Lebanese Air Force
Lebanese Air Force | |
---|---|
| |
Founded | 1 June 1949 |
Country | Lebanon |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size |
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Part of | Lebanese Armed Forces |
Motto(s) | "Here I am, Lebanon's sky" |
Anniversaries | 1 August |
Engagements |
|
Website | Official website |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Major General Ziad Haykal |
Insignia | |
Trainer | Robinson R44, Scottish Aviation Bulldog |
The Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (
History
The Lebanese Air Force were established in 1949 under the command of then-
In 2018, the United States government delivered six Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano to the Lebanese Air Force.
In the absence of advanced fighter aircraft, the air force currently relies on a helicopter force, a squadron of Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, and three Cessna AC 208s for the reconnaissance and ground attack roles.
In October 2018, MD Helicopters confirm receipt delivery order of six MD 530F+ for Lebanese air force with estimated delivery schedule on fourth quarter of 2020.[2]
Combat history
The Lebanese Air Forces have a long history operating Hawker Hunter jets since 1958. A Lebanese Hawker Hunter shot down an Israeli jet over Kfirmishki in the early 1960s and its pilot was captured by the Lebanese Armed Forces.[citation needed] During the Six-Day War Two Hawker Hunter strafed Israeli positions in Galilee. One Lebanese Hawker Hunter was shot down by an Israeli Air Force Mirage IIICJ.[3] The Hawker Hunters have not flown any combat sorties since September 17, 1983. This was at a time when the French and Americans were rebuilding the Lebanese Army. Three F.Mk.70s were made airworthy, and resumed combat operations on September 15. Because the main airfield, Rayak Air Base, had been shelled by Syrian forces, the Hunters had to operate from an airfield in Byblos. The Hunters were finally grounded in 1994 after a minor accident with one of the T.66 trainers during landing and the remaining 8 were stored in Rayak. The last loss took place in 1989 near Batroun during routine training, when the undercarriage failed to lower, causing the jet to crash. The pilot ejected safely from the doomed aircraft and landed in the Mediterranean sea, where he was promptly rescued by the Syrian Army, which then handed him over to Suleiman Frangieh, who in turn handed him over to the Lebanese Army at the al-Madfoun crossing.
During
The Lebanese air force played a decisive role throughout the
Squadrons and Air Bases
Squadron | Airbase | Aircraft |
---|---|---|
1st squadron | Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.[5][6] | Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1 |
4th Squadron | Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport[5] | AC-208B Combat Caravan |
7th Squadron | Wujah Al Hajar Air Base (Hamat)[5] | Embraer A-29B |
8th Squadron | Rayak Air Base[5] | Aerospastiale SA-342L Gazelle |
9th Squadron | Wujah Al Hajar Air Base (Hamat)[5] | MD530F Defender |
12th Squadron | Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport[5] | UH-1H-II |
14th Squadron | Rene Mouawad Air Base (Kleyate)[5] | SA 330 Puma |
15th Squadron | Rayak Air Base[5] | Robinson Raven R44 II and UH-1H |
Presidential Flight | Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport[5] | Agusta Westland AW139 |
List of aircraft
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | |||||
Cessna 208 | United States | attack / CAS | AC-208 | 3[7] | modified to carry AGM-114 missiles for CAS |
Embraer EMB 314 | Brazil | attack / COIN | A-29A | 6[7] | |
Helicopters
| |||||
Huey II | United States | utility | 35[7] | 5 are AB212 | |
SA 330 Puma | France | utility / transport | IAR 330 | 11[7] | former United Arab Emirates Air Force[5] |
MD500 Defender | United States | light attack | MD530F | 5[8] | |
Aérospatiale Gazelle | France | scout / anti-armor | SA342L | 8[7] | |
AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy | VIP transport | 1[9] | ||
Trainer Aircraft
| |||||
Bulldog 126 | United Kingdom | basic trainer | T.1 | 3[7] | In service since 1975[5] |
Robinson R44 | United States | rotorcraft trainer | 6[7] | ||
UAV | |||||
RQ-11 Raven
|
United States | surveillance | 12[10] | donated by the United States | |
Scan Eagle
|
United States | surveillance | 6[11] |
Former aircraft
- Dassault Falcon 20
- Dassault Mirage IIIEL
- de Havilland Vampire
- de Havilland Dove
- de Havilland Canada DHC-1
- Fouga CM.170 Magister
- Hawker Hunter
- Macchi MB.308
- Percival Prentice
- Percival Proctor
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.79
- Sud Aviation Alouette III
- T6 Texan
References
- ^ "Air Force". Lebanese Army. Archived from the original on 2007-12-31.
- ^ "Lebanon air force orders six armed MD 530F+ attack helicopters". MD Helicopter. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ISBN 9781430305934. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ Njeim, Colonel Antoine; Rima Dumet (October 2007). القوات الجوية (in Arabic). Lebanese Army. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "LEBANESE AIR FORCE". scramble.nl. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ Based at Beirut but subordinated to the Lebanese Air Force Aviation School ar Rayak.
- ^ a b c d e f g "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Six MD530Fs reach Lebanon aboard 747 freighter". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021."Army helicopter makes emergency landing in Hadath al-Jebbeh".
- AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing. February 2019. p. 70.
- ^ "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
- ^ "Lebanon receives ScanEagle UAVs". janes.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "Lebanese Air Force". milavia. January 2011.