Czech Air Force
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{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name= Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky
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|start_date= 1919
|country= [[Czech Republic]]
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|garrison=
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|motto= ''Our sea is in the air''
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<!-- Commanders -->
|current_commander=
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|identification_symbol= [[Image:Czech roundel.svg|75px]]
|identification_symbol_label= Roundel
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|aircraft_attack= [[Aero L-39]], [[Aero L-159]]
|aircraft_bomber=
|aircraft_electronic=
|aircraft_fighter= [[JAS 39 Gripen]] (leased)
|aircraft_interceptor= [[JAS 39 Gripen]] (leased)
|aircraft_recon=
|aircraft_patrol=
|aircraft_trainer= [[Aero L-39]], [[Aero L-159]], [[Zlin Z 142]]
|aircraft_transport= [[Antonov An-26]], [[Bombardier Challenger 600|Bombardier Challenger CL-601]], [[Airbus 319]], [[Let L-410]]
}}
The '''Czech Air Force''', [[ICAO#ICAO Codes|ICAO]] code CEF, is the [[air force]] branch of the [[Military of the Czech Republic|Armed Forces]] of the [[Czech Republic]]. The Air Force, with the Ground Forces, comprises the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. It is a successor of the [[Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovak]] Air Force (up to 1992).
==History==
===Interwar period (1918-1939)===
For a [[History of Czechoslovakia (1918–1938)|modern nation]] surrounded by potentially hostile neighbors, without access to the ocean, the Czechoslovak leadership needed to build a capable air force. So was born the motto "Our sea is in the air."
[[Image:aero.L159a.arp.jpg|thumb|right|Aero Vodochody L.159A Advanced Light Combat Aircraft of the Czech Air Force]]
[[Image:saab.jas39c.gripen.taxi.arp.jpg|thumb|right|Saab JAS 39C Gripen of the Czech Air Force]]
[[Image:antonov.an-26.2409.czechaf.arp.jpg|thumb|right|An-26 of the Czech Air Force]]
The Czechoslovak government between the wars balanced a home-grown aviation industry with [[licensing (strategic alliance)|licensing]] engine and aircraft designs from allied nations.
Several major aircraft companies, and a few engine companies, thrived in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. One well-known engine manufacturer was [[Walter Engines|A. S. Walter]] located in Prague.
The [[Aero Vodochody|Aero]] Company (Aero továrna letadel), was located in the Vysočany quarter of [[Prague]]. Its mixed construction (wood, metal and fabric covering) and all-metal aircraft were competitive in the early 1930s; however, by 1938, only its [[Bloch MB.200|MB.200]] (a licensed [[Societé des Avions Marcel Bloch|Bloch]] design) was not totally obsolete.
The [[Avia]] Company (Avia akciová společnost pro průmysl letecký Škoda), a branch of the enormous [[Škoda Works]] (Škodovy závody) for heavy machinery and defence industrial organization, was different. Founded in 1919 in an old sugar factory in the eastern Prague suburbs of Letňany and Čakovice, Avia made entire airplanes, including motors, which were usually licensed [[Hispano-Suiza]] designs. The standard Czechoslovak pursuit plane of the late 1930s, the [[Avia B-534|B-534]] reached a total production of 514 units. It was one of the last [[biplane]] fighters in operational use, and also one of the best ever produced.
The state-controlled [[Letov Kbely|Letov]] (Vojenská továrna na letadla Letov) was also situated in Letňany. It employed about 1,200 workers in the late 1930s, and it manufactured the S-328 [[biplane]], of which over 450 were produced. The entire airframe was welded together, not bolted or riveted. The Letov factory was the only Czechoslovak plant that manufactured metal propellers.
===World War II (1939-1945)===
During this time, Czechoslovakia was divided into the "Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren" ([[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia]]) - a [[rump state]] directly controlled by [[Nazi Germany]] - and the [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]] - a German puppet state.
