Air Force, a special type of troops of the Azerbaijan Army, ensures the continuous protection of the state air borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan, provides defense against all potential aerial threats and attacks, and carries out combat support activities in the execution of combat missions by other branches of the Armed Forces.

At the initiative of Minister of War of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Samad bay Mehmandarov, a group of Azerbaijani nationals was seconded in 1919 to the Aviation School in Tbilisi, Georgia, under Azerbaijan-Georgia Military Cooperation Agreement to receive professional training as military pilots and aviation personnel. Moreover, the appointment of a deputy commander of the Aviation Detachment and the approval of its authorized staffing structure in August-September of the same year are regarded as the key historical milestones marking the establishment of the Air Force.

In the Republic of Azerbaijan, which restored its independence in 1991, the Air Force was established on 14 February 1992 as a branch of the Armed Forces within the structure of the Ministry of Defense, and this date has since been commemorated as Air Force Day.

The first aircraft to enter the armament of the Air Force was Su-25 combat aircraft, which on 8 April 1992 was flown from the former Soviet Army’s Sitalchay airfield by the National Hero of the Republic of Azerbaijan, First Lieutenant Gurbanov Vagif Bakhtiyar. 

Tupolev TU-134 aircraft on which National Leader Heydar Aliyev returned from Nakhchivan to Baku in June 1993 is currently preserved at the Gala Aviation Base.

On 15 October 1997, a landmark event in personnel training took place in the independent Republic of Azerbaijan with the graduation ceremony of the first national military pilots. Addressing the significance, and responsibility of this historic occasion, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, who attended the ceremony, stated: “I am very pleased that we now have our national falcons. I am pleased that our falcons are capable of constantly safeguarding Azerbaijan skies, protecting the territory of Azerbaijan, and defending the independence of Azerbaijan.”

As a result of the attention and care paid to this type of troops by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor to the political course of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the modernization of the Air Force, the enrichment of its material and technical base, weapons arsenal and combat equipment, as well as the improvement activities carried out in its structure, occupy an important place among the priority issues of the Armed Forces.

Today, professional servicemen of the Air Force, equipped with the most modern means and technology, are fully capable of conducting combat operations at any moment to protect the state’s air space.

Air Force is composed of the Air Force Department, Air Force Combat Command, including the Air Defense Division and the Air Training Command.

Air Force Department 

It is an authority responsible for regulating the activities of the Air Force and its subordinate units in accordance with the orders of the supreme leadership and the execution of assigned duties. It issues the relevant directives and orders and exercises oversight over their implementation.

The following have commanded the Air Force:

- Major General Vladimir Kravtsov – 1992

- Lieutenant General Rail Rzayev – 1992-2009

- Major General Altay Mehdiyev – 2009-2013

- Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov – 2014-2024

Hero of the Patriotic War, Lieutenant General Islamzade Namig Sarafruz has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense – Commander of the Air Force by Decree No. 293 of 18 September 2024 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Air Combat Command

Air Combat Command, established under Decree No. 1689 of 24 May 2022 by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, together with the Air Defense Division created under Decree No. 417 of 19 July 2025 and its directly subordinate units, including surface-to-air missile brigades, radar regiments, a UAV brigade, and aviation bases, serves as the managerial body responsible for the continuous reconnaissance and protection of the state’s air borders, as well as for executing defensive operations against all potential aerial threats and attacks. Overall, it is equipped with radar systems for state air reconnaissance, air defense assets against aerial threats, missiles, combat aircraft and helicopters for air defense, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Air Training Command

Air Training Command, established in accordance with Decree No. 1689 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 24 May 2022, is a command-and-control body aimed at enhancing and improving the professional training of servicemen of the Air Force, as well as ensuring their adaptation to constantly changing and evolving conditions.

In order to develop personnel potential and to enhance and improve the intellectual and professional training level of servicemen, the following courses are organized at the Air Training Command:

- officer training course;

- officer improvement course;

- reserve officer training course;

- warrant officer training course;

- long-term active military servicemen training course;

- new recruits training course.

At the same time, the Air Training Command organizes deployments to training ranges with the aim of assessing and improving the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of units and subunits in preparation for the use of combat crews.

Air Training Command carries out activities in the areas of qualification enhancement, retraining, internships, and personnel development through its subordinate Air Force’s Training and Education Center and the Training Aviation Base.

Air Force’s Training and Educational Center is the main executing structural component of the courses and activities organized within the Air Training Command and ensures the organization and conduct of all courses and types of training, except for flight training.

Training Aviation Base is a center that regulates and implements the activities of various courses of different orientations and levels organized for the training of Air Force’s pilot and onboard technical personnel.