Austrian Air Force

The Austrian Air Force is a component of the Austrian Armed Forces, structured to primarily ensure the sovereignty of the nation's airspace, a doctrine defined by Austria's long-standing neutrality. Its operational posture is defensive, focused on air surveillance and interception, with secondary roles in supporting land forces and providing aid during civil emergencies. The strategic framework, outlined in the 2001 Security and Defence Doctrine, embeds Austrian security within the broader European context, viewing military force as a last resort and committing to the principle of solidarity within the European Union.

The force is organized into two primary commands: the Air Surveillance Command, which manages air defense assets, and the Air Support Command, responsible for helicopter and transport fleets. The main air bases are in Zeltweg, Hörsching, Langenlebarn, and Aigen im Ennstal. The core of Austria's air defense capability rests with its fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operating from Zeltweg Air Base. The transport and utility roles are filled by helicopters, including the S-70 Black Hawk, and various fixed-wing transport aircraft.

To address identified capability gaps and aging equipment, Austria initiated the “Mission Forward” plan, a multi-billion euro investment program. A project is the modernization of the existing Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, which will add night combat capability, upgrade the DASS self-protection system, and integrate medium/long-range air-to-air missiles. The Ministry of Defense also announced the acquisition of four additional two-seater Typhoons to improve training and operational availability.

Following the retirement of the Saab 105OE trainer and light attack jets in 2020, Austria is procuring Leonardo M-346FA aircraft to fill this role. The rotary-wing fleet is being expanded with the purchase of additional S-70 Black Hawk helicopters. Austria has also joined the European Sky Shield Initiative, which will lead to the acquisition of layered air defense systems, including the IRIS-T SLM/SLS. Plans are in place to introduce unmanned aerial vehicles by 2026 to enhance reconnaissance capabilities.