Moldovan Air Force

Moldovan Air Force
Founded	21 August 1991 -
Country	Moldova
Size	1,040 (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

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Combat aircrafts
MIG-29	Soviet Union	Multirole fighter	MiG-29S-13 (Product 9.13)	6	retired, for sale
Military transport aircrafts
AN-12	Poland	Military transport aircraft	AN-12T	2	Operational
AN-24	Soviet Union	Military transport aircraft	AN-24RV	1	Operational
AN-26	Soviet Union	Military transport aircraft	AN-26	1	Operational
AN-72	Soviet Union	Military transport aircraft	AN-72	2	Operational
Training, Helicopters
PZL-104	Poland	Training aircraft	PZL-104	5	Operational
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-8MTV-1 and MI-8PS (VIP transport)	4 (in AID missions) 1 for intern missions	Operational

Moldavian MiG-29 being towed by a truck (1997)

Moldavian MiG-29 is readied for air shipment (1997)

Moldavian MiG-29UB trainer (1997)

Moldavian Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters in 1996

Moldavian Mi-8PS for VIP transport (former Nicolae Ceauşescu helicopter)

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

• Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas.^[6]
• NAS Fallon Airpark.
• The NAIC at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A two seat MiG-29UB is on display.
• 2 MiG-29s are on display at Nellis AFB. One is at the outside of the Threat Training Facility^{[citation needed]} and another, in better shape, inside a hangar alongside a MiG-23.^[7]
• One is currently stored in a restoration hangar at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. As of June 2007, the aircraft has been put in display at the Cold War Exhibit of the Museum and continues to receive minor upgrading while on display.^[8][9]

See also

• Military of Moldova
• Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova

References

1. ^ Moldova - The Armed Forces
2. ^ Show Indicator Information
3. ^ Collaboration protocol between the Romanian and Moldovan Air Force, Mediafax.ro (in Romanian)
4. ^ Arms Control Association: Arms Control Today: U.S. Buys Moldovan Aircraft to Prevent Acquisition by Iran
5. ^ DefenseLink News Transcript: DoD News Briefing: Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative
6. ^ http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/database/aircraft/showimage.php?id=1996
7. ^ [http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/Museums/ThreatTrainingFacility/Aircraft/index.html Threat Training Facility Aircraft]
8. ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070313-F-1234P-038.jpg
9. ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070313-F-1234P-001.jpg

External links

• Expenditures for 2000
• Structure (In Russian)