Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Encyclopedia
The Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo Air Force , is the air force
branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 1971 to 1997, the Air Force was known as the Zaire Air Force (French: Force Aérienne Zairoise).
In July 1974 the International Institute for Strategic Studies
described the FAZ as numbering 800 personnel with 33 aircraft. The Military Balance for 1974-75 listed one fighter wing with 17 MB-326GB, 6 AT-6G and 10 T-28 armed trainers, one transport wing with 9 C-47, 4 C-54, and 3 C-130, one training wing wing with 8 T-6 and 12 SF-260MC, and one helicopter squadron with 20 Alouette II/III and 7 SA-330 Pumas. It noted that 17 Mirage V and 3 C-130H were on order.
The Air Combat Information Group states that by the mid 1980s the FAZ suffered from the same problems as the rest of the Zairean military, including lack of funding and widespread corruption. In the 1980s the air force was theoretically organised into the 1er Groupement Aérien, at Kinshasa
(N'djili Airport?), with the 19th Logistics Support Wing (C-130s and Dakotas), the 12th Liaison Wing (helicopters, MU-2Js, and CEssna 310Rs) and the 13th Training Wing. The 2e Groupement Aérien Tactique at Kamina
comprised the 21st Fighter-Attack Wing with Mirage 5s and MB.326Ks, and the 22nd Tactical Transport Wing, with 221 Squadron operating the two of three originally delivered Buffalos.
The extreme corrpution of the force meant that Zairean aircraft were more often used for private 'business' of their fliers and their superiors than operations against rebels. From an originally delivered eight Dassault Mirage 5
Ms, only seven were left by 1988, with no less than five being lost in different accidents. By the mid 1990s the last three were sold.
The FAZ played little part in the First Congo War
, with most aircraft inoperable. Some aircraft were imported and used by Serbian mercenaries, but had little operational effect.
were operated by the Air Force. Jane's World Air Forces states that the Air Force has an estimated strength of 1,800 personnel and is organised into two Air Groups
. These Groups command five wings
and nine squadron
s, of which not all are operational. 1 Air Group is located at Kinshasa and consists of Liaison Wing, Training Wing and Logistical Wing and has a strength of five squadrons. 2 Tactical Air Group is located at Kaminia and consists of Pursuit and Attack Wing and Tactical Transport Wing and has a strength of four squadrons. Foreign private military companies
have reportedly been contracted to provide the DRC's aerial reconnaissance capability using small propeller aircraft fitted with sophisticated equipment. Jane's states that People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
fighter aircraft would be made available to defend Kinshasa if it came under attack.
Like the other services, the Congolese Air Force is not capable of carrying out its responsibilities. Few of the Air Force's aircraft are currently flyable or capable of being restored to service and it is unclear whether the Air Force is capable of maintaining even unsophisticated aircraft. Moreover, Jane's states that the Air Force's Ecole de Pilotage is 'in near total disarray' though Belgium has offered to restart the Air Force's pilot training program.
Jane's World Air Forces 2007 can only confirm that the Air Force has four fixed-wing aircraft in service (2 C-130, 1 DHC-5D, 1 Boeing 727) and an unknown number of Su-25s (no more than 8 in the air force's fleet following losses), C-47s, MB-326GBs and possibly some MiG-23s. Jane's also states that the Air Force operates between 9 and 22 Mil Mi-24/35s attack helicopters, a Super Puma transport helicopter and possibly a single Mi-26. The condition of the DRC's aircraft which are not currently in service is generally so poor that they cannot be repaired and returned to flyable status.
Of the thirteen aircraft in service that AW&ST and the IISS agree on, probably the latest available information concerns the DRC's single Mil Mi-26
'Halo'. Air Forces Monthly
(AFM)'s July 2007 issue includes a photo of the helicopter without obvious rust and appearing to be in good condition which was taken on April 12, 2007, at Lubumbashi
. It was delivered in 2005. AFM says that a second Mi-26 prepared for the DRC has been stored with Skytech at Liège Airport
, Belgium
since at least June 2002, and was still there in May 2007.
