers went the same way. What remained was a helicopter and transport air force: Mi-8s and Mi-17s, Chinese Harbin Z-9 helicopters, a Harbin Y-12 and two Xian MA60 transports, and a single A320 for VIP flights. Wikipedia’s summary of FlightGlobal’s figures gives about 31 aircraft; strength estimates range from 1,500 to 5,000 people.

2025–2026: a border war fought in the air by one side

That weakness was exposed on 24 July 2025, when fighting broke out on the Thai border near Prasat Ta Muen Thom. Each government says the other fired first. Within hours, according to Wikipedia’s compilation of media reports, six Royal Thai Air Force F-16s bombed Cambodian positions at Chong An Ma, and Thai F-16s and Gripens struck again on 26 and 27 July. No sourced account reached for this page describes any Cambodian air force combat mission or aircraft loss; Cambodia answered with artillery, BM-21 rockets and drones. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre later displayed Mk 82 and Mk 84 bombs it said were dropped by Thai F-16s inside Cambodia, while Thailand said its jets hit military targets. After a ceasefire on 28 July and the Kuala Lumpur accord in October, Thai jets struck again in December before a ceasefire on 27 December 2025. Cambodia, with no fighters, could not contest its own airspace.

After the coup of March 1970 the air arm sided with the Khmer Republic and was renamed the Khmer Air Force on 8 June 1971. It was nearly wiped out first: on the night of 21–22 January 1971 a North Vietnamese sapper raid on Pochentong destroyed or badly damaged 69 aircraft, including the MiGs.Royal Cambodian Air Force · verified 2026-09-30

Bir bakışta

The Royal Cambodian Air Force in numbers

Hizmet

Yerli isim
កងទ័ពជើងអាកាសKong Toap Cheung Akas, literally "air force", the Khmer form given by English Wikipedia. An official Cambodian page with the full name was not reachable
Kurulan
22 April 1954Royal decree creating the Aviation Royale Khmère (AVRK). Wikipedia’s article on the present service gives 9 November 1953 (independence), and the present Royal Cambodian Armed Forces date from 24 September 1993
Bir parçası
Royal Cambodian Armed ForcesCommander-in-chief General Vong Pisen since 2018; Minister of National Defence General Tea Seiha
Merkez Ofis
Pochentong, Phnom PenhWikipedia places the headquarters at Phnom Penh International Airport (Pochentong Air Base). The airport closed to civil flights on 8 September 2025; the future of the air force’s presence there was not stated in the sources reached
Komutan
Gen. Soeung SamnangAs named by English Wikipedia; appointment date not confirmed
Earlier names
Aviation Royale Khmère (1954), Khmer National Aviation (1970), Khmer Air Force (1971–75), Kampuchean People’s Revolutionary Air Force (1979–89)The Khmer Rouge’s air arm of 1975–79 is called AFKRA in Wikipedia’s account

Kuvvet

Personel
1,500–5,000Wikipedia’s air force article gives 1,500 personnel; its Royal Cambodian Armed Forces article calls the air force the smallest branch with 5,000 members. Neither figure is confirmed by an official Cambodian source
Savaş uçağı
None operationalAll fighters (MiG-21bis, L-39C, J-6C, MiG-17F and others) are listed as non-operational as of 2023; the MiG-21s were reported stored by 2007
Ulaşım
  • Airbus A320 — 1 (VIP)
  • Xian MA60 — 2
  • Harbin Y-12 — 1
  • Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander — 1

Inventory as given by Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal World Air Forces

Helikopterler
  • Mil Mi-8 — 9
  • Mil Mi-17 — 6
  • Harbin Z-9 — 9
  • AgustaWestland AW109 — 1
  • Eurocopter AS355 — 1 (stored)

About 31 aircraft in all by the same count

Savunma bütçesi
About US$739 million (2025)2.903 trillion riel, 1.47 per cent of GDP, for all the armed forces
Peak strength
211 aircraft, about 10,000 people (January 1975)Khmer Air Force under Brig. Gen. Ea Chhong

Altyapı

Ana üs
Pochentong (Phnom Penh)Base Aérienne 101 in the Khmer Air Force era; runway 05/23, 3,000 m. Civil flights moved to Techo International Airport on 9 September 2025; the government said on 20 October 2025 that the runway would be kept for emergency landings
Helicopter operations
Siem ReapWikipedia names Siem Reap International Airport as a site of helicopter operations
Historic air bases
  • Battambang — Base Aérienne 201, air academy from 1970
  • Ream — Base Aérienne 122, bombed by the US on 15 May 1975
  • Kampong Cham — Base Aérienne 121
  • Kampong Chhnang — Base Aérienne 124

