Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) (Sinhala: රාජකීය ලංකාවේ ගුවන් හමුදාව rājakīya laṁkāvē guvan hamudāva; Tamil: ராயல் சிலோன் விமானப்படை Rāyal cilōṉ vimāṉappaṭai; Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Ceylon) was formed on 2 March 1949 with British RAF officers and other personnel seconded to the RCyAF. Ceylonese were recruited to the new RCyAF and several Ceylonese who had served with the RAF during world war 2 were absorbed in the force. The initial objective was to train local pilots and ground crew, early administration and training were carried out exclusively by RAF officers and other personnel on secondment. Beginning with a small collection of light aircraft, the force soon transformed into a comprehensive fighting force. It has since participated in several wars and numerous engagements, becoming what has been described as "The mightiest air force in the Indies Ocean".

The dominance of the RCyAF has come about through effective training, the weakness of its foes, and a flexible approach to design and procurement. Over the years, RCyAF has tried various strategies for filling their air force with fighters, including buying from the, France, buying from the United States and building the planes themselves. They seem to have settled on a combination of the last two, with great effect. Instead of pursuing its own fighters, Ceylon has lately preferred to extensively modify the aircraft it buys from the United States. Fighters have both received major upgrades to optimize them for Ceylonese service. Both planes have increased range and improved avionics, enabling the CDF to fight effectively at a great distance from its bases. The RCyAF has already undertaken steps to make the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter more suitable for Ceylonese service, including advanced software modifications.

The RCyAF retains its own security personnel known as Air Force Infantry Regiment. This personnel are trained in various disciplines such as infantry tactics, force protection, fieldcraft, sniper, support Special Forces operations, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) defense, equipped with advanced vehicles and detection measures. The instructors are responsible for training all Royal Ceylon Air Force personnel in basic force protection such as first aid, weapon handling and CBRN skills.

The RCyAF also has its own special forces group called the Special Air Detachment - Alpha or "Sada", based in RCyAF Katunayake. They are the elite Air Force commando unit and is considered to be one of the most elite units within the CDF. Sada's mission is to deploy undetected into combat and hostile environments to conduct special reconnaissance, strategic search and rescue, establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control and commando actions. Conscripts who serve in Sada are required to serve at least 4.5 years of military service before being discharged from conscription. Sada operators undergo the longest training phase of any unit in the CDF, lasting 22 months, and training has a heavy emphasis on navigation, use of modern technology with the combination of traditional special forces combat skills and even basic helicopter piloting.

The professional head of the air force is the Commander of the Air Force who reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff. The Commander of the Air Force exercises operational and administrative control of the air force from Air Force Headquarters, housed in the Defence Headquarters Complex in Battaramulla.

General Staff - Air Forces HQ

- Air Force Commander Group
- Fixed Wing Group
- Helicopter Group
- Intelligence Group
- Equipment Group
- Manpower Group
- Chief Medical Officer
- Unit Control Group
- Air Special Forces Group/SADA
- Air Force Infantry Regiment
- Air Defense Command
* Main Island Air Defense Regiment
* Andaman and Nicobar Air Defence Regiment

Air Bases locations in districts:

RCyAF Elephant Pass in Jaffna District

- No.6 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.105 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.9 Squadron (F-16)
- No.57 Squadron (Bonanza G36)
- No.84 Squadron (UH-60)
- No.87 Squadron (Puma HC2)

RCyAF Kosgama in Colombo District

- No.51 Squadron (C-17A Globemaster)
- No.41 Squadron (Airbus Voyager)
- No.33 Squadron (Shadow R1 & Gulfstream G550)
- No.82 Squadron (UH-60)
- No.820 Squadron (Puma HC2)
- No.870 Squadron (MH-6 Little Bird)

RCyAF Galpotthegama in Anuradhapura District

- No.5 Squadron (F-15E)
- No.18 Squadron (F-16)
- No.102 Squadron (F-16)
- No.21 Squadron (Boeing Sentry)
- No.31 Squadron (Sentinel R1)

RCyAF Katunayake in Gampaha District

- No.52 Squadron (C-130J)
- No.55 Squadron (Bonanza G36)
- No.22 Squadron (Boeing E-7)
- No.83 Squadron (UH-60)
- No.88 Squadron (Puma HC2)

RCyAF China Bay in Trincomalee District

- No.11 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.14 Squadron (F-15E)
- No.25 Squadron (Gulfstream G550)
- No.89 Squadron (Puma HC2)
- No.71 Training Squadron (Aermacchi M-346)
- No.73 Training Squadron (Grob G 120)
- No.77 Training Squadron (T-6 Texan)

RCyAF Batticaloa in Batticaloa District

- No.10 Squadron (F-16)
- No.114 Squadron (F-16)
- No.19 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.53 Squadron (A400M Atlas)
- No.834 Squadron (Puma HC2)

RCyAF Sigiriya in Matale District

- No.8 Squadron (F-16)
- No.104 Squadron (F-15E)
- No.109 Squadron (F-15E)
- No.90 Squadron (MQ-9 Reaper UAV)

RCyAF Koggala in Galle District

- No.13 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.117 Squadron (F-16)
- No.59 Squadron (Bonanza G36)
- No.44 Squadron (KC-130 Hercules)
- No.801 Squadron (Puma HC2)

RCyAF Wirawila in Hambantota District

- No.16 Squadron (F-16)
- No. 111 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.72 Training Squadron (Aermacchi M-346)
- No.80 Squadron (AS565)
- No.81 Squadron (Bell Griffin)
- No.815 Squadron (Puma HC2)

RCyAF Dundas Point in South Andaman Island District

- No.3 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.17 Squadron (F/A-18 Super Hornet )
- No.113 Squadron (F-16)
- No.83 Squadron (UH-60)

Stations in districts:

RCyAF Station Diyatalawa in Badulla District

- Air Force Infantry Regiment Training Center

RCyAF Station Walapane in Matale District

- Air Defence Training Command
- Air Defence Regiment HQ