The Congolese Air Force (French: Force Aérienne Congolaise) is the air branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).
| Congolese Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Force Aérienne Congolaise | |
 Congolese Air Force roundel | |
| Founded | 29 July 1959 |
| Country |  Republic of the Congo |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Part of | Congolese Armed Forces |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Mirage F1 |
| Helicopter | Mil Mi-35, Mil Mi-17 |
| Transport | An-32, CN235 |
Former Cold War air force
editAfter achieving independence from France in 1960, the Congolese air force (Force Aerienne Congolaise) was started with equipment such as the Douglas C-47s, Broussards and Bell 47Gs, these were followed by Nord Noratlas tactical transports and Sud Alouette helicopter. In the 1970s the air force switched to Soviet equipment. This included five Ilyushin Il-14 and six turboprop Antonov An-24 transports and an An-26 in return for providing bases for Cuban MiG-17 operations over Angola. These fighters and a few MiG-15UTI combat trainers were transferred to the FAC. In 1990 these fighters were replaced by 16 USSR supplied MiG-21MF/bis Fishbeds plus a couple of MiG-21US trainers. Together with a Soviet training mission which stayed until late 1991, during that time there were numerous accidents that involved both Soviet and Congolese personnel. After the Soviets left there was only limited funding for MiG operations and they were withdrawn. Six Mi-8 helicopters were delivered from Ukraine in mid-1997 before the Cobra rebel takeover.
Former personnel and budget
editA small, but adequate budget and personnel. Financial aid also came from the former USSR and some personnel were either Soviets or Cubans.
Political and combat role
editIts role was as a Communist bastion in central Africa and to counter the politically unstable,[1] pro-Western regime in Zaire[1] (the then former name of the DRC). Its role is now one of countering cross-border smuggling operations, intermittent counterinsurgency actions in the northern provinces and successfully containing the crisis in the DRC along its border. Its first batch of aircraft, the MiG-15s and some of the MiG-17s, arrived in the early 1960s just after the Congo's independence from France and Zaire's independence from Belgium.
It was organised into fighter, counterinsurgency, transport and support wings.
Arms suppliers and personnel training
editFrance, China and the Soviet Union supplied arms and aircraft. The Soviets and Cubans trained the air force as a whole, but France also trained some of its officers.[citation needed]
Aircraft
editCurrent inventory
edit
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | |||||
| Mirage F1 | France | fighter | 2[2] | ||
| Transport | |||||
| Antonov An-32 | Ukraine | transport | 2[2] | ||
| CASA CN-235 | Spain | utility / transport | 1[2] | ||
| Ilyushin Il-76 | Russia | transport | 1[2] | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Russia | utility / transport | Mi-8/17 | 6[2] | |
| Mil Mi-24 | Russia | attack | Mi-35 | 1[2] | |
Retired aircraft
editPrevious aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the MiG-21, MiG-17F, C-47 Dakota, SN.601 Corvette, N.2501F Noratlas, Ilyushin Il-14, Antonov An-24, Antonov An-26, Alouette II, Alouette III, AS365 Dauphin, and the MiG-15UTI.[3][4]
Arms suppliers and personnel training
editFrance, China and Ukraine supplied the arms and aircraft. France and China also trained the air force as a whole, but France has also trained most of its air force officers.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Heart of Darkness: the Tragedy of the Congo, 1960-67". Worldatwar.net. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
- ^ a b c d e f "World Air Forces 2024". Flight Global. flightglobal.com. 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1994 pg. 38". Flightglobal Insight. 1994. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 38". Flightglobal Insight. 1994. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
Sources
edit- Dorling Kinnersley World reference atlas for 1994
- Tri-service pocketbook- Soviet and East European Major Combat Aircraft for 1990,
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2003 edition.)- Tri-service pocketbook- NATO Major Combat Aircraft for 1990,
- A news clipping on the helicopter and transport plane of about the same date.
- Prentice Hall/Salamander Books book- An Illustrated Guide to Aircraft Markings (1989).
- Aircraft information files Bright star publishing File 358 sheet 2
Further reading
edit- Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter (2010). African MiGs: Volume I: Angola to Ivory Coast. Harpia Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-0-9825539-5-4.