Khmer Air Force designations 1970–75

Unfinished jet base
Kampong Chhnang airfieldBuilt by the Khmer Rouge with Chinese advisers from 1976 by forced labour (more than 10,000 workers by 1977); 2,400 m concrete runway, abandoned since the late 1970s
Jet-capable fighter base
None in useNo combat jets are operational

Yapı

How the Royal Cambodian Air Force is organised

One headquarters at Pochentong in Phnom Penh, under the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, over a VIP squadron and a helicopter squadron. Cambodia has no operational combat aircraft: its MiG-21s were reported stored by 2007, and Wikipedia’s summary of FlightGlobal’s figures gives about 31 transports and helicopters. Strength estimates range from 1,500 to 5,000 people.

SS

GenelSoeung SamnangCommander of the Royal Cambodian Air Force
Royal Cambodian Air Forceកងទ័ពជើងអាកាស
Merkez Ofis

Air Force Headquarters

Pochentong

One of the services of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, commanded by General Vong Pisen since 2018. English Wikipedia names General Soeung Samnang as air force commander, with four deputies; the date of his appointment was not confirmed, and no official Cambodian page confirming the post was reachable.

Ulaşım

VIP Squadron

Pochentong

According to Wikipedia, the only operational fixed-wing aircraft at Pochentong belong to the VIP squadron. Its types, an A320 and Xian MA60s, are inferred from the service inventory and were not confirmed by an official source.

Helikopterler

Helicopter Squadron

Pochentong and Siem Reap

Harbin Z-9 and Mil Mi-17 helicopters based at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, according to Wikipedia; no official unit designation was found, and whether the Siem Reap detachment stayed after the civil airport closed in October 2023 is not stated. Wikipedia’s inventory also lists nine Mi-8s.


Hizmette

What the Royal Cambodian Air Force flies today

Ücretli olan her tür, varsa ilgili Canavarlar Kitabı sayfasına bağlanmıştır. Sayılar, belirli bir günde müsait olan uçak sayısını değil, kayıtlarda yer alan uçak sayısını ifade eder.

Türü Rol Hizmette O zamandan beri Birimler Notlar
Mil Mi-8Hizmette Çok amaçlı helikopter 9 — Nine in service (Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal).
Mil Mi-17Hizmette Nakliye helikopteri 6 — Six in service (Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal). Ten were listed for the 1980s air arm.
Harbin Z-9Hizmette Çok amaçlı helikopter 9 — Nine in service (Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal).
Harbin Y-12Hizmette Hafif ulaşım 1 — One in service (Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal).
Xian MA60Hizmette Ulaşım 2 — Two in service (Wikipedia, citing FlightGlobal).
Airbus A320Hizmette VIP ulaşım 1 — Bir.
Britten-Norman BN-2 IslanderHizmette Hafif ulaşım 1 — Bir.
AgustaWestland AW109Hizmette Çok amaçlı helikopter 1 — Bir.
Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2Hizmette Çok amaçlı helikopter 1 1996 — One, stored.
Mi-89
Z-99
Mi-176
MA602
Y-121
A3201
BN-21
AW1091

Daha önce işletiliyordu

Every type the Royal Cambodian Air Force has retired

23 types, from the Morane-Saulnier MS 733 Alcyon to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM. Zirve rakamları, herhangi bir tarihteki filo gücünü değil, tüm hizmet ömrü boyunca teslim alınan uçak gövdelerini ifade eder.

