Algerian Air Force
Algerian Air Force | |
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The Algerian Air Force (AAF) (
History
The Algerian Air Force was created to support the fight of the People's National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the decisions of the Soummam congress held on August 20, 1956, which recommended a long-term plan to form a modern army.[4]
Before 1962
In 1957, six Algerians were sent for training to the
From 1962 to 1970
The Algerian Air Force was originally based at
Training was one of the major preoccupations of the ALN/FLN leaders. Military aviation had a core of pilots and technicians after independence, who laid the foundations of the present Air Force. The Algerian authorities sent trainees to friendly countries such Egypt, Syria, Iraq, China, and the USSR, while waiting for the creation of Algerian Air Force schools. In 1966, the Air Base of Tafraoui in the 2nd Military Region was built as an air officers' school (EOA) where the first officer students were received to train as pilots and technicians in aeronautics.[4]
The nascent Algerian Air Force participated in the 1963
From 1970 to 1980
In the late 1960s, thanks to increased oil prices and to Algeria's economic growth, important arms orders were passed with the USSR. Hence, in the early 1970s, the Algerian Air Force received 52 MiG-21MFs, MiG-21Rs and MiG-21UMs, and 40 Sukhoi Su-7BMKs. During the same period, 28 second-hand Fouga CM.170 Magisters were bought to West Germany, as well as some Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and Mil Mi-6 helicopters.[11]
Thanks to its growth in the previous years, the Algerian Air Force was able to participate directly in the 1973 October War. Two squadrons of MiG-21s, another of Su-7s and a unit comprising 23 MiG-17s were sent to Egypt. This deployment was supported by Antonov An-12 transports. Some Algerian pilots were also assigned to Egyptian Air Force MiG-17 squadrons. In total, around 500 combat sorties were flown by Algerian pilots. One MiG-21 and one Su-7 were shot down, but no pilot was killed or captured.[13]
In 1975, another big arms deal was passed with Moscow, including 40
From 1980 to 2000
In 1981, thanks to the deliveries of air defence equipment, a new branch of the air force was created: the Défense Aérienne du Territoire (Territorial Air Defence). Through the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force worked to build a fully integrated network of early warning radars. In 1986-1988, the Territorial Air Defence was expanded and reorganised into the Commandement de la Défense Aérienne du Territoire (Territorial Air Defence Command). In 1988, this command became a fully independent branch of the Algerian armed forces.[15]
The resulting organisational structure of the air force was as follows:[4]
- A central command assisted by a general staff and an inspectorate, an arms division, a department of support, and specialized offices
- Air commands in the military regions
- Air bases, schools, training centers, support institutions, equipment renovation enterprises & defense, and control units
In the second half of the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force also introduced the
Starting in the second half of the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force saw combat in the Algerian Civil War.[16]
Since 2000
As the Civil War was winding down, the Algerian Air Force began to replace its older combat aircraft. The last MiG-21s were withdrawn from service in 2002. The MiG-23BNs followed in 2005, as did the MiG-23MFs in 2008.
Shortly after the first MiG-29SMT deliveries, the Algerian military discovered that these aircraft were not newly built airframes, but older ones modernised to MiG-29SMT standard. The decision was taken to send back the aircraft to Russia, refuse all of the planned subsequent deliveries, and to freeze the payments for these aircraft. After a meeting between Algerian and Russian heads of state in February 2008, the aircraft that had already been delivered were returned to Russia, and the whole batch originally built for Algeria was bought back and delivered to the
Air bases
- Oum El Bouaghi (DABO)35°52′22″N 007°15′48″E / 35.87278°N 7.26333°E
- Annaba (DABB) 36°49′11″N 007°48′42″E / 36.81972°N 7.81167°E
- Ain Oussera (DAAQ) 35°31′16″N 002°52′59″E / 35.52111°N 2.88306°E
- Biskra (DAUB) 34°48′21″N 005°44′23″E / 34.80583°N 5.73972°E
- Bou Sfer (DAOE) 35°43′53″N 000°48′15″W / 35.73139°N 0.80417°W
- Boufarik (DAAK) 36°33′10″N 002°52′33″E / 36.55278°N 2.87583°E
- Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi (DAOR) 31°39′05″N 002°15′40″E / 31.65139°N 2.26111°E
- Chlef (DAOI) 36°12′38″N 001°19′46″E / 36.21056°N 1.32944°E
- El Boulaida/Blida (DAAB) 36°29′52″N 002°48′36″E / 36.49778°N 2.81000°E
- Laghouat (DAUL) 33°46′07″N 002°55′18″E / 33.76861°N 2.92167°E
- Tamanrasset/Aguenar (DAAT) 22°48′40″N 05°27′03″E / 22.81111°N 5.45083°E
See also List of airports in Algeria for other airfields which may have a dual civil-military function.
