Central African Republic Air Force

Central African Republic Air Force
Roundel
Founded 1961
Country  Central African Republic
Branch Air Force
Role Aerial warfare
Part of Central African Republic Armed Forces

The Central African Republic Air Force (French: Force Aérienne Centrafricaine) is the aerial warfare branch of the Central African Republic Armed Forces.

The Air Force is reported to be almost inactive due to the unserviceability of its aircraft. Dassault Mirage F1s of the French Air Force regularly patrol troubled regions of the country and also participate in direct confrontations.[1] According to some sources, former President François Bozizé used the money he got from the mining concession in Bakouma to buy two old Mil Mi-8 helicopters from Ukraine and one Lockheed C-130 Hercules, built in the 1950s, from the U.S.[2] The air force otherwise operates several light aircraft, including a single helicopter.

Aircraft

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
BN-2 United Kingdom transport 2[3]
C-130 USA Cargo 1 Unconfirmed
Aermacchi AL-60 Italy liaison 10
Helicopters
AS350 France utility / liaison AS350B 2[3]
Mi-8 USSR utility 1 Stored at Bangui Airport
Mi-24 USSR Attack 1
Trainer
EMB 312 Brazil Trainer 2

Former inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dassault Mirage F1 France Interceptor Unconfirmed Acquired from France
Douglas A-1 Skyraider USA Ground attack 7 Acquired from France
Transport
Sud Aviation Caravelle France VIP Transport 1
Douglas DC-3 USA Cargo 2
Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20 France VIP Transport 1
Trainer
Rallye 235 France Trainer 1

References

Notes

  1. ↑ – Inter-agency Mission to Birao (CAR): 16 to 23 January 2007
  2. ↑ – Centrafrique : Bozizé ou la chronique d’une chute annoncée, 2004 Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 11". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

  • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180 No. 5321, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 338 Sheet 02
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