The Air and Air Defence Forces (Uzbek: Havo hujumidan mudofaa qoʻshinlari va Harbiy havo kuchlari; Russian: Войска противовоздушной обороны и Военно-воздушные силы) are the aerial arm of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

By late 1992, the Uzbek units suffered from a shortage of officers since many had left for their national armed forces.

On the first day of 1993, in accordance with a directive of the General Staff of Uzbekistan issued on 3 November 1992, the headquarters of the Uzbek Air Force was formed from the aviation department of the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, created by that time, and the disbanded headquarters of the 73rd Air Army.

[3] Initially, personnel of Slavic nationalities were allowed to depart freely and not pressured into taking the oath of allegiance to Uzbekistan or signing service contracts with their armed forces, which allowed the fledgling air force to gain experience, but once they left, the Uzbek Air Forces experienced a sharp decline in experienced pilots and maintenance personnel and a reduction to minimum numbers of serviceable aircraft.

Another problem was a lack of Aero L-39 trainer aircraft inherited from the Soviet Union, resulting in the purchase of fifteen of them from Kyrgyzstan between 1994 and 1996.

The process was difficult and only from 2001 did the percentage of serviceable aircraft begin to rise and pilot flight hours increase.

In Operation Enduring Freedom, the US government and NATO had an aviation company repair much of the Air Force's aircraft, as it was deemed inoperable by them.

Russia tried to undermine US efforts to reach out to Uzbekistan, especially at a 2002 conference in Tashkent, where members of various aviation companies were present.

[6] After the 2016 death of longtime dictator Islam Karimov, who had ruled Uzbekistan since its independence, his successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev pursued an increasingly pro-Russian position.

This was reflected in renewed Uzbek participation in Joint CIS Air Defense System exercises held at Sary Shagan in September 2019, and the supply of twelve Russian Mi-35M helicopters under a 2018 loan.

[6] In August 2021, with the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, a number of former Afghan Air Force EMB 314 Super Tucanos and Cessna 208 aircraft have fled to Uzbekistan, and have now been seen on the runway at Termez Airport.

[8] Uzbekistan is set to receive deliveries of TAI ANKA combat drones from Turkey within coming days, according to local reports published on January 30.

[19] The Ministry of Defense organizes a number of events, including a wreath laying ceremony to honor pilots who died in the line of duty.

[citation needed] On 18 June 2019, celebrations were held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of an air force unit located in Qashqadaryo Region [appears to be 70th anniversary of 735th Bomber Aviation Regiment now 60th Mixed Aviation Brigade], which included pilots performed an "air dance" in the sky on MiG-29s and Su-25, demonstrating their aerobatic skills.

[21] On Victory Day (9 May) in 2019, Major General Akhmad Burkhanov led an air force delegation that congratulated veterans of the Second World War and delivered a larger holiday stipend of behalf of the President of Uzbekistan.