Air force officer rank insignia

To assist in the comparison of different countries' air force officer rank insignia, NATO rank codes have been used. These are established codes for determining the seniority of officer and other ranks in NATO countries for a particular joint task group or command structure, although specific appointments designate a higher level of seniority over other equivalent rank codes in a given situation. Officer ranks go from OF-1 up to OF-10; OF(D) being a special category for trainee officers awaiting a commission. The system should not be confused with the pay grades used in the US military. While countries outside the NATO command structure (including some NATO member countries such as France) do not strictly fall into this classification structure and there may be instances of overlap the codes still provide a useful gauge in determining what ranks are broadly equivalent.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Argentine Air Force	No equivalent
			Brigadier General (Brigadier General)		Brigadier Mayor (Brigadier-Major)		Brigadier (Brigadier)		Comodoro Mayor (Commodore-Major)		Comodoro (Commodore)		Vicecomodoro (Vice-Commodore)		Mayor (Major)		Capitán (Captain)		Primer Teniente (First Lieutenant)			Teniente (Lieutenant)			Alférez (Ensign)
Royal Australian Air Force
	Marshal of the RAAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer			Officer cadet
Bangladesh Air Force	No equivalent
			Air Chief Marshal		Air Marshal		Air Vice-Marshal		Air Commodore		Group Captain		Wing Commander		Squadron Leader		Flight Lieutenant		Flying Officer			Pilot Officer			Officer cadet
Belgian Air Component	No equivalent																														No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major	Senior Captain	Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Brigadegeneraal		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein		Luitenant			Onderluitenant			Aspirant
Brazilian Air Force									No equivalent
	Marechal-do-ar (Marshal of the Air)		Tenente-brigadeiro (Lieutenant-Brigadier)		Major-brigadeiro (Major-Brigadier)		Brigadeiro-do-ar (Brigadier)				Coronel (Colonel)		Tenente-coronel (Lieutenant-Colonel)		Major (Major)		Capitão (Captain)		Primeiro-tenente (First Lieutenant)			Segundo-tenente (Second Lieutenant)			Aspirante (Aspirant)						Cadete (Cadet)
Royal Canadian Air Force	No equivalent																														No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier-general		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
			Général		Lieutenant-général		Major-général		Brigadier-général		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Élève-officier
Chilean Air Force	No equivalent
			Air General General de Aire		Aviation General General de Aviación		Air Brigade General General de Brigada Aérea		Commodore Comodoro		Aviation Colonel Coronel de Aviación		Group Commander Comandante de Grupo		Squadron Commander Comandante de Escuadrilla		Flight Captain Capitán de Bandada		Lieutenant Teniente		Sublieutenant Subteniente		Ensign Alférez		Officer Cadet Cadete
Czech Air Force	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Armádní generál		Generálporučík		Generálmajor		Brigádní generál		Plukovník		Podplukovník		Major		Kapitán		Nadporučík			Poručík
Royal Danish Air Force	No equivalent																														No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstløjtnant		Major		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant			Sekondløjtnant
Dominican Air Force	No equivalent
					Teniente General		Mayor General		General de Brigada		Coronel		Teniente Coronel		Mayor		Capitan		Primer Teniente			Segundo Teniente			Cadete
French Air and Space Force	No equivalent
			Général d´armée aérienne		Général de corps aérien		Général de division aérienne		Général de brigade aérienne		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant			Aspirant						Élève-officier
Hellenic Air Force	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd Lieutenant
			Πτέραρχος		Αντιπτέραρχος		Υποπτέραρχος		Ταξίαρχος		Σμήναρχος		Αντισμήναρχος		Επισμηναγός		Σμηναγός		Υποσμηναγός			Ανθυποσμηναγός
Indian Air Force