Türü Rol Doruğa ulaşmak Servis edildi Yerine şu geçti: Notlar
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM Savaşçı 25 1982–2007 — 19 MiG-21bis and three MiG-21UM from the USSR in 1982, plus three MiG-21UM from Bulgaria.
Douglas C-47 Skytrain Ulaşım 23 — — 23 in the 1st Transport Squadron in January 1975, plus six trainers and one EC-47D.
North American T-28D Trojan Avcı-bombardıman uçağı 64 1964–1975 — 64 in the 1st Fighter Squadron in January 1975, plus 16 T-28B trainers; 50 T-28Ds escaped to Thailand on 17 April 1975.
Douglas AC-47D Spooky Savaş helikopteri 14 1971–1975 — 14 in January 1975; seven escaped to Thailand.
Helio AU-24A Stallion Mini-gunship 14 1972–1975 — 14 delivered in 1972.
Fairchild C-123K Provider Taktiksel ulaşım 21 1973–1975 — 21 in January 1975; ten escaped to Thailand.
Bell UH-1D/H and UH-1G Iroquois Transport and gunship helicopter 56 1970–1975 — 46 UH-1D/H and 10 UH-1G in January 1975.
Cessna O-1D Bird Dog Forward air control 45 — — 45 in January 1975.
Cessna T-37B Tweet Jet eğitim uçağı 24 1973–1975 — 24 under Project Flycatcher.
Cessna T-41D Mescalero Baş eğitmen 22 1971–1975 — 22 in January 1975.
Sud Aviation Alouette II and III Hafif helikopter — — — Number not confirmed; three Alouette IIIs in January 1975.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Savaşçı 8 1963–1971 — Three from November 1963 and five more in April 1967.
Aero L-39C Albatros Jet eğitim uçağı — — — Sayı henüz doğrulanmadı.
Shenyang J-6C Savaşçı — — — Sayı henüz doğrulanmadı.
Shenyang J-5 and FT-5 Savaşçı 11 — — Ten J-5 fighters and one FT-5 trainer from China.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI Jet eğitim uçağı 1 1963– — One, delivered with the first MiG-17Fs in November 1963.
Potez CM.170R Fouga Magister Jet eğitim uçağı ve hafif saldırı uçağı 4 1961– — Four received in September 1961.
Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Saldırı 16 — T-28D 16 from France.
North American T-6G Texan Eğitmen 14 — — 14 from the United States.
Morane-Saulnier MS 733 Alcyon Eğitmen 15 1954– — 15 in 1954–55.
Antonov An-2 and Ilyushin Il-14 Ulaşım 10 1963– — Eight An-2 and two Il-14 from the USSR.
Mil Mi-24 Saldırı helikopteri 3 — — Three (1980s).
Antonov An-24 and Tupolev Tu-134 Ulaşım 5 — — Three An-24 and two Tu-134 (1980s).

Hava üsleri

Where the Royal Cambodian Air Force flies from

Siyah işaretler aktif üsleri, içi boş işaretler ise kapanmış havaalanlarını temsil eder. Pochentong is the headquarters and main base, though its civil flights moved to Techo International in September 2025; Kampong Cham and Ream were Khmer Air Force bases until 1975, and Kampong Chhnang is the unfinished jet base the Khmer Rouge built by forced labour. Battambang, the Khmer Air Force Academy from 1970, has been a military airfield again since 2018, according to Wikipedia. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.

Aktif hava üssü Kapalı veya rezerve edilmişAna sayfayı açmak için bir iğneye tıklayın.
Temel ICAO Durum Pist Birimler ve uçaklar
BattambangBattambang Province VDBG Aktif 07/251,600 m
  • Air Force Academy and Advanced Training Squadron, Khmer Air Force: Nanchang BT-6/PT-6, Yakovlev Yak-18, Gardan GY-80 Horizon
PochentongPhnom Penh VDPP Aktif 05/233.000 m
  • VIP Squadron: Airbus A320, Xian MA60
  • Helicopter Squadron: Harbin Z-9, Mil Mi-17
  • 1st Fighter Squadron, Khmer Air Force: T-28D Trojan
  • 1st Transport Squadron, Khmer Air Force: AC-47D Spooky, C-47 Skytrain, C-123K Provider
Siem ReapSiem Reap Province VDSR Aktif 05/232.550 mbeton
  • Helicopter Squadron detachment: Harbin Z-9, Mil Mi-17
Kampong ChhnangKampong Chhnang Province VDKH Kapalı 18/362400 metrebeton —
Kampong ChamKampong Cham Province VDKC Closed 1975 05/231,189 m
  • 2nd Air Fusiliers Regiment, Khmer Air Force
ReamPreah Sihanouk Province Closed 1975 — —

Arama sonucunda bu kriterlere uyan bir hava üssü bulunamadı.


Savaş düzeni

Who is stationed where in the Royal Cambodian Air Force

Üslerine göre uçan birlikler, önce mevcut birlikler. Today’s Cambodian units are known only by role — a VIP squadron and a helicopter squadron — while the Khmer Air Force of 1971–1975 had numbered squadrons and numbered air bases, Pochentong being Base Aérienne 101. Where a unit’s aircraft or base rests on Wikipedia alone, the entry says so.

