Rwandan Air Force

The Rwandan Air Force (French: Force aérienne rwandaise) is an air branch of the Rwandan Defence Forces.

Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise
Founded1962 (1962)
Country Rwanda
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size21 helicopters, and 2 fixed wing
Part ofRwanda Defence Force

History

After achieving independence in 1962, the Air Force was formed with the aid of Belgium, the initial aircraft consisted of three ex-French Air Force CM.170 Magisters, which operated in a counterinsurgency role along with a Britten-Norman Islander. Other deliveries included SA 342L Gazelles, Nord Noratlas, SOCATA Guerrier, C-47 Skytrains. After fighting began between the RPA and the government in 1990 most aircraft were shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed.[1]

Current inventory

A Rwandan Air Force Mil Mi-17
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Fighter
Sukhoi Su-27 Russia Fighter 8[2]
Transport
Cessna 208 Caravan United States utility 2[3] on order
Diamond DA42 Twin Star Austria utility 2[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 12[3]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack 5[3]
Aérospatiale Gazelle France utility 342 4[3]
Trainer
Yakovlev Yak-130 Russia Advanced Jet Trainer 16[2]

References

  1. "World Air Forces1983 pg. 366". flightglobal.com. 6 August 1983. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  2. "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal Insight. 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  3. "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rwanda/air-force.htm

https://www.rwandan-flyer.com/rwanda-air-force-guide-2014

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