Vietnam People's Air Force

Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam
Flag of Vietnam People's Army and flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force
Active	1959 -
Country	Vietnam, North Vietnam
Size	30,000 personnel 551 active aircraft
Anniversaries	3 April - first claimed shootdown of US fighter (1965)
Engagements	Vietnam War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese War
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Nguyen Duc Suat (2003)
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-22, Mi-24
Fighter	Su-30, Su-27, MiG-21
Patrol	Ka-27, Ka-25
Reconnaissance	M-400, An-30
Trainer	Yak-52, L-39
Transport	An-38, M-28, An-24, UH-1, Mi-8, Mi-17

Aircraft inventory

Most of the VPAF's aircraft were supplied from the Soviet Union & PRC, but hundreds were left over by the Americans via the Republic of Vietnam; most of which are no longer in service.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-30MK2V "Flanker"	Russia	Multi Role fighter	Su-30MK2V	12	32+ on order
Sukhoi Su-27SK/UB Flanker	Russia	Air Defence fighter	Su-27	36
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Bis Fishbed L/N	Soviet Union	Fighter	MiG-21	200+
Sukhoi Su-22M3/4 Fitter-J/K	Soviet Union	Attack	Su-22	145
Trainer Aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21U Mongol	Soviet Union	Trainer	MiG-21U	24
Aero L-39C Albatros	Czechoslovakia	Trainer	L-39C	24	12 on order from Poland
Yakovlev Yak-130	Russia	Trainer	Yak-130	8	on order (source?)
Yakovlev Yak-52	Russia	Trainer	Yak-52	36
Reconnaissance
An-30 Clank	Soviet Union	Reconnaissance	An-30	6
CASA C.212 Aviocar	Spain	Reconnaissance	CASA C.212-400	3	Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) MS6000 maritime surveillance system with Side-Looking Airborne Radar. Under Vietnam Marine Police control.
Attack Helicopter
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Soviet Union	Attack helicopter	Mil Mi-24A/D	36
Transport Aircraft
C-130 Hercules	United States	Transport	C-130E	4	To be returned to service?
An-26 Curl	Soviet Union	Transport	An-26	48
An-24 Coke	Soviet Union	Transport	An-24	12
An-28 Cash	Soviet Union	Light Transport	An-28	6
An-2 Colt	Soviet Union	Light Transport	An-2	15
PZL M28 Skytruck	Poland	Light Transport	M-28	11	some fitted with MS-600 radars
Yak-40 Codling	Soviet Union	VIP Transport	Yak-40	15
Transport Helicopter
Mi-8 Hip	Soviet Union	Transport	Mil Mi-8	66
Mi-17 Hip-H	Soviet Union	Transport	Total Mil Mi-17Sh Mil Mi-172	69 27 18
Mi-6 Hook-A	Soviet Union	Heavy lift helicopter	Mi-6	10-15
PZL W-3 Sokol	Poland	VIP helicopter/ SAR helicopter	Total PZL W-3S PZL W-3RM	8 4 4
Kamov Ka-32S Helix-C	Soviet Union	SAR Helicopter	Ka-32	5
Kamov Ka-25 Hormone	Soviet Union	ASW helicopter	Ka-25	6
Ka-27 Helix	Soviet Union	ASW helicopter	Ka-27	19
Eurocopter Dauphin	France	SAR helicopter	SA-365 N2	5	From the Ministry of Defence
Eurocopter Ecureuil	France	Light utility helicopter	AS-350 B3	5	From the Ministry of Defence
Aérospatiale Puma	France	Civilian transport	SA-330J	9	From the Ministry of Defence
Aérospatiale Super Puma	France	Civilian transport	AS-332L2	7	From the Ministry of Defence. 1 Super Puma operated by Southern Service Flight Company (SFC) was lost in sea transportation mission for offshore platform in 2007.
UH-1H Huey	United States	Utility	UH-1H	15
Miscellaneous Aircraft
M-400 UAV	Vietnam	UAV	M-400	12?
VNS-41	Vietnam	Amphibious	VNS-41	7-12?	Domestic produced light plane type ULM with floatation devices.