Pochentong Air Base · VDPPHeadquarters, Royal Cambodian Air Force
VIP SquadronVIP taşıma filosu · aktif
Airbus A320, Xian MA60
Helicopter SquadronHelikopter filosu · aktif
Harbin Z-9, Mil Mi-17
1st Fighter Squadron, Khmer Air Force—
T-28D Trojan
1st Transport Squadron, Khmer Air Force—
AC-47D Spooky, C-47 Skytrain, C-123K Provider
Siem Reap · VDSRRoyal Cambodian Air Force helicopter squadron
Helicopter Squadron detachmentHelikopter birliği · aktif
Harbin Z-9, Mil Mi-17
Battambang · VDBGAktif
Air Force Academy and Advanced Training Squadron, Khmer Air Force1970–1975
Nanchang BT-6/PT-6, Yakovlev Yak-18, Gardan GY-80 Horizon

Bu aramaya uyan bir birim bulunamadı.


Zaman çizelgesi

Royal Cambodian Air Force milestones, 1914 to today

1953

9 November: Cambodia gains independence from France; Wikipedia’s article on the air force gives this as its founding date.

1954

22 April: royal decree of Prince Norodom Sihanouk creates the Aviation Royale Khmère under Colonel Dr Ngo Hou; French instructors open the flying school at Pochentong in October.

1961

September: four Fouga Magisters arrive, the first jets; by the end of the year the AVRK has 83 aircraft.

1963

November: the first Soviet MiG-17Fs, a MiG-15UTI and a Yak-18 arrive; five more MiG-17Fs follow in April 1967.

1964

21 March: two AVRK T-28Ds cross into South Vietnam and shoot down an L-19, killing its Vietnamese pilot and American observer.

1970

March: after the coup the service becomes Khmer National Aviation; strength is 1,250 people and 143 aircraft.

1971

21–22 January: a North Vietnamese sapper raid on Pochentong destroys or badly damages 69 aircraft and kills 39 airmen. 8 June: renamed Khmer Air Force.

1973

17 March: Capt. So Patra bombs the presidential palace in a T-28D; Wikipedia’s sources give 43 killed.

1974

March: ten T-28Ds guided by an O-1D destroy at least 125 trucks at Dambe.

1975

17 April: Phnom Penh falls; 97 aircraft escape to Thailand. 15 May: US Navy jets bomb Ream airfield, destroying Khmer Rouge T-28s, during the Mayaguez incident.

1976

Construction of Kampong Chhnang airfield begins, with Chinese advisers and forced labour.

1979

7 January: Vietnamese forces take Phnom Penh; the People’s Republic of Kampuchea starts rebuilding an air arm.

1982

19 MiG-21bis and three MiG-21UM arrive from the USSR, plus three MiG-21UM from Bulgaria.

1989

21–26 September: the last Vietnamese troops leave; the armed forces become the Cambodian People’s Armed Forces.

1993

24 September: the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces are formed, including the Royal Cambodian Air Force.

2007

All MiG-21s reported stored and out of service; only one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM had come back from the Israeli upgrade.

2025

24–28 July and 7–27 December: border fighting with Thailand; Thai F-16s and Gripens strike Cambodian positions. 8 September: last flights at Phnom Penh International (Pochentong) before civil traffic moves to Techo.


Savaş kaydı

Every war the Royal Cambodian Air Force has fought

Kayıtlarda belirtilen yerlerde sorti ve kayıplar, belirtilmeyen yerlerde ise boş bırakılmıştır.

5çatışmalar
1964Birinci
100Uçak kayboldu
0Öldürüldü
  • Border incidents with South Vietnam 1964–1970 Patrolled the eastern border of a neutral Cambodia during the Vietnam War
  • Cambodian Civil War 1970–1975 Close air support, gunship, transport and resupply for the Khmer Republic’s army against the Khmer Rouge and North Vietnamese forces
  • Mayaguez incident 1975 Was on the receiving end: its salvaged aircraft at Ream were bombed on the ground
  • Cambodian–Vietnamese War 1978–1989 The Khmer Rouge’s small air arm was overrun in 1979; the Vietnamese-backed successor was rebuilt during the war against the Khmer Rouge insurgency
  • Cambodian–Thai border conflict 2025 No combat air role is recorded; Cambodian positions were the target of Thai air strikes

Tüm savaş kaydını açın.


Dergiden

Royal Cambodian Air Force news from Afterburner

Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Royal Cambodian Air Force and the aircraft it flies. Bu liste kendini yeniliyor; yeni Afterburner haberleri otomatik olarak burada görünüyor.

