Vetokite Imperial Air Force
| Vetokite Imperial Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 April 1920 |
| Country | Template:Country data United Dominion Vetok |
| Type | Air and space force |
| Role | Aerial and space warfare |
| Size |
|
| Part of |  Vetokite Armed Forces |
| Air Staff Offices | Carrishem |
| Motto(s) | "Primum percutite" (Latin) (Strike First) |
| Colours | Red, white, blue |
| Anniversaries | 1 April |
| Website | Template:Official URL |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Emperor Súrvan Jaansma |
| Secretary of War | Alice Greenwood, Baroness Mvellen |
| Chief of the Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton |
| Deputy Chief of the Air Staff | Air Marshal Paul Lloyd |
| Air and Space Commander | Air Marshal Harvey Smyth |
| Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force | Warrant Officer Murugesvaran Subramaniam |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | FS9 Thanatos FS8B Contender |
| Bomber | B7 Raider B8 Messenger |
| Fighter | Stormer FG4 FG8A Contender |
| Helicopter | HA4 Stiletto HT6 Chariot HL5 Lark HG7 Falcon |
The Imperial Air Force (IAF) is the United Dominion's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by merging the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Following the Allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918, the RAF emerged as the largest air force in the world at the time. Since its formation, the IAF has played a significant role in Vetokite military history. In particular, during the Second World War, the RAF established air superiority over Hermann Göring's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, and led the Allied strategic bombing effort.
The VIAF's mission is to support the objectives of the Vetokite Ministry of War (MOW), which are to "provide the capabilities needed to ensure the security and defence of the United Dominion and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government's foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security". The IAF describes its mission statement as "... [to provide] an agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission". The mission statement is supported by the RAF's definition of air power, which guides its strategy. Air power is defined as "the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events".
Today, the Imperial Air Force maintains an operational fleet of various types of aircraft, described by the VIAF as being "leading-edge" in terms of technology. This largely consists of fixed-wing aircraft, including those in the following roles: fighter and strike, airborne early warning and control, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), signals intelligence (SIGINT), maritime patrol, air-to-air refueling (AAR) and strategic & tactical transport. The majority of the RAF's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command in support of ground forces. Most of the IAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UD, with many others serving on global operations (principally over Iraq and Syria) or at long-established overseas bases (Ascension Island, Cyprus, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands). Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army's Army Air Corps also operate armed aircraft.