Royal Moroccan Air Force

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Royal Moroccan Air Force
القوات الجوية الملكية المغربية
al-Quwwat al-Jawwiyah al-Malakiyah al-Maghribiyah
Forces Royales Air


Active 1956 -
Country Morocco
Branch Air Force
Size 13,500 personnel
300 pilots
Part of Administration of Defence إدارة الدفاع
Engagements Western Sahara conflict
Commanders
Military Leadership General Ahmed Boutaleb
(Inspector of the Royal Air Force)
Civilian Leadership King Mohammed VI
(Commander-in-Chief)
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack Mirage F1CH/EH
Fighter Mirage F1CH/EH
F-5A
F-5E Tiger II
Trainer Alpha Jet E
T-34
T-37B
FFA AS-202/18 Bravo
Transport C-130H Hercules
CASA CN.235M

The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية الملكية المغربية ; transliterated: 'al-Quwwat al-Jaoiyah al-Malakiyah al-Maghribiyah; French: Forces Royales Air) is the air force branch of the Moroccan Armed Forces.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The beginnings

The Moroccan air force was formed on November 19th, 1956 as the “Aviation Royale Chérifienne” (Sherifan Royal Aviation). Its modern installations and bases were inherited from France (Meknes, Rabat, marrakech), the United States (kenitra, Benguérir, Boulhault, Nouasser and Sidi Slimane) and Spain (layoune). The first acquisition of this newly formed air force was 6 Morane-Saulnier MS500 Criquet. 3 transport aircraft Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard, 2 Beech E50 Twin Bonanza, 1 De Havilland DH114 Heron and 1 Bell 47G helicopter.

In 1961, it changed its name to "Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine" (Royal Moroccan Air Force), a denomination still used until now. In the same period, it obtained from the Soviet Union 12 MiG-17, 2 MiG-15UTI "Midget" and 4 bombers Ilyushin Il-28. 24 training aircraft Fouga Magister were also received from France.

The political rift with the USSR, pushed Morocco to seek a new ally in the United States, acquiring from the latter 6 combat aircraft Northrop F-5 (4 single-seat F-5A and 2 two-seat F-5B) and in 1966 other 20 F-5A and 4 F-5B. As to the transport units, they had at that moment 10 Douglas C-47, 18 Fairchild C-119G y 6 C-130 Hercules. The helicopter fleet was composed of 24 Augusta-Bell AB205A, and training was satisfied with 60 North American T-6 Texan. The next modernization of the Moroccan air force took place just before the Sahara conflict, with the acquisition of Mirage F-1CH attack aircraft, Beech T-34C Mentor training aircraft, Aerospatiale Puma helicopters, and new Hercules transport aircraft to substitute the older units.

[edit] From the Western Sahara Conflict to present

At the beginning of the conflict, the Fouga Magister aircraft were the first to see action. Later on, the F-5 aircraft were thrown into action, to strike against Polisario targets. From the beginning, the objective of Morocco was to create a controlled and safe zone in the area considered as “useful” for its political and economic interests, that is, the Capital Al-Aaiun, the religious center Smara, and the phosphate field of Bu-Craa.

In 1980, they started building the defensive walls of the Sahara, consisted of every type of obstacles for the infantry, and the armoured vehicles (mines, radars, etc...), all backed by Quick Intervention Units (Détachements d'Intervention Rapide) able to move to and reinforce quickly every location along the wall thanks to air-transport composed of Super Puma, AB-205 and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

As to the anti-tank defense, it was decided additionally to use light helicopters Hughes 500MD with TOW missiles to neutralize the T-54, T-55 and BMP tanks of Polisario. And apart from the ground radars of the Wall, Two C-130 Hercules with SLAR system were also used for the detection of enemy units. After the loss of 1 F-5A and 2 RF-5A in the battles, 20 F-5E "Tiger II" y 4 F-5F were acquired thanks to the Saudi financial support.

The main problem that faced the F-5 in Western Sahara, was its insufficient range to realize missions in depth in the vast battlefield of the Sahara desert.

To remediate this problem, 4 tankers were purchased to provide the Moroccan “Freedom Fighters” with air-to-air refueling (AAR), and consequently increase their attack range. The Mirage F-1 during the beginning of the conflict were responsible of defending the air-space before a possible Libyan or Algerian attack, which supported both financially and politically the Polisario front.

In 1977, the Moroccan Mirage pilots started their training in an Air-force base located in Orange, France. In this same year, the Moroccan Air Force started receiving its first Mirage F-1C fighters. Finally, Libya and Algeria did not attack Morocco, and consequently Morocco destined its Mirages to ground-attack missions against Polisario. 3 Mirage Deliveries were received between 1978 and 1982. The first delivery were 30 Mirage F1-CH received between February and December, 1978. The second one, was received between December 1979 and July 1982 and comprised 14 Mirage F1-EH. Between July 1980 and June a final delivery of 6 Mirage F-1EH-200 was received.

During the 90’s there were plans for purchasing Mirage 2000 or F-16 fighter aircraft, however due to unavailable funding they have not been realized. Currently, and possibly as a result of the Algerian negotiations with Russia to purchase MiG-29 and Su-30MKA attack aircraft, the Royal Moroccan Air Force started seeking to modernize its ageing fleet. In summer 2007, the American F-16 and the French Rafale has been short-listed for the deal, but it has been reported by the French newspaper La Tribune[1] that the American F-16 is most likely to win the deal.

[edit] Airbases

  • Rabat Salé (GMME) – Air Base Nº 1
  • Meknes - Bassatine (GMFM) – Air Base Nº 2
  • Kenitra (GMMY) – Air Base Nº 3
  • Casablanca - Air Base Nº 4
  • Sidi Slimane (GMSL) – Air Base Nº 5
  • Marrakech (GMMX) – Academy Base
  • Laayoune (El Aaiún) - Hassan Island (GMML) – Detachment 1
  • El Charida - share military/commercial airport

[edit] Personnel

Currently the total number of the Royal Moroccan Air Force personnel is 13,500. 300 of these are pilots (According to Jane’s 1999).

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

The Royal Moroccan Air Force flies a variety of Western-built airplanes, particularly French built aircraft. the equipment of the Royal Moroccan Air Force consisted of :

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Dassault Mirage F1CH Flag of France France fighter/attack Mirage F1EH
Mirage F1CH
30
20
[2]
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter Flag of the United States United States fighter/attack F-5A/B
F-5E/F
27
33
[3][4]
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon Flag of the United States United States fighter/attack F-16C/D 24 Order not final.[5]
North American OV-10 Bronco Flag of the United States United States light attack/ surveillance OV-10A 6
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
trainer Alpha Jet E 24 One lost in a crash, another lost to an SA-6 missile
Cessna T-37 Dragonfly Flag of the United States United States trainer T-37B 14
Beechcraft T-34 Turbo Mentor Flag of the United States United States trainer T-34 12
FFA AS-202/18 Bravo Flag of the United States United States trainer AS-202/18 Bravo 14
Lockheed C-130 Hercules Flag of the United States United States transport/reconnaissance C-130H/RC-130 19
CASA CN-235 Flag of Spain Spain transport CN.235M 7
Boeing 707 Flag of the United States United States tanker B707 3 One sold to Omega Air, and later on to the Israeli Air Force
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker Flag of the United States United States tanker KC-135 1
Lockheed C-130 Hercules Flag of the United States United States tanker KC-130 3
Beech Twin Bonanza Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Twin Bonanza 2
Beechcraft King Air Flag of the United States United States VIP jets King Air 13
Cessna 414 Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Cessna 414 1
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Cessna 421 1
Cessna 560 Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Cessna 560 1
Dassault Falcon 20 Flag of France France VIP jets Falcon 20 2
Dassault Falcon 50 Flag of France France VIP jets Falcon 50 1
Dassault Falcon 100 Flag of France France VIP jets Falcon 100 1
Gulfstream II Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Gulfstream II 1
Gulfstream III Flag of the United States United States VIP jets Gulfstream III 1
Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle Flag of France France attack helicopter SA 342K 24
Eurocopter SA 330 Puma Flag of Spain Spain
Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
transport helicopter SA 330C 25
Agusta-Bell AB205A Iroquois Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter AB205A 30
Boeing CH-47 Chinook Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter CH-47C 18
Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter AB212 5
Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter S-70-25 2
Agusta Bell AB206 JetRanger Flag of the United States United States light helicopter AB206 20
  • This list is incomplete.
  • source: The International Institute for Strategic Studies IISS 2007

[edit] Historical Aircraft

[edit] References

[edit] External links