Moldovan Air Force
Moldovan Air Force | |
---|---|
Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Moldova | |
Founded | 1991 |
Country | Moldova |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 710 personnel (2019) |
Part of | Moldovan National Army |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | Maia Sandu (President of Moldova) |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-8 |
Transport | Antonov An-26, Antonov An-2 |
The Moldovan Air Force (Romanian: Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Moldova), known officially as Air Forces Command is the national air force of Moldova. It was formed following Moldova's independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991 and is part of the National Army of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova.
Timeline
On 18 March 1992, the 275th Guards Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade at Chișinău of the Soviet 60th Air Defense Corps, equipped with Surface-to-air missiles, became part of the Moldovan Air Force. Elements of the brigade served as air defense units in the Transnistria War.[1]
In April 1992, the Moldovan Air Force inherited the
On 3 September 1993, the 275th Brigade was reorganized into the Dimitrie Cantemir Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade.[1]
In 1994 the Air Force consisted of 1,300 men organized into one fighter regiment, 1 helicopter squadron, and 1 missile brigade. They had 31
On 23 December 1999, the mixed aviation brigade formed from the 86th Regiment in the late 1990s was reorganized into the Decebal Air Base.[2][4]
In 2002 the Air Force consisted of 1,400 men.[6]
In 2006, Yemeni government reported it was ready to return its MiG-29s back to Moldova, from it acquired the aircraft back in 1994, as a exchange for the money paid and recognition of illegality of the deal.[7]
In 2007 the Air Force had been reduced to a strength of 1,040 men organized into one helicopter squadron, and one missile battalion. They had six
]In March 2010, the Moldovan Air Force signed an agreement with the Romanian Air Force regarding the exchange of information about military aircraft flights near the border, the exchange of radar data, the obligation to provide mutual support to military aircraft in distress and future joint operations.[8] By 2011, the Dimitrie Cantemir Brigade had become a regiment.[9]
In December 2010, Moldovan Defence Ministry announced it will auction its remaining six MiG-29s for an initial price 8.5$ million as the previous auction carried out in November failed due to the lack of purchasers.[10] As of 2022, the aircraft still have not been sold.
In February 2012, it was reported by Moldovan Defense Ministry eight planes and eight military transport helicopters will be purchased at the cost of US$240 million.[11]
During the first days of
Structure
- Main Headquarters of the Air Force
- Durleşti, Chișinău
- Decebal Air Base (Baza de Aviaţie "Decebal") - Marculesti, Floresti District
- Air Regiment "Decebal"[14]
- Floresti District
Aircraft
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transport | ||||||
Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | transport | 1[15] | |||
Helicopters
| ||||||
Mil Mi-2 | Soviet Union | transport / utility | 1[15] | |||
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | transport / utility | 1[15] |
Withdrawn from service
Moldova received approximately 34
Under an agreement finalized on 10 October 1997, the United States acquired 14 MiG 29Cs, described by US officials as wired to permit delivery of nuclear weapons. Also, the United States purchased six MiG 29As, one MiG 29B, 500 air-to-air missiles and all the spare parts and diagnostic equipment present at the Moldovan Air Base where the aircraft were stationed. In return, Moldova received around $40,000,000, humanitarian assistance and non-lethal excess defense articles, such as trucks.
In April 2022, some of the ex-Moldovan MiG-29s, bought by US in 1997, were reportedly donated to Ukrainian Air Force as a source of spare parts to compensate its fighter losses during the
Moldovan MiG-29s on display
- Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas.[22]
- NAS FallonAirpark.
- The National Air Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A two-seat MiG-29UB is on display.[23]
- 2 MiG-29s are on display at MiG-23.[24]
- One is currently stored in a restoration hangar at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. As of June 2007, the aircraft has been put in display at the Cold War Exhibit of the Museum and continues to receive minor upgrading while on display.[25][26]
See also
- Military of Moldova
- Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova
References
- ^ a b Admin. "275-я гвардейская зенитная ракетная бригада (в/ч 34403)". 8oapvo.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ a b Vad777. "Вооруженные силы Молдовы" [Armed Forces of Moldova] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Pavlov, Anton (15 August 2014). "86 гвардейский Краснознаменный истребительный ордена Суворова III степени Борисовский авиационный полк" [86th Guards Red Banner Borisov Order of Suvorov 3rd Class Fighter Aviation Regiment]. airforce.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ a b Pavlov, Anton (10 September 2015). "Авиационная база "Дечебал"" [Decebal Air Base]. airforce.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Moldova – The Armed Forces". country-data.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
- ^ "Show Indicator Information". Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
- ^ "Yemen ready to return MiG-29 fighters to Moldova". defencetalk.com. 30 June 2006.
- ^ "Protocol de colaborare între forţele aeriene militare ale României şi ale R. Moldova". Mediafax.ro. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ "Teren de joacă pentru copiii militarilor moldoveni". www.army.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Moldova Failed to Sell 6 MiG-29 Fighters". oreanda.ru. 3 December 2010.
- ^ "Defense Ministry to buy eight planes and eight military helicopters", allmoldova, 17 February 2012. Retrieved: 17 February 2012 Archived 28 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Молдова відмовилася продавати Україні свої винищувачі – джерела". eurointegration.com.ua. 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Moldova got scared to sell Ukraine the MiG-29s". mil.in.ua. 18 April 2022.
- ^ "Ministry of Defense of Republic of Moldova".
- ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Exposed: America Purchased 21 Lethal Russian Mig-29 Fighters". 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 75". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Buys Moldovan Aircraft to Prevent Acquisition by Iran – Arms Control Association". armscontrol.org. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
- ^ John Pike. "Moldova – Air Forces Command". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "DoD News Briefing: Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative". DefenseLink. 4 November 1997. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "U.S. to send MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, but as a source of spare parts". aviacionline.com. 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Truth About the MiG-29". airspacemag.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Nellis Air Force Base Threat Training Facility Aircraft". richard-seaman.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
Media related to Air force of Moldova at Wikimedia Commons