On the 50th Independence Commemoration June 30, 2010, at least 6 Mi-24, 2 Mi-17, 1 An-26, and 1 B727 took part in a fly-past.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aermacchi MB-326
|| || trainer
attack || MB-326GB
MB-326K || 8 || Originally 8 GB and 6 K; by mid 1990s only 8 total
|-----
| Aermacchi SF-260 || || trainer || SF-260M || 5 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III
|| || utility helicopter || SA 316B || 2 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
|| || transport helicopter || SA 330 || 4 ||
|-----
| Antonov An-26 Coke
|| || tactical transport || || 1 ||
|-----
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
|| || utility transport || BN-2A || 1 ||
|-----
| Cessna 150
|| || utility || || 12 ||
|-----
| Cessna 310
|| || utility || || 3 ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DH-5 Buffalo || || tactical transport || DHC-5D || 2 ||
|-----
| Douglas C-47 Skytrain
|| || tactical transport || C-47 || 4 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter AS 332 Cougar
||
|| transport helicopter || AS 332 || 1 ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical transport || C-130H || 2 || 2 more impounded in France
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger
|| || fighter || MiG-23MS
MiG-23UB|| 1
1 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-35 Hind-E
|| || attack helicopter || Mi-35 || 6 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-26 Halo
|| || transport helicopter || || 1 || Serial 9T-HM15
|-----
| Reims Cessna 337 Skymaster || || liaison || FTB 337 MILROLE || 10 ||
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot
|| || attack || Su-25K || 8? ||
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 1971 to 1997, the Air Force was known as the Zaire Air Force (French: Force Aérienne Zairoise).
History
In July 1970 the Institute for Strategic Studies described the Force Aérienne Zairoise (FAZ) as numbering 650 with 21 combat aircraft. Aircraft strength was listed as 10 T-6 Texan and 8 T-28 Trojan armed trainers, 2 DC-4 and 10 Dc-3 transports, and 6 Alouette helicopters. The ISS said that 17 MB-326GB ground attack/trainer aircraft were on order, of which about five had been received.In July 1974 the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
described the FAZ as numbering 800 personnel with 33 aircraft. The Military Balance for 1974-75 listed one fighter wing with 17 MB-326GB, 6 AT-6G and 10 T-28 armed trainers, one transport wing with 9 C-47, 4 C-54, and 3 C-130, one training wing wing with 8 T-6 and 12 SF-260MC, and one helicopter squadron with 20 Alouette II/III and 7 SA-330 Pumas. It noted that 17 Mirage V and 3 C-130H were on order.
The Air Combat Information Group states that by the mid 1980s the FAZ suffered from the same problems as the rest of the Zairean military, including lack of funding and widespread corruption. In the 1980s the air force was theoretically organised into the 1er Groupement Aérien, at Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
(N'djili Airport?), with the 19th Logistics Support Wing (C-130s and Dakotas), the 12th Liaison Wing (helicopters, MU-2Js, and CEssna 310Rs) and the 13th Training Wing. The 2e Groupement Aérien Tactique at Kamina
Kamina
Kamina is a city in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located at around . It is the provincial capital.- Transport :...
comprised the 21st Fighter-Attack Wing with Mirage 5s and MB.326Ks, and the 22nd Tactical Transport Wing, with 221 Squadron operating the two of three originally delivered Buffalos.
The extreme corrpution of the force meant that Zairean aircraft were more often used for private 'business' of their fliers and their superiors than operations against rebels. From an originally delivered eight Dassault Mirage 5
Dassault Mirage 5
The Dassault Mirage 5 is a supersonic attack aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s, and manufactured in France and a number of other countries. It was derived from Dassault's popular Mirage III fighter, and spawned several variants of its own.-Early development:The...
Ms, only seven were left by 1988, with no less than five being lost in different accidents. By the mid 1990s the last three were sold.
The FAZ played little part in the First Congo War
First Congo War
The First Congo War was a revolution in Zaire that replaced President Mobutu Sésé Seko, a decades-long dictator, with rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Destabilization in eastern Zaire that resulted from the Rwandan genocide was the final factor that caused numerous internal and external actors...
, with most aircraft inoperable. Some aircraft were imported and used by Serbian mercenaries, but had little operational effect.
Current structure
As of 2007, all military aircraft in the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
were operated by the Air Force. Jane's World Air Forces states that the Air Force has an estimated strength of 1,800 personnel and is organised into two Air Groups
Group (air force)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
. These Groups command five wings
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
and nine squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s, of which not all are operational. 1 Air Group is located at Kinshasa and consists of Liaison Wing, Training Wing and Logistical Wing and has a strength of five squadrons. 2 Tactical Air Group is located at Kaminia and consists of Pursuit and Attack Wing and Tactical Transport Wing and has a strength of four squadrons. Foreign private military companies
Private military company
A private military company or provides military and security services. These combatants are commonly known as mercenaries, though modern-day PMCs refer to their staff as security contractors, private military contractors or private security contractors, and refer to themselves as private military...
have reportedly been contracted to provide the DRC's aerial reconnaissance capability using small propeller aircraft fitted with sophisticated equipment. Jane's states that People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
The National Air Force of Angola is the air branch of the Armed Forces of Angola.FAN was established, after the independence of Angola from Portugal, on January 21, 1976 as the People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola and initially made use of the...
fighter aircraft would be made available to defend Kinshasa if it came under attack.