The air force has two Air Commando Rifle Regiments, primarily base defence troops but which have reportedly taken part int anti-terrorism operations. They are the 772nd and 782nd Regiment des Fusiliers Commandos de l'air (RFCA).[21]
Aircraft
Current inventory
Incidents
- On January 27, 2010, a MiG-29 military plane crashed into a mountainous area between Mascara and Sidi Bel Abbès provinces resulting in the pilot's death.[39]
- In November 2012, an Algerian cargo plane(C-295) returning from Paris crashed in southeastern France, killing all six people on board.[40]
- In December 2012, two military jets(MiG 29) conducting routine training operations collided in midair in the northwestern Algeria, killing the pilots of both planes.[39]
- On February 11, 2014, a
- On October 11, 2014, an Algerian SU-24 military plane crashed in a military zone killing its 2 pilots during a training operation inside the country.[39]
- On November 11, 2014, an air force MiG-25 'Foxbat' fighter aircraft, came down near a military range in the Hassi Bahbah Military Region in the central part of Algeria. No casualties were reported at the time as the pilot was alone and ejected safely out of the plane.[39]
- On April 20, 2015, An Algerian Air Force plane(MiG-25) crashed south of Algeria killing both pilots moments after takeoff.[39]
- On March 27, 2016, a troop carrier Mi-171 type helicopter belonging to the Algerian air forces which was on a mission near Reggane crashed due to technical problems south of the country killing 12 soldiers and leaving two others injured.[39]
- On April 11, 2018, an Il-76 strategic airlifter crashed in a field shortly after taking off from Boufarik Airport. It resulted in 257 deaths.[41]
- On January 28, 2020, a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet crashed in the mountains resulting in 2 deaths.[44]
- On June 25, 2020, a CH-4 medium-altitude long-endurance UAV crashed due to some unknown issues.[45]
- On March 29, 2022, a MIG29UB crashed near the city of Oran, due to a technical malfunction. Resulting in 1 death.[46]
- On February 7 2024, a Mi-171crashed in Al-Qalaia. All three of its crew died.
Ranks
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algerian Air Force[47] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
فريق أول Fariq 'awal
|
فريق Fariq
|
لواء Liwa |
عميد Amid |
عقيد Aqid |
مقدم Muqaddam |
رائد Ra'id |
نقيب Naqib |
ملازم أول Mulazim awwal
|
ملازم Mulazim
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée | Général de corps d'armée | Général de division | Général
|
Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel
|
Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant |
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algerian Air Force[47] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
مساعد أول Mosa'id awwal |
مساعد Mosa'id |
رقيب أول Raqib awwal |
رقيب Raqib |
عريف أول Earif 'awal |
عريف Earif |
جندي Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant chef | Adjudant | Sergent chef | Sergent | Caporal chef | Caporal | Djoundi |
References
Notes
- ISBN 978-1032279008.
- ^ )
- ^ "Mahmoud Laraba, nouveau commandant des Forces aériennes". Echorouk. 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ a b c d e "Historical overview on the Air Forces". mdn.dz. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ^ a b Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 34
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 34–35
- OCLC 1472235.
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 36, 38–39
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 46
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 47
- ^ a b Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 48–49
- ^ a b Cooper 2018, p. 17
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 49–50
- ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 50–51
- ^ Cooper 2018, pp. 49–50
- ^ a b Cooper 2018, p. 56
- ^ Cooper 2018, p. 57
- ^ a b "[Dossier] Le Sukhoï Su-30MKA". Red Samovar. 8 January 2017.
- ^ "Farnborough 2022: Algeria weighs its fighter aircraft options | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ "China to Re-Export Russian Jet Engine - Kommersant Moscow". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.
- ^ "Centre Francais de recherche sur la reseignement". Archived from the original on 2015-01-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Military Database Current Airforce: Algeria (Africa)". scramble.nl. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "New Algerian ATR72-600". Air Forces Monthly Pg. 24. Key Publishing. February 2015.
- ^ "Airbus A340 MSN 917 - 7T-VPP". airfleets.net. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "Algeria Air Force Equipment". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "AgustaWestland Looks To Recertify AW101". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ Allport, Dave (July 2013). "First Algerian VIP AW 101 Flight |Testing". Air Forces Monthly.
- ^ "Nigeria getting two presidential AW189 helicopters". defenceweb.co.za. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ a b Liam, Darek (2022-06-22). "LOM PRAHA overhauls Algerian trainer aircraft engines". Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Akramov (2022-09-02). "L'achat de drone HAL Wj-700 par l'Algérie confirmée". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ "Twitter Post Algeria Obtains WJ-700".
- ^ "AviationsMilitaires.net — Denel Seeker". www.aviationsmilitaires.net. Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
- ^ rédaction, La (2013-07-07). "Premier drone algérien "Amel" : défi relevé à Sidi Bel-Abbès". Algerie Focus (in French). Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
- ^ "AL Fajer L-10. Spécifications. Photo". avia-pro.fr. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
- ^ Akramov (2018-12-20). "2018 l'année des UCAV en Algérie". MENADEFENSE (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
- ^ "TUSAŞ'a 3 ülkeden 24 adet ANKA SİHA siparişi" (in Turkish). 2023-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
- ^ Azman, Kaan (2022-10-07). "Cezayir'den TUSAŞ AKSUNGUR İHA siparişi!". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
- ^ a b c d e f "INTERACTIVE: Algeria military plane crash deadliest in country's history". Al Arabiya English. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ a b "Military Plane Crash in Algeria Leaves Scores Dead". The New York Times. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ "Algeria military plane crash: 257 dead near Algiers". BBC. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Algeria Su-24 ground attack jet crash kills two crew". The Defense Post. 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Martin, Guy (2019-03-19). "Algerian L-39 lost in crash". defenceWeb. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ "سقوط طائرة مقاتلة بالجزائر والرئيس يعزي عائلتي الطيارين". Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ^ "Algerian Air Force Chinese-made CASC CH-4B Drone Crashed Near Wilaya d'Oum el-Bouaghi". Fighter Jets World. 2020-06-26.
- ^ Abdul, Kazim (2022-03-29). "Algerian MiG-29 fighter jet crash, killing crew". Military Africa. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ a b "Ranks". mdn.dz. Ministry of National Defence (Algeria). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
Bibliography
- Cooper, Tom (2018). MiG-23 Flogger in the Middle East, Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-23 in Service in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Syria, 1973-2018. Warwick: Helion & Company Publishing. ISBN 978-1-912-390328.
- Cooper, Tom; Grandolini, Albert (2018). Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. ISBN 978-1-912390-35-9.