Algerian Air force

The Algerian Air Force shortened (AAF), or Al Quwwat Al Arab Djawia Al Djaza' eria in is the official name of the air armed forces of the Algérie.

History

The existence of the Algerian air force goes back semi-officially to the time of ALN. Indeed that is little known but pilots of the ALN (Armed with National Release) discreetly prepared on board Mig-15 in Egypt, with a view to fly to the help of their brothers to the face to Algeria. This threat was taken very with serious by the French soldiers like declared it the general Hugues Silvestre of Sacy, chief of the historical Service of the French air force in its article entitled “ the stoppings in Algeria, an air vision of the looping of the borders ”, in which he declares that France knew the existence of an Algerian flotilla which was involved in Egypt for then making attacks on Algeria starting from bases lost in the desert Libya N. The proof was given by it when as of independence, several MIG-15 controlled by Algerians, had been posed on the Algerian ground.

Constitution of the AAF

In the first times, the training of the Algerian pilots was carried out in Egypt and Syria, within the framework of an Arab program of mutual aid, the purpose of which was to form and equip the young Algerian air force. Egypt of Nasser offered 18 planes of drive Al Joumhouria (“the Republic”) locally manufactured like 5 Mig-15 for the interception. In November 1962, of the experts and Eastern-European instructors arrived to Algeria with what seemed to be the base of the future Algerian air force: 5 Mig-15 two-seaters UTI, 6 transport aircraft It-14 and 10 helicopters Millet Semi-4 Hound. Two Beech D18S were also acquired for the transport of official of the government.

After serious confrontations with the Morocco (“Guerre of sands”, 1963), the Algerians included/understood the dangers which watched for them, they thus decided to launch out in a vast program of drive and rearmament which was going to be sponsored by an ally of weight: the Soviet Union. The purpose of this program was to give to Algeria the air superiority in the area and by there, to dissuade Morocco from all new attack.

In 1964, Algeria acquired its first offensive planes: 50 Mig-15Bis and Mig-17 F in addition to 14 tactical bombers IL-28. But the project did not stop there, Algeria acquired in more the 6 other transport aircraft It-14, 1 It-18 for the government and the super Russian conveyer of the time the Year-12 which were delivered with on their board tons of weapons and ammunition for the Army. The USSR also modernized the strategic Air base of Boufarik which was used for the logistical support of the FAA.

In 1965, a change with the report heading brought Houari Boumédiène to the capacity. This last started by changing the official name of the Algerian air force into Al Quwwat Al-Jawwiya Al-Jaza' eriya (QJJ). it put in place an ambitious modernization program and of formation and also strengthened the co-operation with the Soviet Union in the field of the armament, thus the first modern fighters made their appearance within the AAF. Algeria thus acquired two squadrons of hunters Mig-17F bombers, 20 other helicopters MI-4 for transport, the missions of attack on the ground and for the artillery reconnaissance missions like 16 other bombers IL-28. But the event which caused a great polemic with Morocco was the arrival of 6 Mig-21F-13 supersonic aircrafts.

To Mig-21 beginning of the year 1967,31 new were delivered to the AAF, which divided them into two squadrons of interception and hunting.

First aerial combats

the First engagement:

The first combat of the Algerian pilots started in 1967 with the Guerre the Six Day old, when 2 squadrons the Migone, one the Migone and another of IL-28 were engaged near the Arab coalition. With nearly 100 apparatuses Algeria aligned the second air force on the Egyptian face. The Migones were controlled by Algerian aviators while the Migones by Egyptian aviators who were supposed to have more experience in the use of this new plane. But on their arrival, the first 6 Mig-21 was posed on the air base of AL-ARICH in the peninsula of the the Sinai which meanwhile had passed under the control of the Israéliennes forces of Defense (IDF). The 6 Egyptian planes and their pilots were captured. Four of Mig-21 were given to the the United States in order to test them and discover thus possible weaknesses of this apparatus which made them so much suffer during the Guerre from Vietnam. Certain sources report in addition that the Migones took part in bombardments against Israeli troops in the Sinai following the rout of the Arab troops.

