Rwandan Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise
Founded1962; 60 years ago (1962)
Country Rwanda
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size21 helicopters, and 20 fixed wing
Part ofRwanda Defence Force
Commanders
President of RwandaPaul Kagame
Commander of the Air ForceJean-Jacques Mupenzi[1]
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterMil Mi-24
Utility helicopterMil Mi-17, Aérospatiale Gazelle
TransportCessna 208 Caravan, Diamond DA42 Twin Star

The Rwandan Air Force (French: Force aérienne rwandaise) is the air branch of the Rwandan Defence Forces.

History[]

After achieving independence in 1962, the Air Force was formed with the aid of Belgium, the initial aircraft consisted of three ex-French Air Force CM.170 Magisters, which operated in a counterinsurgency role along with a Britten-Norman Islander. Other deliveries included SA 342L Gazelles, Nord Noratlas, SOCATA Guerrier, C-47 Skytrains. After fighting began between the RPA and the government in 1990 most aircraft were shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed.[2]

Current inventory[]

A Rwandan Air Force Mil Mi-17
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Cessna 208 Caravan United States utility 1[3]
Diamond DA42 Austria utility 2[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 12[3]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack 5[3]
Aérospatiale Gazelle France utility 342 3[3]

References[]

  1. ^ de la Croix Tabaro, Jean (4 June 2021). "Maj. Gen. Mubarakh Muganga Promoted to Lt. Gen. as President Kagame Shuffles Army Top Brass". KT Press. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. ^ "World Air Forces1983 pg. 366". flightglobal.com. 6 August 1983. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

External links[]


Stub icon

This military aviation article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""