Many Czech pilots succeeded to escape to [[Poland]] and [[France]], where they helped to fight against the Nazi "blitzkrieg" in the first period of the war, and later in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] where they created fighter and bomber squadrons within the [[Royal Air Force]]<ref>Brown 1998</ref>, which were a constituent of the Czechoslovak army in exile on the British islands. Czech fighter ace [[Josef František]] became arguably the best top scoring allied fighter pilot of the [[Battle of Britain]]. Other Czech pilots continued to fight against the Germans in the [[Soviet Union]].
Under German rule all Czech aircraft where absorbed into the [[Luftwaffe]] - and the huge Czechoslovak manufacturing base was converted to produce German aircraft and engines.
===Cold War (1946-1988)===
During this time Czechoslovakia was member of the [[Eastern Bloc]], allied with the [[Soviet Union]], and from 1955 a member of the [[Warsaw Pact]]. Because of this, the Czechoslovak Air Force used Soviet aircraft, doctrines and tactics. The types of aircraft were mostly [[MiG]]s.
===Velvet Revolution to break up of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992)===
{{Expand-section|date=January 2007}}
[[Image:Mi-24-JH03.jpg|thumb|right|Mi-24 of Czech Air Force]]
[[Image:PZL Swidnik W3A vr.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Czech Air Force PZL W-3A]]
===Czech Republic (1993-present)===
The Czech Air Force was still under the influence of the past in the 1990s. It was equipped mainly with older Russian aircraft. As the Czech Republic prepared to become a member of [[NATO]] in 1999, it began to revise and update its doctrines and aircraft.
The Czech government decided to buy a fleet of Swedish [[JAS 39 Gripen]] multi-role fighter aircraft capable of reaching supersonic speeds. Because of the devastating floods that hit the country during 2003 the deal was put off{{Fact|date=March 2008}}.
A new international tender was issued for an interim solution. Gripen again won this tender among six different bidders as the Czech Republic accepted a government to government 10-year lease from [[Sweden]] that did not involve [[BAE Systems]]. Media allegations of BAE Systems kickbacks to decision makers during the original sales effort have so far led nowhere in the judicial system{{Fact|date=March 2008}}.
==Insignia==
The first Czechoslovak military aircraft wore, for a short time between September and November 1918, three-colour roundel, from the middle: red, blue and white. From 27 November 1918 it was replaced with slanted parallel lines in these colours. From 1920 they were replaced with an inverted roundel, from the middle: white, blue and red. From 21 December 1921 national insignia on aircraft became rectangular national flags. Finally, in December 1926 a current roundel of three parts in white, red and blue, was adapted.<ref>Hans-Joachim Mau: ''Tschechoslowakische Flugzeuge'', Berlin, 1987, ISBN 3-344-00121-3</ref> It remained the insignia of the Czech Air Force until today, although in recent years, a low-visibility variant, all in grey, was adapted in some cases.
==Bases==
*[http://www.afbcaslav.cz/ 21st Tactical Air Force Base at Čáslav, "Zvolenská"]
*[http://www.army.cz/acr/utvary/lznamest/index.htm 22nd Air Force Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou, "Biskajská"]
*[http://www.army.cz/acr/utvary/lzprerov/index.html 23rd Helicopter Base at Přerov, "Edvard Beneš"]
*[http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=5396 24th Air Transportation Base at Prague - Kbely]
*[http://www.army.cz/acr/25plrbs/ 25th Air Defence Missile Brigade at Strakonice]
*[http://www.army.cz/acr/utvary/26bvrpz/index.htm 26th Air Command, Control and Surveillance Bridage at Stará Boleslav]
* Pardubice Airfield Authority
* Air Maintenance Base at České Budějovice
==List of aircraft==
The Czech Air Force operates 190 aircraft, including 61 combat aircraft and 84 helicopters. Thirty-seven percent of the Air Force's aircraft were manufactured in the Czech Republic.