After the Arab defeat and the confirmed superiority of the Israelis in the aerial combats, Algeria decided to intensify the training of its pilots with the acquisition of a batch of 28 planes of drive CM-170 Fouga Magister and 5 helicopters SA-330 Puma. These CM-170 belonged at the origin with the Luftwaffe of the FR of Germany, they were transferred in France to be renovated and modernized and finally delivered to Algeria.

With the beginning of the year 1971, the AAF counted nearly 200 apparatuses with as the legendary principal plane Migone which composed nearly 40% to the fleet, the Migones and Mig-17 proved that they did not make any more the weight vis-a-vis planes such F-4 Phantom. It is following a military partnership agreement with the Soviet Union that Algeria started to acquire modern planes which were in service within the air forces of the USSR. The first hunters bombers Known-7BMK (plane which at the time was with the point of technology) made their appearance with for goal to replace the Migones, giving to Algeria a military advantage which made of it the only nation having acquired this type of apparatus in the Mediterranean basin. These planes were deployed during the war of attrition during which the Algerians learned much from things in the field of the aerial combats and the techniques from Bombardement at low altitude. The pilots learned how to be in constant alarm and to reduce their reaction time against possible attacks.

the Second engagement:

In 1973, the second direct engagement of Algeria in the Israeli-Arab conflict. It was once again the second military power on the Egyptian face and its force was made up of a squadron of tactical bombers Known-7 escorted by a squadron of Mig-21 hunting. A third squadron equipped with Mig-17 was sent for missions of support. The Algerian pilots were this time more prepared and better aguerris grace in particular to the experiment than they acquired during the war of attrition of 1967. It was the only air force engaged with the face not to have lost apparatuses with the combat, only Mig-17 was touched by a F-4 Phantom Israeli; in spite of the gravity of the blow, the Algerian pilot makes a success of with crasher the Mig one close to his base of fastener all while ejecting himself and while avoiding being made capture. The Algerian planes had achieved all the missions that one assigned to them, which in particular consisted in tackling the Israeli positions in the Sinai and protecting the Cairo from any enemy counter-offensive. In parallel, It is only with the beginning of the year 1970 and with the assistance of the USSR, that Algeria succeeds in opening its first military academy of piloting to Tafraoui close to Oran. Today this school acquired an international repute while forming in addition to the Algerian pilots, of the aviators sent by African and Arab countries within the framework of programmes of exchanges of techniques and formations. After 1973, it was another war but cold that one which awaited the AAF: in 1975 Morocco annexed the the Western Sahara while bombarding with napalm the populations of this area. Algeria intervened to help these populations by putting them at the shelter close to Tindouf. The Moroccan persons in charge seeing this intervention of an evil eye brought back on the table the question of the borders by claiming to Algeria the retrocession of Bechar and Tindouf. Taking these threats with serious, Algeria placed a military device on its western border, which aimed to alienate the king Hassan II of any warlike temptation with regard to Algeria. Day the shortly after air bases, trenches and stations Radar S made their appearance where there was only sand. The AAF was one of the showpieces of this device because its planes were always ready with any possibility and regularly carried out operations combined with the terrestrial forces as well as rotations of day like night. The Migones of the 110eme, 140eme and 190eme squadron of hunting were deployed on all the Western border and could constantly have the support of Mig-21BIS/MF 630eme squadron of Bousfer with like principal goal the destruction of any plane penetrating the Algerian airspace. There were also two squadrons of attack equipped with SU-7 and SU-22, deployed on the basis of of Mecheria and Tindouf.

Algeria concomitantly helped resistance sahraouie, through military trainings given with the profit of the combatants of the Front Polisario, the latter succeeded in inflicting heavy losses with the Moroccan royal army, pushing it even until the construction of a wall of defense which separates until now the Sahara Occidental in two parts.

It was thus completely obvious that with the appearance of an adjoining country always mû by manifest expansionist inclinations, Algeria needed to develop its aviation to have the air superiority and to dissuade by there Morocco from any adventure (like that of 1963). However, in spite of recurring tensions between the two countries followed by some armed skirmishes, the two modes have for the moment always known to avoid the climbing of the war.

