Myanmar Air Force

The Myanmar Air Force, officially the Defence Services (Air) (Burmese: တပ်မတော် (လေ), romanised: Tatmadaw (Lay), pronounced [taʔmədɔ̀ (le)]), is the aerial branch of the Myanmar Defence Services (Tatmadaw), the combined military of Myanmar. Its official name was Burma Air Force (Burmese: မြန်မာ့လေတပ်မတော်, romanized: Myanma Lay Tatmadaw) before being renamed to Defence Services (Air Force) (Burmese: တပ်မတော် (လေတပ်), romanized: Tatmadaw (Lay Tat)) in 1956. The primary mission of the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) since its inception has been to provide air bases force protection, anti-aircraft warfare, close air support (CAS), logistical, and transport to the Myanmar Army in counterinsurgency operations. It is mainly used in internal conflicts in Myanmar, and, on a smaller scale, in relief missions, especially after the deadly Cyclone Nargis of May 2008.