Djibouti Air Force

The Djiboutian Air Force (DAF) (French: Force Aérienne du Djibouti (FAdD)), (Somali: Ciidanka Cirka Jabuuti) is the Air Force of Djibouti. It was established as part of the Djibouti Armed Forces after the country obtained its independence on June 27, 1977. The first aircraft included three Nord N.2501 Noratlas transport aircraft, as well as a French Allouette II helicopter. The Djibouti Air Force is mandated with protecting Djibouti's airspace, and in assisting ground forces.

Djiboutian Air Force
Djibouti Air Force roundel
Active1977-present
Country Djibouti
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size370 personnel
Part ofDjibouti Armed Forces
HeadquartersDjibouti City
Nickname(s)DAF
ColorsLight Brown, Brown, Blue
Equipment16 Aircraft
Insignia
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
AttackMil Mi-24
PatrolCessna 206
TransportLet L-410 Turbolet, Harbin Y-12, Mil Mi-8, Xian MA60, C-23 Sherpa

History

In 1982, the Djibouti Air Force was augmented by two Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2 helicopters and a Cessna 206 followed in 1985 by a Cessna 402C Utiliner. In 1985 the Aérospatiale Alouette III was withdrawn from use and put on display at Ambouli Air Base as Djibouti's airport is called. Two years later the three Nord Noratlas were also put aside and given back to France later. New equipment came in 1991 by means of a Cessna 208 Caravan followed by all the Russian types in the early nineties. They included four Mi 2, six Mi 8 and two Mi 17 helicopters and a single Antonov An-28 light transport aircraft. Pilot training, if necessary, is conducted in France and continued on the type of flying at home, although demand for new pilots is low with only approximately 310 men in the Djiboutian Air Force. As of 2018, the Air Force had a strength of 360 personnel, and operated a small number of transport aircraft and helicopters.[1]

Aircraft
A Djiboutian Mi-35 on the taxi way
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Xian MA60 China transport MA60H-500 1[2]
Cessna 208 United States utility transport 1[2]
Short C-23 Sherpa United Kingdom transport 2 former US Army aircraft[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Russia utility / transport 2[2]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-35 2[2]
Eurocopter AS355 France utility 1[2]
Eurocopter AS365 France utility 4[2]

See also

References
Citations
  1. IISS (2016), p. 432
  2. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. "Djibouti to receive ex-US C-23 cargo aircraft". January 7, 2015.
Works consulted
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.


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