Beginning of the second phase of modernization

At the beginning of 1978, the AAF made up of 5.000 men and was equipped with 230 fighters. The fleet consisted of 120 Mig-21MF, a squadron of hunter bomber equipped with 28 SU-7BMK, a squadron of attack equipped with Mig-17, a squadron of tactical bombers equipped with 24 IL-28 and a squadron of 20 CM-170 and 20 Mig-15 for the drive.

It is only towards the end of 1978 that the first batch of 50 Mig-23 with variable geometry was acquired, but the plane which gave to Algeria a decisive advantage in the area in terms military and political was the Mig-25 Mikoyan-Gourevitch Mr. Foxbat. Only 5 countries were approved by Moscow to receive this plane which remains untouchable so far by the defense systems and the other planes however more modern than him.

First contacts with the West

The same year, the systems of drive were restructured and the first planes of drive El Joumhouria were replaced by T-34 C acquired in the United States. The business of the American hostages to Iran in 1981 was followed from there, thanks to a mediation, Algeria succeeds in obtaining the release of the hostages of the embassy from the USA in Teheran. Consequently Algeria gained the sympathy of America which offered 6 to him Hercules C-130 H, principal transport aircraft tactical of the USA at this time and which was used out of tandem with its Soviet equivalent AN-12. Other C-130H and C-130H-30 were acquired by Algeria in the Eighties. It should be noted that Hercules were accompanied by the 6 Migones seized in 1967 by Israel. During this same period, the fleet of combat was largely modernized, other Mig-23 and Migones were acquired and the immense fleet of Mig-21F was exchanged with 120 Mig-21MF/Bis the more modern. It was clear that Algeria sought to modernize its capacities of drive more, several companies proposed their planes of drive such as the Alpha Franco-German Jet and the Hawk Britannique, but it is the L-39 Tchécoslovaque which was selected with an acquisition of 39 apparatuses of this type as from 1987.

The years 1990

At that time Algeria undergoes full whip the economic crisis and a rise of a terrorist violence without precedent. The Algerian economy was with the red and the acquisition of new materials was then deferred (in particular because of the disappearance of the Soviet ally). The AAF which counted nearly 500 Russian technicians before 1990 had very great difficulties in maintain its fleet operational. The international experts did not give him any more that one minor role in the area and said that it could not support the maintenance of its fleet. But in spite of these problems the AAF held out and its deterrent power was always there, grace in particular to its 13 SU-24 MK and 4 SU-24MR acquired 2 years only before the fall of the USSR. Its fleet the Migone was also of an invaluable contribution in the maintenance of the role of dissuasion at the regional level. Military transport was him also modernized thanks to acquisition of IL-76 (strategic transport aircraft), and with a fleet of helicopters Semi-8 and Semi-17 which was equipped with systems with night vision, whereas an order of 30 SA-330 PUMA was cancelled in particular after the crash landing of the two only apparatuses to be delivered. The AAF used all the possible ways and legal to come to end from the terrorists, generally using the squadrons of combat helicopters and the apparatuses of the 4th squadron for missions of bombardment of precision. But what largely upset engagements of the AAF was the introduction of the Semi-24 MKIII, more suited to the night combat. The combination of Beech 1900DHisar, as-350 with their system FLIR out of tandem with the Semiones and the Semiones proved to be an effective answer in the fight against the terrorist groups activating in maquis and in the great south, pushing them to develop novel methods basing itself on the creation of bunches generally made up from 2 to 3 very mobile individuals and very hard to detect since the airs. The helicopters allowed also the quasi hermetic closing of the Great South vis-a-vis the new coldly unloaded terrorists of Afghanistan. This new danger represents a challenge moreover for the AAF, which will have to count only on it even in the monitoring of the the Sahel, considering quasi the absence of air forces in the countries bordering. The terrorists installed in the mountains and No man' S Land of the Sahel brought with them some vestiges of the war against the Soviets in particular the frightening portable missile ground-to-air Stinger.

