Algerian Air Force

Algerian Air Force
القوات الجوية الجزائرية
Al Quwwat aljawwiya aljaza'eriiya

Badge of the Algerian Air Force
Active 1962 - present
Country  Algeria
Type Air Force
Size 14,000 personnel
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Fighter Su-30, MiG-29, Su-24, MiG-25
Attack helicopter Mi-24, Mi-28
Interceptor Su-30, MiG-25
Patrol Fokker F27, King Air
Reconnaissance MiG-25, UAV Seeker, Su-24, B-1900D HISAR
Trainer Z 142, T-34C, L-39, Yak-130
Transport C-130, Il-76, C-295

The Algerian Air Force (QJJ) (Arabic: القوات الجوية الجزائرية‎, Al Quwwat aljawwiya aljaza'eriiya), is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's Military.

History

C-130H Hercules in 2009

Algerian military aviation was created to aid the fight of the People National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the decisions of the Soummam congress held on August 20, 1956 which recommended a long term plan to form a modern army

From 1958 to 1962

A structure was created to receive the Algerian students of the People National Army, among which some were sent to sister and friendly countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria, USSR and China, to train as aircraft pilots and aeronautics technicians .

During this period, the French colonial army had started the lines of Challe and Morrice used to isolate the ALN fighters inside the country and to stop supplies coming from Tunisia and Morocco. Then came the idea to train transport and helicopter pilots to ensure supplying the national liberation army and to prepare the first core of the military aviation.

From 1962 to 1970

Training was one of the major preoccupations of the ALN/FLN leaders. Military aviation had a core of pilots and ASDFDASF technicians after independence, who laid the foundations of the present Air Force. The Direction of Air was born and the first air units of independent Algeria were set up i.e. a flight of helicopters that was acquired during the revolution, and a flight of combat aircraft.

The Algerians authorities sent trainees to friendly countries such Egypt, Syria, Iraq, China and USSR, while waiting for the creation of Algerian Air Force schools.

In 1966, the Air Base of Tafraoui in the 2nd Military Region was built as an air officers school (EOA) where the first officer students were received for the training of pilots and technicians in aeronautics. .

During this first decade, immediately after independence, the Algerian Air Force acquired planes from the USSR, mainly MiG-15UTI and MiG-17, and some donated by Egypt. When border clashes with Morocco occurred in 1963, the Algerian government decided to reinforce the capacities of the army and the air force. MiG-17F light bomber, MiG-21 F13 interceptor, Su-7BMK fighter/bomber and some An-12 airlifters were purchased from the USSR. Mi-1 and Mi-4 helicopters were also deployed. During the Six Days War in 1967, and war of attrition between 1967 and 1973,[1] 2 Squadrons of MiG-17F, One Squadron of MiG-21F13 and one Squadron of Su-7BMK were stationed in Egypt to support the Arab coalition.

From 1970 to 1980

During the Yom Kippur War, the Algerian Air Force participated in the conflict under the unified Egyptian military commandement. MiG-21F-13s and newer MiG-21PFs were mainly used to protect the Cairo region. MiG-17F and Su-7BMK aircraft also participated in the war, mostly in strafing and bombing missions. In October 1973 two Su-7BMK, one MiG-21 and a number of MiG-17Fs were lost.[2][3]

In 1976, Algerian Air Force planes returned from Egypt to their home bases in Algeria. Shortly after dozens of MiG-23MF, MiG-23BN and MiG-25P were acquired and entered in the inventory and MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21PFs were replaced by higher performance MiG-21MF and later MiG-21Bis interceptors.

From 1980 to 2000

The High Command dissociated the Air Defense of the territory from the Department of the Air Force, which was built in 1986 as an air force command.

The organization is made of the following structures:

During this period few changes occurred in the combat aircraft inventory of the Algerian Air Force. Ten Su-24MK were received from the USSR and the MiG-17F was phased out. A new airplane supplier emerged just after the Iranian revolution when Algeria received 18 C-130H Hercules, 12 T-34 Mentor, and 12 Hawker Beechcraft supplied by USA from 1981 to 1989, for transport and training.

