Congolese Air Force

Not to be confused with Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Former Congolese Air Force (1990–2000) was a military force in the Republic of the Congo-Brazzaville. Political tensions have now declined with the fall of the Cold War in Africa and most of the fighters were scrapped in 2001.

Former Cold War air force

After achieving independence from France in the early 1960s 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 fighter 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 After the Soviets left there was only limited funding for MiG operations and they were withdrawn.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.

Aircraft used between 1988 and 2000

The Cold War air force consisted of.^[1][2]-

• 20 MiG-17s (some are now out of use),
• 12 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, (mostly out of use),
• 5 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, (now scrapped),
• 2 French Noratlas cargo aircraft,
• 1 Soviet Antonov An-24 cargo aircraft,
• 1 American Douglas C-47 Dakota cargo aircraft,
• 1 General-purpose Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III helicopter,
• 3 Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters, (Up to 6, but some are grounded),
• 3 Mil Mi-8 transport helicopters.

Former personnel and budget

A 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

Its role was as a Communist bastion in central Africa and to counter the politically unstable,^[3] pro-Western regime in Zaire^[3] (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.

Former order of battle

It was split into a fighter, counterinsurgency, transport and support wings.

Arms suppliers and personnel training

France, 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.

Roundel

The Congolese Air Force after 2000

Today's aircraft inventory

The Congo's 10 military aircraft, including 3 helicopters, are operated by the Air Force.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[4]	Notes
Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette II	France	utility helicopter	SA 318C	1
Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III	France	utility helicopter	SA 316C	1
Antonov An-24	Soviet Union /  Ukraine	transport	An-24	5
Antonov An-26	Soviet Union	transport	An-26	1
Eurocopter SA 365 Dauphin	France	utility helicopter	SA 365	1
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21	Soviet Union	fighter	MiG-21	?	Only a small number still in service[4]
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17	Soviet Union	fighter	MiG-17	?	Only a small number still in service[4]
Nord 2501 Noratlas	France	transport		1

Arms suppliers and personnel training

Both France, China and the 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.

Present personnel and budget

A small, but adequate budget and personnel.

Combat role

Present order of battle

Roundel

Congo's new roundel.^[5]

See also

Military of the Republic of the Congo for other armed services.

Sources

• Dorling Kinnersley World reference atlas for 1994,
• Tri-service pocketbook- Soviet and E. European Major Combat Aircraft for 1990,
•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "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

1. ^ http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/aircraft/mikoyan_mig15/MiG15_Congo_1.png&imgrefurl=http://www.felixdk.websitetoolbox.com/post%3Fid%3D2722974&h=500&w=960&sz=184&tbnid=GEMCzySbzGLzdM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcongolese%2Bair%2Bforce&zoom=1&q=congolese+air+force&hl=en&usg=__W6FCFn4zy3qMvApvGPGJch3NSVk=&sa=X&ei=p63cTIuRLMayhAf43bT_Dw&ved=0CCgQ9QEwAg
2. ^ http://www.felixdk.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2722974
3. ^ ^{a b} http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v2/v2n3/congo.html
4. ^ ^{a b c} Congolese military aviation OrBat
5. ^ http://flagspot.net/flags/cg%5Eair.html