Major modernization

The AAF decided to be modernized not only in the field of the material but also in the organization, the training of its sailing personnel and on the ground. The fall of the USSR and the absence of international technicians gave a great lesson to Algeria: namely that one had to count from now on only on national competences in the drive and the maintenance of the military material. To that is added the ageing of the fleet of Mig-21 and Mig-23. Military operations were then led to measure the military potential and to count the real needs of the AAF, because the era of the massive imports of planes is completed, only technology and the control of the material could carry it henceforth.

An extremely thorough modernization was consequently undertaken and the result was surprising:

In 1997, thanks to a programme of diversification of its suppliers, the AAF signed a contract with the South-African manufacturer Denel for the acquisition of several Seeker drones of recognition. The AAF in parallel acquires in Ukraine 3 Mig-25RBSH of sophisticated recognition and ultra listening and signed another contract with the USA for the acquisition of several Beech 1900D Hisar for the electronic war and the recognition.

the AAF showed an lively interest for the African southern helicopter Rooivalk, it thus equipped its Semi-24 D with the same systems with weapons as this one, giving them a capacity of carrying of weapons of precision guided to the laser and bombardment any time. Forty other Semi-24V was imported of Ukraine between 1998 and 2001 to increase the firepower of the AAF and will certainly be modernized with format MK3.

It solved the problems involved in the missions of long life with the acquisition of 6 supply craft IL-78 Midas.

Following the reduction of the fleet, consequence of the withdrawal of the SU-22, Mig-21, most of Mig-25 and the Migone, the AAF was to acquire new planes, 6 SU-24MK Belorusse and Ukrainian were acquired to reinforce the fleet with tactical bombers. Another acquisition in 1997 of 36 Mig-29S Ukrainians and 36 other Mig-29S Belorusses in 1999, followed by 7 others in 2001 (also Belorusse). Last nine Mig-25PDS Ukrainians were acquired in 1999 follow-ups of a complete modernization of all the fleet the Migone acquired previously. In 2000, Algeria ordered officially 22 SU-24Mk which in service in the Russian air force was modernized then with the format (a). They are equipped with the very last radar systems and with armaments.

Outlines

Algeria which deployed more than 350 hunters and reconnaissance aircraft to the beginning of the year ninety, deploys currently only 250 planes whose framework in theory made up of the planes Will be known-32, Known-30 MKA, Mig-29 SMT as well as Known-24 (a). The Migones having been withdrawn from the service at the end of 2006. it remain the Migones, which in theory must be replaced by Mig-29 SMT at the latest 2007. Only the fleet of helicopters increased proof of the utility of this invaluable tool in antiterrorist operations, with nearly 250 convertible combat helicopters and to transport Semi-24, Semi-17, Semi-171 all modernized, of Semi-17-1V specialized in the combat of night and nearly 60 helicopters of all types, in particular as-350, AS-355, Semi-2 and the KA-32.

In the long run these figures should evolve/move, with the sale of Mig-29 current and retirement of all the fleet the Migone programmed normally for the end 2005, the complete acquisition of the 36 Mig-29 SMT of new generation and the acquisition of an important fleet (28) of SU-30MKA to have at least a complete operational squadron. The final goal would be to have a minimum of fighters but better effectiveness while being based on extremely sophisticated apparatuses.

Currently the Algerian pilots are in constant drive considering the changes geostrategic and policies which the world knows. The AAF made a success of its modernization and continues to be modernized with the wire of time, not only in terms of material, but also on the human plan with intensive trainings of the pilots and the ground personnel, an independence in the field of the maintenance of the machines and a development in coordination with the Armies and of the Navy grace in particular to the reorganization of the years 1993 and 1994. The recent bringing together with NATO proves that ANP in general and the AAF in particular represent a considerable deterrent force and make it possible Algeria to play a big role in the southernmost part of the Mediterranean like in Africa generally.

As indication, the chief of the third squadron and instructor on Mig-29S only adds up with him more than 3300 hours of flight (July 2003) on fighter in particular on the Mig-21, Mig-25 and Mig-29 models.

See too

Air force
National popular army

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