South Sudan Air Force

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

South Sudan Air Force
Founded24 June 2008; 15 years ago (2008-06-24)
Country 
Mi-172, Mi-17V-5

The South Sudan Air Force (SSAF), also previously known as the Sudan People's Air Force or Sudan People's Liberation Air Force, is the

Juba Air Base, Juba
.

History

Sudan: 2008–2011

On 24 June 2008, the South Sudan Air Force was formally created by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, although it didn't have any aircraft at that time. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations School announced in July 2009 that Sudan participated in the Building Partner Aviation Capacity Course.[2] In May 2010, Major General Kuol Dim Kuol of the Sudan People's Liberation Army said: "SPLA has formed a nucleus air force and navy. Our pilots and engineers have been trained, and local support and administrative units will follow suit."[2]

On 8 August 2010, the South Sudanese government impounded a

Mi-17 variant from SudanAir
as an effort to stop smuggling of weapons in the South, a few days before delivery of the first SSAF Mi-17s.

British magazine

Antonov An-124 transports, with the remaining two aircraft were delivered in January 2011.[4] Nine of the helicopters were Mi-17V-5s configured for transport, with the remaining aircraft being a Mi-172 configured for VIP transport.[4]

South Sudan: 2011–present

On 11 January 2011, President

SPLA purchased its first batch of 10 Mil Mi-17 helicopters from Kazan, a Russian supplier, and ordered unarmed aircraft for transport purposes.[5]

On 13 September 2014, six air force military officers and engineers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit have joined the rebels or

SPLM-IO, saying their decision to join the SPLM/A-in Opposition is a result of lack of diversity in the army of training opportunities and poor promotion policy.[6]
The deserted SPLA personnel also said that the government of South Sudan used the air force to transport militias and SPLA regular soldiers who participated in the killing of innocent civilians in Juba.

On 25 November 2015, the South Sudanese government launched an aerial campaign on rebel positions in a SPLA-IO's designated area in

Western Equatoria State. It was said that the South Sudan Air Force unleashed helicopter gunships and attacked the designated cantonment area of the rebels.[7]
The action was a violation of the ceasefire deal and the security arrangements signed by the two parties (GRSS and SPLA-IO).

Organisation

The air force is divided into 2 wings.

Key dates

  • June 24, 2008 – South Sudan Air Force formally created.
  • February 2010 – first fixed-wing aircraft received –
    Beech 1900
    .
  • December 2010 – first helicopters received – Mi-17.

Aircraft and bases

Current inventory

Juba Airport

It is difficult to ascertain a list and number of aircraft types operated by the air force of South Sudan because of secrecy.

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
An-26
  Ukraine transport 1[8] One unit crashed in 2024[9]
Helicopters
AW109
  Italy utility 2[8]
Mil Mi-17  Russia VIP / utility Mi-172 / Mi-17V-5 7[8] 1 configured for VIP transport
Mil Mi-24  Russia attack
Mi-35
 6[8]

Aircraft orders 2010-2015

The first aircraft was received in February 2010, and the first helicopters from an initial order for 10 was received in December 2010.

Bases

Headquarters –

Juba Air Base
.

Air Force commanders

References

  1. ^ a b "South Sudan president removes key officers in army reshuffle - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". sudantribune.com. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Creation of the South Sudan Air Force | aircraft.zurf.info". 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011.
  3. ^ Lauren Gelfand, 'Confident South Sudan set to buy fleet of Mi-17 transport helos,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 10 September 2010
  4. ^
    ISSN 2041-7470
    .
  5. ^ "South Sudan launches air force" Sudan Tribune Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Welcome to southsudannewsagency.com". www.southsudannewsagency.com.
  7. ^ "Welcome to southsudannewsagency.com". www.southsudannewsagency.com.
  8. ^ a b c d Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Military cargo plane crashes at Ruweng's Yida Airstrip". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ^ APANEWS. "S/Sudanese leader reshuffles army - Apanews.net". apanews.net. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Sudan_Air_Force&oldid=1218643492"