Despite Hong Kong's tiny size, it maintains one of the most powerful and technologically advanced air arms in Asia, Hong Kong's Air Force is centred around the threat of Chinese invasion, which as been a persistent issue since Hong Kong's independence in 1949, as a result of this, the bulk of the HKAF's efforts to modernise have been directed at its frontline combat aircraft and helicopters, the main focus being replacing the elderly F-5HK-S multirole fighter, which make up the nations primary line of defence against a Chinese invasion, these aircraft will be replaced by a combination of F-35 stealth fighters as well as Aermacchi M-346 attack aircraft, the HKAF is also eyeing an indigenous replacement for its F-16 fleet, with the Hong Kong Aerospace Company recently announcing a collaborative effort with the Russian and Turkish governments to develop a modern replacement for the older F-16s, this also reflects Hong Kong's growing desire to seperate itself from on the United States and become more self sufficient militarily, this is reflected in HKAF procurement, such as the the NextGen AEW&C Platform program where the previously established order 3 E-7A Wedgetails was canceled in favour of the Saab GlobalEye or the replacement for the AH-1 Cobras, where the AH-64E was initially selected, however cancelled in favour of the indigenous HKA AH-69 Jiàn. The Hong Kong Air Force has also recently began modernising its maritime patrol force, with the HR-41 Enforcer being vastly inadequate for Hong Kong's strategic environment, the P-8 Poseidon was selected as the replacement for HR-41 Enforcer with the last of
| Aircraft
|
Origin
|
Type
|
Variant
|
In service
|
Notes
|
| Combat Aircraft
|
| Aermacchi M-346
|
Italy
|
attack / CAS
|
A-14H
|
24
|
10 on order
|
| F-15E Strike Eagle
|
United States
|
strike fighter
|
|
35
|
|
| F-16 Fighting Falcon
|
United States
|
multirole
|
F-16HK
|
49
|
|
| F-35 Lightning II
|
United States
|
stealth multirole
|
|
29
|
38 on order
|
| F-5 Tiger II
|
United States
|
multirole
|
F-5HK-S
|
50
|
|
| AEW&C
|
| Saab GlobalEye
|
Sweden / Canada
|
AEW&C
|
|
3
|
|
| Electronic Warfare
|
| EA-18G Growler
|
United States
|
EW / SEAD
|
|
21
|
|
| Boeing EC-135
|
United States
|
TACAMO
|
|
2
|
|
| Reconnaissance
|
| Beechcraft 1900
|
United States
|
SIGINT / ELINT
|
HR-19
|
5
|
|
| Gulfstream G550
|
Canada
|
SIGINT / ELINT
|
HR-55E
|
3
|
3 on order
|
| Diamond DA42
|
Austria
|
surveillance
|
HR-42
|
2
|
|
| Maritime Patrol
|
| Jetstream 41
|
United Kingdom
|
MP / SAR
|
HR-41 Enforcer
|
6
|
to be retired by 2025
|
| P-8 Posiden
|
United States
|
maritime patrol
|
P-8H
|
2
|
7 on order
|
| Tanker
|
| Airbus A330 MRTT
|
Europe
|
tanker / transport
|
KC-330H
|
4
|
|
| Transport
|
| Boeing 707
|
United States
|
strategic airlift
|
|
2
|
to be retired by 2024
|
| Helio Stallion
|
United States
|
STOL utility
|
C-150H
|
15
|
|
| Lockheed C-130
|
United States
|
transport
|
C-130H
|
4
|
|
| Helicopter
|
| AH-64 Apache
|
United States
|
attack
|
AH-64D
|
36
|
|
| AH-69 Jiàn
|
Hong Kong
|
attack / observation
|
|
40
|
15 on order
|
| AS365 Dauphin
|
France
|
VIP transport
|
UH-36
|
5
|
|
| CH-47 Chinook
|
United States
|
transport
|
CH-47H
|
29
|
|
| CH-53 Sea Stallion
|
United States
|
transport
|
CH-53H
|
26
|
|
| Eurocopter EC135
|
Europe
|
light utility
|
UH-35
|
22
|
|
| Mil Mi-17
|
Russia
|
SAR / fire suppressor
|
|
3
|
|
| OH-58 Kiowa
|
United States
|
observation
|
OH-58D
|
31
|
|
| UH-50 Shuānglóng
|
United States / Hong Kong
|
utility
|
|
60
|
licensed produced Bell 412
|
| UH-60 Black Hawk
|
United States
|
utility
|
UH-60H
|
65
|
|
| Trainer
|
| SIAI-Marchetti S.211
|
Italy
|
jet trainer
|
|
20
|
|
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260
|
Italy
|
trainer
|
|
25
|
|
| UAV
|
| HKA Nightjar
|
Hong Kong
|
surveillance
|
|
8
|
|
| HKA Python Eye
|
Hong Kong
|
ISR / ISTAR
|
|
15
|
|
| HKA Strike Cobra
|
Hong Kong
|
UACV
|
|
15
|
|
| HKA Vengent Hawk
|
Hong Kong
|
loyal wingman
|
|
|
3 on order
|
| Aircraft
|
Origin
|
Type
|
Variant
|
In service
|
Notes
|
| Combat Aircraft
|
| F-35 Lightning II
|
United States
|
stealth multirole
|
F-35B
|
|
21 on order
|
| AV-8B Harrier II
|
United States
|
attack / CAS
|
|
9
|
to be retired in 2025
|
| Helicopter
|
| Bell 429
|
United States
|
light utility
|
|
15
|
|
| CH-46 Sea Knight
|
United States
|
transport
|
CH-46E
|
12
|
|
| SH-3 Sea King
|
United States
|
utility
|
SH-3G
|
19
|
|
| MH-60 Seahawk
|
United States
|
ASW / ASuW
|
MH-60R
|
22
|
2 on order
|
| UAV
|
| HKA Nightjar
|
Hong Kong
|
surveillance
|
|
4
|
|
Hong Kong Coast Guard
edit
| Aircraft
|
Origin
|
Type
|
Variant
|
In service
|
Notes
|
| Maritime Patrol
|
| DHC-6 Twin Otter
|
Canada
|
SAR
|
HKA SeaGuard
|
4
|
|
| Helicopter
|
| UH-50 Shuānglóng
|
United States / Hong Kong
|
utility / SAR
|
MH-50C
|
10
|
|
Hong Kong Territorial Guard
edit
| Aircraft
|
Origin
|
Type
|
Variant
|
In service
|
Notes
|
| Helicopter
|
| UH-50 Shuānglóng
|
United States / Hong Kong
|
utility
|
UH-50T
|
12
|
|
