| Imperial Japanese Army Air Service | |
|---|---|
| 大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊 Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai | |
.svg) | |
| Active | 1912–1945 |
| Country |  Empire of Japan |
| Branch |  Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Part of | Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan |
| Engagements | World War I Mukden Incident Sino-Japanese War II Battles of Khalkhin Gol World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief |  Emperor of Japan |
| Notable commanders | Hajime Sugiyama Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni Shunroku Hata Masakazu Kawabe |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | .svg) |
The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF; Japanese: 大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊, romanized: Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai, lit. 'Greater Japan Empire Army Air Corps') was the aviation force of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Its primary mission was to provide tactical close air support for ground forces, as well as a limited air interdiction capability. The IJAAS also provided aerial reconnaissance to other branches of the IJA. While the IJAAS engaged in strategic bombing of cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Canton, Chongqing, Rangoon, and Mandalay, this was not the primary mission of the IJAAS, and it lacked a heavy bomber force.
It did not usually control artillery spotter/observer aircraft; artillery battalions controlled the light aircraft and balloons that operated in these roles.
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was responsible for long-range bomber and attack aircraft, as well as strategic air defense. It was not until the later stages of the Pacific War that the two air arms attempted to integrate the air defense of the home islands.