Since 2000

The Air Force purchased a large number of MiG-29S (index 9.13) from Belarus and Ukraine from 1999 to 2003. At least 25 Su-24MK were also received in the same period. After the large military deal concluded with Russia during March 2006, Algeria ordered 28 Su-30MKA, 16 Yak-130A and 34 MiG-29SMT.

In 2008 the MiG-29 SMT contract was cancelled and the planes delivered were returned to Russia and exchanged for 16 Su-30MKA multirole fighters. While the current front-line fleet primarily consists of Russian-origin aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30 and the MiG-29, Algeria has expressed an interest in acquiring aircraft from China. Algeria has been seen as a potential operator of the Chinese 4th-Generation JF-17 Thunder fighter Project.[4]

Air bases

See also List of airports in Algeria for other airfields which may have a dual civil-military function.

The air force has two regiments of Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air, primarily base defence troops but which have reportedly taken part int anti-terrorism operations. They are the 772nd and 782nd Regiment des Fusiliers Commandos de l'air (RFCA).[5]

Aircraft

Current inventory

Sukhoi Su-30MKA making a fly-by
Il-78 Midas refuelling Su-30MKA
An Ilyushin IL-78
An Su-30 in flight
Algerian C-130 on the tarmac
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-25  Russia interceptor 13[6]
MiG-29  Russia fighter 32[6]
Su-24  Russia attack 23[6]
Su-30  Russia multirole Su-30MKA 44[6]
Reconnaissance
Beechcraft 1900  United States surveillance 1900D 6[6]
Maritime Patrol
King Air 200  United States patrol 200/350 3[6]
Tanker
Ilyushin Il-78  Russia aerial refueling Il-78MP 5[6]
Transport
A340  France VIP A340-500 1[7]
ATR 72  France  Italy VIP 600 1[8]
C-130 Hercules  United States transport C-130H 15[6]
CASA C-295  Spain transport 5[6]
Il-76  Russia heavy transport 10[6]
King Air 90  United States utility 200/350 20[6]
PC-6   Switzerland utility 2[6]
Helicopters
AW101  United Kingdom VIP 2 on order[9][10]
AS355  France utility 19[6]
AW139  Italy utility 11[6] 1 on order
Bell 412  United States utility 3[6]
Ka-27  Russia utility Ka-32 3[6] 1 on order
PZL Mi-2  Poland liaison 21[6]
Mil Mi-8  Russia utility Mi-17/171 100[6]
Mil Mi-24  Russia attack 35[6]
Mil Mi-26  Russia heavy transport Mi-26T2[11] 6 on order[6]
Mil Mi-28  Russia attack 42 on order[6]
Trainer Aircraft
AW119  Italy trainer 8[6]
L-39  Czech Republic trainer 30[6]
W-3 Sokół  Poland trainer / utility 8[6]
Yak-130  Russia trainer 16[6]

Munitions

Air to air missiles

Air to ground/surface missiles

References

  1. ↑ "War of Attrition, 1969-1970 - www.acig.org". Acig.info. 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  2. ↑ "Algeria". Ejection-history.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  3. ↑ "Israeli Air-to-Air Victories in 1973 - www.acig.org". Acig.info. 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  4. ↑ China to Re-Export Russian Jet Engine - Kommersant Moscow
  5. ↑ Centre Francais de recherche sur la reseignement, Bulletin de documentation 5, accessed January 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 10". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Airbus A340 MSN 917 - 7T-VPP". airfleets.net. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "New Algerian ATR72-600". Air Forces Monthly pg. 24 (Key Publishing). February 2015.
  9. ↑ "AgustaWestland Looks To Recertify AW101". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Allport, Dave (July 2013). "First Algerian VIP AW 101 Flight Testing". Air Forces Monthly.
  11. ↑ "Algerian AF’s first Mi-26T2 flown". Air Forces Monthly pg. 25 (Key Publishing). February 2015.

External links

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