Afterburner'daki tüm hikayeler


Sorular ve Cevaplar

Everything people ask about the Royal Cambodian Air Force

What is the Royal Cambodian Air Force called in Khmer?
English Wikipedia gives the Khmer name as កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស (Kong Toap Cheung Akas), which simply means "air force". It was founded in 1954 as the Aviation Royale Khmère, became the Khmer Air Force in 1971 and, after 1979, the Kampuchean People’s Revolutionary Air Force; the present name dates from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces of 1993. An official Cambodian page giving the full name was not reachable for this page.
Does Cambodia have fighter jets?
No. Cambodia has no operational combat aircraft. Its last fighters, MiG-21bis jets delivered in 1982, were reported stored and out of service by 2007, and the L-39, J-6 and older jets at Phnom Penh are listed as non-operational as of 2023. Plans reported over the years to buy Russian Su-25s or Su-27s, or a Chinese FTC-2000G, have not produced aircraft; the FTC-2000G buyer turned out to be Myanmar.
What aircraft does the Royal Cambodian Air Force fly?
According to Wikipedia’s summary of FlightGlobal’s figures, about 31 aircraft: nine Mi-8 and six Mi-17 helicopters, nine Chinese Harbin Z-9 helicopters, an AW109, a stored AS355, two Xian MA60 and one Harbin Y-12 transports, a BN-2 Islander and an Airbus A320 for VIP flights. Delivery dates for the Chinese types were not confirmed in the sources reached.
How big is the Cambodian air force?
Estimates differ: Wikipedia’s air force article gives 1,500 personnel and 31 aircraft, while its article on the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces calls the air force the smallest branch, with 5,000 members. At its peak in January 1975 the Khmer Air Force had about 10,000 people and 211 aircraft.
Did the Cambodian air force fight in the 2025 border war with Thailand?
No combat mission by the Cambodian air force is recorded in the sources reached. The air war was one-sided: Royal Thai Air Force F-16'lar and Gripens struck Cambodian positions from 24 July 2025, and again in December. Cambodia’s government says Thailand attacked first and its mine action centre displayed US-made bombs it attributes to Thai F-16s; Thailand says Cambodian forces fired first and its jets hit military targets. A ceasefire has held, tensely, since 27 December 2025.
Did Cambodia fly the MiG-21?
Yes. The Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea received 19 second-hand MiG-21bis fighters and three MiG-21UM trainers from the Soviet Union in 1982, and three more trainers from Bulgaria. Later they were to be upgraded in Israel to MiG-21-2000 standard, but only one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM came back rebuilt; by 2007 all were reported stored.
What happened to the Khmer Air Force in April 1975?
When the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh on 17 April 1975, 97 aircraft escaped to Thailand with their crews, including 50 T-28D Trojans, 10 C-123Ks, seven AC-47D gunships and 13 UH-1s. The Khmer Rouge salvaged what was left and flew a few aircraft from Ream until US Navy jets bombed the field during the Mayaguez incident on 15 May 1975.
Who bombed the presidential palace in Phnom Penh in 1973?
Captain So Patra, a pro-Sihanouk Khmer Air Force pilot, dive-bombed the presidential palace in a T-28D on 17 March 1973 and escaped to Hainan; Wikipedia’s sources give 43 people killed and 35 injured. A second dissident pilot attacked in November 1973, and a third bombed the general staff headquarters on 14 April 1975. The attacks led to purges of the air force leadership.
Where is the Royal Cambodian Air Force based?
Its headquarters is at Pochentong, the former Phnom Penh International Airport, with helicopter operations at Siem Reap. Civil flights left Pochentong for the new Techo International Airport on 9 September 2025, and the government said in October 2025 that the old airport would become a park while its runway is kept for emergency landings; what that means for the air force was not stated. In the 1970s the Khmer Air Force also used Battambang, Ream, Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang.
Did Cambodia ever shoot down an aircraft?
One air-to-air victory is recorded in Wikipedia’s account: on 21 March 1964 two AVRK T-28Ds crossed into South Vietnam and shot down an L-19 light aircraft, killing its Vietnamese pilot and an American observer. No other Cambodian air-to-air kill was found in the sources reached.



Kaynaklar ve Daha Fazla Okuma

Her bilgi kontrol edildi.

Figures verified 2026-09-30. Order of Battle pages are regenerated from a single dataset; if a number here disagrees with a Book of Beasts page, this page is the more recent of the two.

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