- Chadian Air Force
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The Chadian Air Force, in French Force Aérienne Tchadienne, was formed in 1961 as the Escadrille Nationale Tchadienne (Chadian National Flight/Squadron), and was given its current name in 1973. It continues to be part of the Chadian Army.
The force shares a base with French forces at N'Djamena International Airport.
Contents
1960s
In the 1960s the Chadian Air Force consisted of one hundred men, one DC-3 cargo aircraft, three light observation aircraft, and two helicopters.
Enhancement
In 1973, when its strength was increased to 200 men, the air force possessed three C-47 medium transport aircraft (increased to 13 in the mid-1970s), three light transport planes, and one helicopter, all serviced at the local French air base in N'Djamena. Nearly all of the pilots at the time were French.
In 1976, the Air Force obtained 7 Douglas AD Skyraiders from France, which were used in anti-guerrilla campaigns in the north until 1987 when they were deemed inoperable. (C-47 tail numbers included 100509, 10307 and 10409, and Skyraider 126959).
Safety Incidents
The Aviation Safety Network listed four incidents between 1976 and 1987, one involving a Douglas DC-3, a Douglas DC-4 that was shot down by a Surface-to-air missile and the remaining two with the C-130 Hercules transports, one crashing during a routine takeoff, the other during a landing. [1]
Successful Combat
During the 1983 conflict with Libya, the Chad Air Force reported destroying eight Libyan Aermacchi SF-260s. Three were captured and served from 1987. One crashed in 1989 and another was sold to the USA. Chad also acquired 24 Stinger shoulder launched SAMs in late 1987.
According to several news reports, the Chad Air Force was heavily involved in beating back a rebel invasion from neighboring Sudan.[1] Sudanese officials also claimed that Chad aircraft made several cross-border raids into Sudan during the conflict.[2] However, media reports are unclear as to exactly what types of aircraft were used by Chad to fend off the rebels and to conduct the cross-border strikes.
Command
As of 1987, the Air Force was commanded by Lt. Mornadji Mbaissanabe. On November 15, 2000, an unidentified Chadian Air Force Chief of Operations applied for refugee status in Canada, claiming he had accused the Chadian government of human rights violations.[2]
Helicopters
Two ex-Dutch airforce Aloutte III helicopters were acquired in January 1995
In 2004, while transporting journalists and UN officials to a tarmac meeting with Kofi Annan, one of the Chadian helicopters malfunctioned and made a rough landing in the desert. [3] After its repair, it transported US Marines into Niger. [4]
Chad lost at least one helicopter during the Battle of Adre, on December 18, 2005.
Aircraft Inventory
In addition to rotated French aircraft which are often operated by Chad, the Air Force operates 20 aircraft, including 8 helicopters. In July 2008 speculation rose about Chad ordering six ex-Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft.
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[3] Notes Aermacchi SF-260 Italy
trainer/light attack SF-260W 2 survivors of 9 captured from Libya Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III France
utility helicopter SA 316 2 Antonov An-26 Ukraine
tactical transport 1 Beech 1900D United States
VIP transport 1 Delivered in 2008 and has Republique du Tchad titles. Douglas DC-9 United States
VIP Transport DC-9-87 1 Has Republique du Tchad titles. Lockheed C-130 Hercules United States
tactical transport C-130H-30 1 Mil Mi-8/-17 Soviet Union
transport helicopter Mi-8
Mi-172
5Mil Mi-25 Soviet Union
attack helicopter Mi-25 2 Pilatus PC-6 Porter Switzerland
utility transport 2 serving since 1976 1 sold in the late 1990s Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer / Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland
trainer (reconfigured as attack aircraft) 3 and 1 1 PC-9 is an attrition replacement Reims F337 Skymaster France
liaison 2 license built Cessna Skymaster Sukhoi Su-25 Ukraine
attack Su-25 Frogfoot A
Su-25UB4
2[4] Operational aircraft of the force may be far less than official figures represent. According to a report in Le Figaro in April, 2006, the Chad Air Force consisted only of two Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports, one working Mil Mi-17 Hip-H helicopter, and two non-working Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters[5].
List of Historical Aircraft OF CHADIAN AIR FORCE
- 3 Tupolev TU-22 Blinder-Bomber(captured from Libyan-AF)
Soviet Union
- 2 Mikoyan MIG-21 Bis-Fishbed(captured from Libyan-AF)
Soviet Union
- 6 Sukhoi SU-25 Frogfoot A(4)\SU-25UB(2)
Ukraine
Russia-6 IN Service
- 11 Aero L-39ZO Albatros Jet trainer\CAS aircraft(captured from Libyan-AF
Czechoslovakia
- 7 Douglas A-1D Skyraider-CAS aircraft
United States
- 5 Cessna-Reims FTB-337 Super Skymaster
United States
FranceLight Attack aircraft-2 IN Service
- 9 SIAI SF-260M \ SF-260WL Warrior Light Attack aircraft(captured from Libyan-AF)
Italy-2 IN Service
- 2 Pilatus PC-9 Trainer\Light Attack aircraft
Swiss-1 IN Service
- 3 Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainer Trainer\Light Attack aircraft
Swiss-2 IN Service
- 2 Pilatus PC-6 Turboproter Utility aircraft
Swiss-2 IN Service
- 5 Max Holste HM1521M Broussard Light STOL Utility aircraft
France
- 1 Boeing 727-200 Jet Transporter
United States
- 1 Douglas DC-9 Jet Transporter
United States-1 IN Service
- 1 SNIAS Caravelle 6R Jet Transporter
France
- 1 Grumman Gulfstream-II Jet-VIP
United States
- 8 Lockheed C-130A(6)\C-130H(1)\C-130H-30(1) Hercules Transporter
United States-3 IN SERVICE (1xC-130A\1xC-130H\1xC-130H-30)
- 1 Antonov An-72 Coaler
Russia
- 2 Antonov An-26 Crul Transporter
Soviet Union-1 IN Service
- 2 Casa C-212 Aviocar Transporter
Spain
- 1 De-Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin-Otter Transporter
Canada
- 1 Fokker F-27-600 Friendship Transporter
Holland
- 10 Nord 2501 Noratlas
France
- 6 Douglas C-54 Skymaster Transporter
United States
- 13 Douglas C-47 Dakota Transporter
United States
- 1 Augusta-Bell 47G Sioux
Italy
United States
- 2 Mil Mi-8 Hip Utility Helicopter
Soviet Union-2 IN Service
- 2 Mil Mi-17 Hip Utility Helicopter
Russia-2 IN Service
- 3 Mil Mi-24 Hind Attack Helicopter
Soviet Union
- 2 Mil Mi-25V Hind-E Attack Helicopter
Russia-2 IN Service
- 10 Sikorski\Sud S-58\H-34 Choctaw
United States
France
- 11 SNIAS SE-3130 Alouette-II
France
- 10 SNIAS SE-3160\SA-316B Alouette-III
France-2 IN Service
- 2 SNIAS SA-342 Gazelle Attack Helicopter
France
- 9 SNIAS SA-330 Puma
France
- 1 SNIAS SA-332F Super-Puma
France
- IAI Orbiter mini UAV
Israel
References
- ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gt7gbrcGa0Xojw0Igs050k4RFhcA
- ^ http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31177
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
- ^ MilAvia Press.com
- ^ Le Figaro – Actualité en direct et informations en continu
World aircraft information files Bright Star Publishing London File 337 Sheet 4
Categories:- Air forces by country
- Military of Chad
- Aviation in Chad
- 1961 in military history
- 3 Tupolev TU-22 Blinder-Bomber(captured from Libyan-AF)
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