	Marshal of the Indian Air Force		Air Chief Marshal		Air Marshal		Air Vice Marshal		Air Commodore		Group Captain		Wing Commander		Squadron Leader		Flight Lieutenant		Flying Officer						Flight Cadet
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force	No equivalent
			General ارتشبد		Lieutenant General سپهبد		Major General سرلشکر		Brigadier General سرتیپ	Second Brigadier General سرتیپ دوم	Colonel سرهنگ		Lieutenant Colonel سرهنگ دوم		Major سرگرد		Captain سروان		First Lieutenant ستوان یکم		Second Lieutenant ستوان دوم		Third Lieutenant ستوان سوم		Officer Cadet دانشجوی دانشگاه هوایی
Italian Air Force																									No equivalent
	Generale		Generale di Squadra Aerea con Incarichi Speciali		Generale di Squadra Aerea		Generale di Divisione Aerea		Generale di Brigata Aerea		Colonnello		Tenente Colonnello		Maggiore		Primo capitano	Capitano	Tenente			Sottotenente
Royal Malaysian Air Force																									No insignia
	Marshal of the Air Force		General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer Cadet
	Marsyal Tentera Udara		Jeneral TUDM		Leftenan Jeneral TUDM		Mejar Jeneral TUDM		Brigedier Jeneral TUDM		Kolonel TUDM		Leftenan Kolonel TUDM		Mejar TUDM		Kapten TUDM		Leftenan TUDM			Leftenan Muda TUDM			Pegawai Kadet
Mexican Air Force	No equivalent
					General de División		General de Ala		General de Grupo		Coronel		Teniente Coronel		Mayor		Capitan Primero	Capitán Segundo	Teniente			Subteniente			Sargento 1º de Cadetes				Sargento 2º de Cadetes				Cabo de Cadetes
Royal Netherlands Air Force	No equivalent																														No equivalent
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Commodore		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor		Kapitein		Eerste-luitenant			Tweede-luitenant			Vaandrig
Royal New Zealand Air Force			No equivalent
	Marshal of the RNZAF				Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer			Officer cadet
Polish Air Force																									No equivalent						Various
	Marszałek Polski		Generał		Generał broni		Generał dywizji		Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan		Porucznik			Podporucznik									Podchorąży
Portuguese Air Force																															Various
	Marechal		General		Tenente General		Major General		Brigadeiro General		Coronel		Tenente Coronel		Major		Capitão		Tenente			Alferes			Aspirante-a-Oficial						Cadete Aluno
Romanian Air Force																									No equivalent
	Mareșal		General		General-Locotenent		General-Maior		General de Flotilă Aeriană		Comandor		Căpitan-Comandor		Locotenent-Comandor		Căpitan		Locotenent			Sublocotenent
Royal Thai Air Force
	จอมพลอากาศ		พลอากาศเอก		พลอากาศโท		พลอากาศตรี		พลอากาศจัตวา		นาวาอากาศเอก		นาวาอากาศโท		นาวาอากาศตรี		เรืออากาศเอก		เรืออากาศโท			เรืออากาศตรี			นักเรียนนายเรืออากาศ
	Marshal of the Air Force		Air Chief Marshal		Air Marshal		Air Vice Marshal		Air Commodore		Group Captain		Wing Commander		Squadron Leader		Flight Lieutenant		Flying Officer			Pilot Officer			Air Cadet
Swedish Air Force	No equivalent
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett
Ukrainian Air Force	No equivalent
			Генерал-полковник		Генерал-лейтенант		Генерал-майор		Бригадний генерал		Полковник		Підполковник		Майор		Капітан		Старший лейтенант		Лейтенант		Хорунжий		Курсант
			Colonel General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Senior Lieutenant		Lieutenant		Junior Lieutenant		Cadet
Royal Air Force																															No equivalent
	Marshal of the RAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer /acting pilot officer			Officer cadet
United States Air Force																															No equivalent
	General of the Air Force		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Cadet / Officer trainee (Various insignia)
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

• ¹ Honorary/War time rank.
• ² Rank no longer in use.

Note that the NATO officer rank codes (OF-1 to OF-10) are differently numbered from the US officer rank codes (O-1 to O-11).

See also

• Air force officer ranks
• United States Air Force officer rank insignia
• Ranks and insignia of NATO Air Forces Officers
• RAF officer ranks

Notes