The
Hellenic Air Force (
HAF; ,
Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation") is the
air force of
Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the
Hellenic Army and the
Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately 33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career officers, 14,000 are professional conscripts (ΕΠ.ΟΠ.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts and 1,100 are women. During the period of
monarchy between 1935–1973 the force was known as the
Royal Hellenic Air Force (
RHAF) (Greek: ,
Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía). The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the
ancient Greek phrase (
Aièn Hypsikrateîn), "Always Dominate the Heights"), and the HAF ensign represents a flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force roundel. The Hellenic Air Force is one of the three branches of the
Hellenic Armed Forces.