Angolan People's Air Force And Air Defence Force

People's Air Force of Angola / Air and Antiaircraft Defense
Coat of arms of the PRA
Active 1980-2007
Country Angola
Branch Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Part of People's Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola
General command Luanda
Nickname(s) FAPA or DAA
Engagements Angolan War of Independence
South African Border War
Angolan Civil War
Insignia
Roundel
Identification
symbol

The People's Air Force of Angola / Air and Antiaircraft Defense or FAPA/DAA was the air force of Angola from 1980-2007

History

Angola became independent from Portugal on 11 November 1975. However, the foundations for the establishment of the air force were laid before independence when members of the then Flying Club of Angola (Aeroclube de Angola) were assembled at Luanda in October 1975.[1] These people and aircraft left behind by the Portuguese Air Force formed the basis for the air transport branch of the force.

The force was formally established on 21 January 1976 as the People's Air Force of Angola / Air and Antiaircraft Defense or FAPA/DAA (Força Aérea Popular de Angola / Defesa Aérea e Antiaérea). Its first batch of Soviet MiG fighter aircraft was delivered in mid-December 1975.[1] The FAPA/DAA fought several battles with South African Air Force aircraft in November 1981, October 1982, and twice in September 1987.[2]

Circa 1983-85, in order to enhance MPLA's combat capacity, Romania sent 150 flight instructors and other aviation personnel, who contributed to the establishment of an Angolan Military Aviation School.

The FANA has bases at Luanda, Catumbela, Belas, Luena, Kuito, Lubango and Namibe (often referred to by its pre-1985 name of Moçâmedes). The World Factbook, produced by the CIA, reported that by 2007 the name of the force had changed to "National Air Force".[3]

Most of the inventory is out of service, and refers to historical equipment delivered along the years. FAN has many bases – most of them, former Portuguese Air Force bases and other courtesy of the cold war – but few airplanes that actually fly. The main body of the active air force is made of transport/cargo planes, used for moving supplies, equipment and personnel between parts of the country.

Inventory

This is the inventory of the FAPA/DAA from 1980-2007

Fighters

Transport

Martime patrol

Helicopters

References

  1. 1 2 Cooper, Tom & Weinert, Peter (2010). African MiGs: Volume I: Angola to Ivory Coast. Harpia Publishing LLC. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-9825539-5-4.
  2. ↑ Cooper and Weinert 2010, 52, 54, 60.
  3. ↑ "Non official site with history of FAN" (in Portuguese). fanangola.webnode.pt. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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