Zambian Air Force

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Zambia Air Force
Roundel of Zambia.svg
Zambian Air Force roundel
Founded1968; 53 years ago (1968)
Country Zambia
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofZambian Defence Force
HeadquartersLusaka
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant General Collin Barry [1]
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha
Insignia
Fin flashFin Flash of Zambia.svg
FlagAir Force Ensign of Zambia.svg
Aircraft flown
FighterMiG-21, Shenyang J-6, F-7
HelicopterMil Mi-17, Bell 205, Bell 206
TrainerAermacchi SF.260, Hongdu K-8, Hongdu L-15, FT-5, FT-6
TransportHarbin Y-12, Xian MA60, Alenia C-27J Spartan
a Zambian Air Force MA-60 MTI-1

The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force. Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former Northern Rhodesia Air Wing was renamed as the Zambia Air Wing. The Zambia Air Force was then established.[2]

The primary missions of the Air Force are to defend Zambia's borders and protect its airspace. In addition, it provides various forms of air support to other government departments. It also flies reconnaissance, trooping and transport missions for the police and airlifts medical supplies and personnel to inaccessible areas. Finally, the organisation provides emergency transport whenever needed. One of the more recent relief operations mounted by the Air Arm occurred in early 2007, when it came to the aid of flood victims in the North-Western Province.[citation needed]

Aircraft[]

Few details are available on force deployment, but combat elements are understood to be located at Lusaka (K-8), Mbala (F-6) and Mumbwa (MiG-21), with the small fleet of transport aircraft and utility helicopters also reportedly stationed at Lusaka.[3]

Current inventory[]

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-21 Soviet Union fighter 10[4] MiG-21-2000[5]
Shenyang J-6 People's Republic of China light attack F-6A 8[4] licensed built MiG-19
Transport
C-27J Spartan Italy transport 2[4]
Xian MA60 China utility transport 1[4]
Harbin Y-12 China transport 8[4]
Helicopters
Bell 205 United States utility 12[4]
Bell 206 United States utility 2[4]
Bell 212 United States utility 1[4]
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility Mi-171 5[4]
Harbin Z-9 China utility 7[4] licensed built Eurocopter AS365
Trainer Aircraft
Shenyang J-6 People's Republic of China jet trainer FT-6 2[4]
Hongdu JL-8 China jet trainer K-8 16[4]
PAC MFI-15 Pakistan trainer 16[4]
SF.260TW Italy trainer 13[4]
Hongdu L-15 China jet trainer 6[4]

Commands[]

Commands are typically under the leadership of an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) who holds a rank of Brigadier General.

  • Strike Command[6]
  • Training Command[7]
  • Tactical Air Mobility Command[8]
  • Logistics Command[9]
  • Northern Air Defence Command[10]
  • Central Air Defence Command[11]

Formations[]

  • No. 65 Wing "Preamonitus Preamonitus "[12]
  • No. 71 Wing "Defending with valor"[13]

Flying Units[]

  • No. 1 Squadron "With exellence"[14]
  • No. 8 Squadron "Ready to Move"[15]
  • No. 10 Squadron "On eagle wings, we lift"[16]
  • No. 11 Squadron "Warrior spirit"[17]
  • No. 14 Squadron "Strike Command"[18]
  • No. 21 Squadron "Fighting vipers"[19]
  • No. 22 Squadron "Anytime Anywhere"[20]
  • No. 33 Squadron "Service above self"[21]
  • No. 43 Squadron "Poised and ready to strike"[22]

Training Units[]

  • Centre for Advanced learning "Learning for profficiency" [23]
  • Zambia Air Force Academy "To learn to defence our country"[24]
  • Technical Training School "Strive for excellency"[25]
  • Ground training School "Knowledge Efficiency"[26]
  • Flying Traiining School "Nihil Nisi Optima"[27]
  • Air Defence School "Excellence through knowledge"[28]


Air Force commanders[]

  • 1972 to 1976 Lieutenant General Peter D. Zuze
  • 1980 Major General C. Kabwe
  • General Hannaniah Lungu
  • 1991 to 1997 Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha[29]
  • 1997 to 2001 Lieutenant General Sande Kayumba
  • 2002 to 2006 Lieutenant General Christopher Singogo[30]
  • 2006 to 2010 Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala[30][31]
  • 2010 to 2011 Major General Andrew Sakala[31][32]
  • 2011 to 2018 Lieutenant General Eric Mwaba Chimese[33]
  • 2018 to 2021, August Lieutenant General David Muma[1]
  • 2021 August to Present Lt. Gen Collin Barry

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Pres. Lungu Replaces Chimese as ZAF Commander". Zambia Online.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS".
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Mig21 in Service".
  6. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  7. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  8. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  9. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  10. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  11. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/what-we-do.html
  12. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  13. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  14. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  15. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  16. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  17. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  18. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  19. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  20. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  21. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  22. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  23. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  24. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  25. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  26. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  27. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  28. ^ https://www.airforce.mil.zm/who-we-are.html
  29. ^ "Zambia: Chiluba Sacks Vice President In Major Cabinet Reshuffle". allafrica.com. 2 December 1997. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b "People's Daily Online -- Zambian president fires air force commander".
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b "Zambia : President Banda retires top defense Chiefs(corrected)".
  32. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. ^ "President Sata Suspends Two Contracts". Truly Zambian. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
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