Vetokite Imperial Air Force

Vetokite Imperial Air Force
Founded	1 April 1920 (1920-04-01)
Country	Template:Country data United Dominion Vetok
Type	Air and space force
Role	Aerial and space warfare
Size	31,710 active personnel 3,080 reserve personnel 404 aircraft
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 Cyril Slessor
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff	Air Marshal Oliver Douglas
Air and Space Commander	Air Marshal Richard Mayhew
Warrant Officer of the Imperial Air Force	Warrant Officer Robert McLachlan
Aircraft flown
Attack	Thanatos FS9 Contender FS8B
Bomber	Raider B7 Messenger B8
Fighter	Stormer FG4 Aspirant FG8A Venger FI2
Helicopter	Stiletto HA4 Chariot HT6 Lark HL5
Multirole helicopter	Falcon HG7
Trainer helicopter	Lark HL5T
Reconnaissance	Shrike UV1 Skywatch R5 Seahawk R9
Trainer	Aspirant FT8B
Transport	Pegasus C1 Roc C3
Tanker	Accomplice T7

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). Since its formation, the IAF has played a significant role in Vetokite military history.

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 UD 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 VIAF'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 or at long-established overseas bases. Although the IAF is the principal Vetokite air power arm, the Vetokite Dominion Navy's Aviation Arm and the Vetokite Army's Army Air Corps also operate armed aircraft.

Aircraft

Combat air

Stormer

The Stormer FG4 is the VIAF's primary multi-role air defence and ground attack fighter since its introduction in 2009, with a secondary role as an anti-satellite attack craft as part of joint operations with the SGDC. Despite its rather futuristic appearance, as one of the eldest designs in service (pre-dating the Venger by five years), work progresses on an indigenous replacement.

Venger

Introduced in 2015, the Venger FI2 is predominately in use for an air superiority role within the VIAF, although the craft does have a modest air-to-ground facility in keeping with standard Vetokite doctrine.