Georgian Air Force

The Georgian Air Force, re-established as a separate service branch in 2016 after being absorbed into the Land Forces in 2010, is structured to ensure airspace sovereignty and support land and naval operations. Its primary operational functions include air defense, aerial reconnaissance, transport, and providing air support to ground forces. The force's doctrine emphasizes the defense of national sovereignty, developing NATO interoperability, and the ability to conduct defensive operations without direct external support. It operates from its main bases near Tbilisi at Vaziani and Marneuli. The current structure is considered compatible with NATO requirements, a key driver of its development.

Operational capability is centered on a rotorcraft-heavy inventory, which constitutes over 60% of its air assets, fulfilling transport, MEDEVAC, and support roles. The fixed-wing component is based on the Su-25 ground-attack aircraft. Ground-based air defense is a priority, with efforts to modernize Soviet-era systems and integrate new capabilities. The doctrine directs the military to be prepared for scenarios ranging from large-scale interventions to regional conflict spillovers, framing its capability requirements.

Modernization efforts since 2020 have been focused and specific. The program involves the overhaul and modernization of the Su-25 fleet in cooperation with local industry, including Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacture (TAM), to improve their combat and training functions. This includes plans for a domestically-produced variant, the Ge-31 "Bora," intended to be free of Russian components. In parallel, Georgia is enhancing its air defense and electronic warfare capabilities through contracts with Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems. Rafael is upgrading existing air defense assets and re-training crews, while Elbit is modernizing the electronic systems of air platforms. A significant addition to its capabilities comes from the local production of Polish WB Group unmanned aerial vehicles; the armed forces have received batches of FlyEye reconnaissance drones and Warmate loitering munitions produced by the Delta-WB joint venture in Tbilisi.