Like the other services, the Congolese Air Force is not capable of carrying out its responsibilities. Few of the Air Force's aircraft are currently flyable or capable of being restored to service and it is unclear whether the Air Force is capable of maintaining even unsophisticated aircraft. Moreover, Jane's states that the Air Force's Ecole de Pilotage is 'in near total disarray' though Belgium has offered to restart the Air Force's pilot training program.
Aircraft
In comparison with the extensive Aviation Week and Space Technology table of aircraft below, the IISS Military Balance 2007 lists the Air Force with 6 combat capable jet aircraft (2 MiG-23 Flogger and 4 Su-25 Frogfoot) and 7+ helicopters, 6 Mi-24 Hind, 1 Mi-26 Halo, and an unknown number of Mi-8 Hips. The IISS estimates air force strength at 4,000. It is likely that in compiling the list below, AW&ST, a specialist U.S. aviation magazine with limited specific knowledge of the DRC, simply recorded known deliveries and removals from service without fully checking on the exact current status of the Air Force.Jane's World Air Forces 2007 can only confirm that the Air Force has four fixed-wing aircraft in service (2 C-130, 1 DHC-5D, 1 Boeing 727) and an unknown number of Su-25s (no more than 8 in the air force's fleet following losses), C-47s, MB-326GBs and possibly some MiG-23s. Jane's also states that the Air Force operates between 9 and 22 Mil Mi-24/35s attack helicopters, a Super Puma transport helicopter and possibly a single Mi-26. The condition of the DRC's aircraft which are not currently in service is generally so poor that they cannot be repaired and returned to flyable status.
Of the thirteen aircraft in service that AW&ST and the IISS agree on, probably the latest available information concerns the DRC's single Mil Mi-26
Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. In service with civilian and military operators, it is the largest and most powerful helicopter ever to have gone into production.-Design and development:...
'Halo'. Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom.Sister publications include Air International, Air Enthusiast, Airliner World, Airports International, FlyPast and Today's Pilot.-External links:*http://www.airforcesmonthly.co.uk/* via...
(AFM)'s July 2007 issue includes a photo of the helicopter without obvious rust and appearing to be in good condition which was taken on April 12, 2007, at Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
. It was delivered in 2005. AFM says that a second Mi-26 prepared for the DRC has been stored with Skytech at Liège Airport
Liège Airport
Liège Airport , also called Liège-Bierset, is an important cargo airport in Belgium. It was at the end of 2009 the 8th biggest cargo airport in Europe...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
since at least June 2002, and was still there in May 2007.
On the 50th Independence Commemoration June 30, 2010, at least 6 Mi-24, 2 Mi-17, 1 An-26, and 1 B727 took part in a fly-past.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aermacchi MB-326
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
|| || trainer
attack || MB-326GB
MB-326K || 8 || Originally 8 GB and 6 K; by mid 1990s only 8 total
|-----
| Aermacchi SF-260 || || trainer || SF-260M || 5 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III
Aérospatiale Alouette III
The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania.The Alouette III is the...
|| || utility helicopter || SA 316B || 2 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
|| || transport helicopter || SA 330 || 4 ||
|-----
| Antonov An-26 Coke
Antonov An-26
The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
|| || tactical transport || || 1 ||
|-----
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
|| || utility transport || BN-2A || 1 ||
|-----
| Cessna 150
Cessna 150
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane, that was designed for flight training, touring and personal use.The Cessna 150 is the seventh most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced...
|| || utility || || 12 ||
|-----
| Cessna 310
Cessna 310
The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that was produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engined aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.-Development:...
|| || utility || || 3 ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DH-5 Buffalo || || tactical transport || DHC-5D || 2 ||
|-----
| Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
|| || tactical transport || C-47 || 4 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter AS 332 Cougar
Eurocopter Cougar
-See also:-External links:* *...
||
|| transport helicopter || AS 332 || 1 ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical transport || C-130H || 2 || 2 more impounded in France
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
|| || fighter || MiG-23MS
MiG-23UB|| 1
1 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-35 Hind-E
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
|| || attack helicopter || Mi-35 || 6 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-26 Halo
Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. In service with civilian and military operators, it is the largest and most powerful helicopter ever to have gone into production.-Design and development:...
|| || transport helicopter || || 1 || Serial 9T-HM15
|-----
| Reims Cessna 337 Skymaster || || liaison || FTB 337 MILROLE || 10 ||
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
|| || attack || Su-25K || 8? ||
External links
- Air Combat Information Group, Congo, Part 1: 1960-63