{{Standard table|0}}
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service<ref name="awst_20070115">"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'', [[January 15]] [[2007]].</ref>
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-
| [[Aero L-39|Aero L-39 Albatros]] || {{CZS}} || trainer<br>attack || L-39C/ZA || 18<ref>[http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/czechrepublic/index.php Czech military aviation OrBat]</ref> ||
|-
| [[Aero L-159 Alca]] || {{CZE}} || trainer<br>attack || L-159T1<br>L-159A || 4<br>20 ||
|-
| [[Airbus A319|Airbus 319 CJ]] || {{GER}} || VIP and transport || A319CJ || 2 || replacement of the [[Tupolev Tu-154|Tu-154M]]
|-
| [[Antonov An-26|Antonov An-26 Curl]] || {{USSR}} || transport || An-26 || 4 ||
|-
| [[Bombardier Challenger 600]] || {{CAN}} || VIP || CL-601 || 1 ||
|-
| [[Let L-410|Let L-410 Turbolet]] || {{CZS}} || transport || L-410UVP<br>L-410UVP-E<br>L-410UVP-T || 10<ref>[http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/czechrepublic/index.php Czech military aviation OrBat]</ref> ||
|-
| [[Mil Mi-17|Mil Mi-17 Hip]] || {{USSR}} || transport helicopter || Mi-17<br>Mi-171 || 21 <br> 16 ||
|-
| [[Mil Mi-24|Mil Mi-24 Hind]] || {{USSR}} || attack helicopter || Mi-24V<br>Mi-35 || 18<br>10 ||
|-
| [[Mil Mi-2|PZL Mi-2 Hoplite]] || {{POL}} || utility helicopter || Mi-2 || 5 ||
|-
| [[PZL W-3 Sokół]] || {{POL}} || utility helicopter || W-3A || 10 ||
|-
| [[JAS 39|JAS 39 Gripen]]|| {{SWE}} || fighter || JAS 39C<br>JAS 39D || 12<br>2 || leased for 10 years<ref>[http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/czechrepublic/index.php Czech military aviation OrBat]</ref>
|-
| [[Yakovlev Yak-40|Yakovlev Yak-40 Codling]] || {{USSR}} || VIP<br>transport || Yak-40<br>Yak-40K || 1<br>1 ||
|-
| [[Zlin Z 142]] || {{CZS}} || trainer || Z 142 || 8<ref>[http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/czechrepublic/index.php Czech military aviation OrBat]</ref> ||
|-
| Evektor-Aerotechnik EV 97 || {{CZE}} || ultralight trainer || EV 97 || 1 ||
|}
In addition, several [[Sojka III]] [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s are operated for reconnaissance and electronic warfare.
Types recently retired from Czech service include:
*[[Tupolev Tu-154|Tupolev Tu-154M]] serial no. 1003 and 1016 have been out of service since November 2007 being replaced by the [[Airbus A319|Airbus 319 CJ]].
*[[Aero L-29|Aero L-29 Delfin]] single-engine jet trainer, predecessor of L-39
*[[Antonov An-30|Antonov An-30 Clank]] photo version of An-24/26/28 series (1x)
*[[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed]] latest versions (MF) used for NATINADS (NATO Integrated Air Defence System) service until replaced by Gripens
*[[Antonov An-24|Antonov An-24V Coke]] light transport turboprop, predecessor of [[Antonov An-26|Antonov An-26 Curl]]
== References ==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references />
* Brown, Alan Clifford. ''The Czechoslovak Air Force in Britain, 1940-1945'' (PhD Thesis). University of Southampton, Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities, 1998, 237pp. [http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/42318/]
* Titz, Zdenek; Davies, Gordon and Ward, Richard. ''Czechoslovakian Air Force, 1918-1970 (Aircam Aviation Series no. S5)''. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-021-7.
</div>
==See also==
* [[Military of the Czech Republic]]
==External links==
{{commonscat|Air force of the Czech Republic}}
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/cz-af.htm Global Security entry]
*[http://www.army.cz Official Czech Army site]
*[http://www.gripenavprag.se Book about JAS Gripen in Prague]
*[http://www.afterburner.cz Photo galleries of the Czech Air Force]
{{European topic
|title = Air Forces in Europe
|suffix = _Air_Force
|countries_only=yes |UK_only=yes
}}
[[Category:Air forces by country]]
[[Category:Military of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Aviation in the Czech Republic]]
[[cs:Vzdušné síly AČR]]
[[hu:Cseh Légierő]]
[[pl:Czeskie Siły Powietrzne]]