The Chadian Air Force, in French Force Aérienne Tchadienne, was formed in 1961 as the Escadrille Nationale Tchadienne (Chadian National Flight/Squadron), and was given its current name in 1973. It continues to be part of the Chadian Army.
The force shares a base with French forces at N'Djamena International Airport.
1960s[]
In the 1960s the Chadian Air Force consisted of one hundred men, one DC-3 cargo aircraft, three light observation aircraft, and two helicopters.
Enhancement[]
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Ex-Chad Air Force Douglas AD-4N Skyraider.
In 1973, when its strength was increased to 200 men, the air force possessed three C-47 medium transport aircraft (increased to 13 in the mid-1970s), three light transport planes, and one helicopter, all serviced at the local French air base in N'Djamena. Nearly all of the pilots at the time were French. In 1976, the Air Force obtained 7 Douglas AD Skyraiders from France, which were used in anti-guerrilla campaigns in the north until 1987 when they were deemed inoperable. (C-47 tail numbers included 100509, 10307 and 10409, and Skyraider 126959).
Safety Incidents[]
The Aviation Safety Network listed four incidents between 1976 and 1987, one involving a Douglas DC-3, a Douglas DC-4 that was shot down by a Surface-to-air missile and the remaining two with the C-130 Hercules transports, one crashing during a routine takeoff, the other during a landing. [1]
Successful Combat[]
During the 1983 conflict with Libya, the Chad Air Force reported destroying eight Libyan Aermacchi SF-260s. Three were captured and served from 1987. One crashed in 1989 and another was sold to the USA. Chad also acquired 24 Stinger shoulder launched SAMs in late 1987. According to several news reports, the Chad Air Force was heavily involved in beating back a rebel invasion from neighboring Sudan in 2009.[1] Sudanese officials also claimed that Chad aircraft made several cross-border raids into Sudan during the conflict.[2] However, media reports are unclear as to exactly what types of aircraft were used by Chad to fend off the rebels and to conduct the cross-border strikes.
Command[]
As of 1987, the Air Force was commanded by Lt. Mornadji Mbaissanabe. On November 15, 2000, an unidentified Chadian Air Force Chief of Operations applied for refugee status in Canada, claiming he had accused the Chadian government of human rights violations.[2]
Helicopters[]
Two ex-Dutch airforce Aloutte III helicopters were acquired in January 1995
In 2004, while transporting journalists and UN officials to a tarmac meeting with Kofi Annan, one of the Chadian helicopters malfunctioned and made a rough landing in the desert. [3] After its repair, it transported US Marines into Niger. [4]
Chad lost at least one helicopter during the Battle of Adre, on December 18, 2005.
Aircraft Inventory[]
In addition to rotated French aircraft which are often operated by Chad, the Air Force operates 20 aircraft, including 8 helicopters. In July 2008 speculation rose about Chad ordering six ex-Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft.
| Aircraft | Type | Versions | In service[3] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aermacchi SF-260 | trainer/light attack | SF-260W | 2 | survivors of 9 captured from Libya |
| Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III | utility helicopter | SA 316 | 2 | |
| Antonov An-26 | tactical transport | 1 | ||
| Beech 1900D | VIP transport | 1 | Delivered in 2008 and has Republique du Tchad titles. | |
| Douglas DC-9 | VIP Transport | DC-9-87 | 1 | Has Republique du Tchad titles. |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | tactical transport | C-130H-30 | 1 | captured from the Libyan Air Force |
| Mil Mi-8/-17 | transport helicopter | Mi-8 Mi-17 |
2 5 |
|
| Mil Mi-25 | attack helicopter | Mi-25 | 2 | |
| Pilatus PC-6 Porter | utility transport | 2 | serving since 1976 1 sold in the late 1990s | |
| Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer / Pilatus PC-9 | trainer (reconfigured as attack aircraft) | 3 and 1 | 1 PC-9 is an attrition replacement | |
| Reims F337 Skymaster | liaison | 2 | license built Cessna Skymaster | |
| Sukhoi Su-25 | attack | Su-25 Frogfoot A Su-25UB |
4 2 |
[4] |
Operational aircraft of the force may be far less than official figures represent. According to a report in Le Figaro in April, 2006, the Chad Air Force consisted only of two Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports, one working Mil Mi-17 Hip-H helicopter, and two non-working Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters.[5]
References[]
- ↑ https://archive.is/20130125221144/www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gt7gbrcGa0Xojw0Igs050k4RFhcA
- ↑ http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31177
- ↑ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
- ↑ MilAvia Press.com
- ↑ Le Figaro – Actualité en direct et informations en continu
- World aircraft information files Bright Star Publishing London File 337 Sheet 4
Further reading[]
- Cooper, Tom & Weinert, Peter (2010). African MiGs: Volume I: Angola to Ivory Coast. Harpia Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-0-9825539-5-4.
The original article can be found at Chadian Air Force and the edit history here.