The Air Force was established the same year as the National Army. The Air Defense Forces were established in 1994. As a result of military reforms and the common goals and objectives, in 2005 the two forces were merged. In 2007, it consisted of sixteen combat and support helicopters, prior to which the country had relied on the Russian Air Force for protection. Tajikistan is part of the Commonwealth of Independent States Joint Air Defense System, and its airspace is monitored by Russia. Currently, no air defense capabilities exist, with the exception of a few surface-to-air missiles that were transferred to the Tajik Army. Russia opposes Tajik’s ambition of a more capable air force, and Moscow has consistently declined to supply fighter aircraft or assist modernizing its military air traffic control system. Russia’s assessment is that its own air force contingent at Gissar and in Kazakhstan is sufficient to ensure adequate security for Tajikistan. Tajikistan’s modest number of combat-capable helicopters are primarily tasked with search and rescue and airlift duties; they have been occasionally deployed to attack opposition forces. Dushanbe receives minimal foreign military aid and has no funding available for procurement of fixed-wing combat aircraft. Moscow bolstered Tajikistan's rotary wing capability in 2006 by providing six Mi-8 and Mi-24 attack helicopters. It also provided four L-39 training aircraft. India’s defense ministry signed a basing agreement with Tajikistan that gives it access to Tajik’s Ayni Air Base that is also shared with the Russians. Under this trilateral agreement, the runway was extended, perimeter fencing erected and aircraft hangars built. Since 1985, this decaying airbase was used by the former Soviet Union during its Afghan war, and after renovation, it was officially opened in September 2010. India contributed 70 million dollars toward the renovation and sent specialists to help with the work. The airfield, located some 20 kilometers west of Dushanbe, now has state-of-the-art navigational and defense technology. Its runway was also extended to 3,200 meters so that all types of aircraft can land there.
The Air Force and Air Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan protects the airspace of Tajikistan together with the Air Force of the Russian Federation, which has been constantly present in Tajikistan since the collapse of the USSR in the framework of the Casus foederis. In addition, Tajikistan is a member of the CSTO. The air group of the permanent deployment of the Russian air force consists of one squadron of five Su-25 attack aircraft and three MiG-29 fighters, as well as one helicopter squadron of four Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters. The air group of the permanent deployment of the Russian air force is stationed at Ayni Air Base, and is part of the Russian 201st Military Base, stationed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The Russian Air Force is able to quickly transfer the necessary amount of strike aircraft and forces to Tajikistan if necessary. From may 1993 to July 2005, a :ru:Группа Пограничных войск России в Республике Таджикистан|Group of border troops of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Tajikistan was also permanently stationed in Tajikistan, guarding together with local border guards the state border of the Republic of Tajikistan with Afghanistan and China. Tajikistan's air defense forces are also extremely weak and limited. Military experts note that if Tajikistan were not theoretically a member of the CSTO and did not cooperate with Russia in the field of defense — like the entire army, the air force and air defense of this country will not be able to resist the possible military aggression of a third-party state, especially in the air. Military equipment of the air Group of the Russian Air Force permanently stationed in the Republic of Tajikistan, which together with the air force and air defense of the Republic of Tajikistan protects the airspace of Tajikistan:
