Moldovan Air Force
| Moldovan Air Force |
| Founded |
21 August 1991 - |
| Country |
Moldova |
| Size |
21 Aircraft, 1,040 personnel (2007) |
| Insignia |
| Air Force flag |
|
| Roundel |
|
| Aircraft flown |
| Transport |
An-72, An-26, An-2, Mi-8 |
The Moldovan Air Force 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 Military of Moldova.
Structure
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 MiG-29 aircraft, 8 Mi-8 helicopters, 5 transport aircraft (including an Antonov An-72), and 25 SA-3/SA-5 Gammon surface-to-air missiles.[1]
In 2002 the Air Force consisted of 1,400 men.[2]
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 6 MiG-29S aircraft, upgraded in Ukraine and stationed in Mărculeşti Air Base, 8 Mi-8 helicopters, 5 transport aircraft (including an Antonov An-72), and 12 SA-3 surface-to-air missile.
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.[3]
Air Force inventory
In October 1997 United States purchased 14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 which were equipped with an active radar jammer in its spine and were capable of being armed with nuclear weapons. They also purchased 6 MiG-29A, 1 MiG-29B. All the spare parts for those aircraft were also purchased, as were the accompanying 500 air to air missiles. [4]
In late 1998 Moldova also sold 10 MIG 29s to Eritrea but it was speculation that these aircraft were no longer airworthy.
All of those MiG-29s were transported from Moldova to the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in C-17 transport planes over a period of two weeks.[5]
Moldovan MiG-29s on display
See also
References
External links
