Gabonese Air Force

The Gabonese Air Force (French: Armée de l'air gabonaise) is the official aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Gabon.

Gabonese Air Force
Armée de l'air gabonaise
ActiveJanuary 25, 1972 - Present
Country Gabon
TypeAir Force
RoleAerial warfare
Size1,500
Part ofArmed Forces of Gabon
HeadquartersLibreville
AnniversariesJanuary 25
Commanders
Commander in ChiefPresident Ali Bongo Ondimba
Commander of the Air ForceGeneral Jean Martin
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterDassault Mirage 5
Dassault Mirage F1

History

In the early 1960s, following the country's independence from the French Republic, aerial detachments were inside the country, with the first official aerial installation being the Mouila Training Center which was established in 1966 in the south-west of the country. On January 25, 1972, by presidential decree signed by President Omar Bongo, the Gabonese Air Force became an official branch of the armed forces, separate from the army. In January 1980, at the initiative of President Bongo, the Air Force developed and adopted a combat structure, acquiring a fleet of fighters, and creating the Mvengue Air Base in the capital.[1][2]

Order of battle
  • Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville with:
    • Mirage F-1AZ
    • MB-326M Impala I
  • Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville with:
    • C-130 Hercules
    • CN-235
  • Ministerial Air Liaison Group (Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
    • 1 Falcon-900EX
    • 1 Gulfstream-III

Current aircraft inventory
A Gabonese ATR-42 on approach
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service[3] Notes
Combat aircraft
Mirage 5  France attack Mirage 5G 3[4]
Mirage F1  France fighter 6[4]
Transport
ATR 42  France VIP 1[5]
C-130 Hercules  United States transport C-130H 1[4]
CASA CN-235  Spain /  Indonesia transport 1[4]
Helicopters
Alouette III  France light utility SA 319 2[4]
Eurocopter AS332  France transport 1[4]
Eurocopter EC135  Germany utility 2[4]
Eurocopter AS350  France liaison 1[4]
Eurocopter EC120  France light utility 2[4]
Aérospatiale SA330  France transport/utility 5[4]
Aérospatiale Gazelle  France scout/attack SA 342 3[4]
Trainer Aircraft
T-34 Mentor  United States trainer 4[4]
Mirage 5  France conversion trainer Mirage 5DG 2[4]

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the CM.170 Magister, C-130H Hercules, Embraer EMB 110, Fokker F28, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.[6][7]

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References
  1. "LE DETACHEMENT DE L 'ARMEE DE L' AIR AU GABON". Centerblog. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. "Gabon Air Force / L'Armee de l'air". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. World Air Forces 2016 (PDF). Flightglobal International. December 2015. p. 19. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  4. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 16". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. "ATR42 Gabon TR-KJD". Airport-data.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. "World Air Forces 1987 pg. 56". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. "World Military Helicopter Markey 1971 pg. 577". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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