Zambian Air Force

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Zambian Air Force
Roundel of Zambia.svg
Air Force roundel
Active 1968 - present
Country Zambia
Branch Air force
Garrison/HQ Lusaka
Commanders
Current
commander
Erick Chimese[1]
Notable
commanders
Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha
Insignia
Ensign 100px
Aircraft flown
Attack MiG-21
Bomber MiG-19
Fighter MiG-21MF
Trainer Aermacchi SF.260, Hongdu K-8 Karakorum
Transport Antonov An-26, Harbin Y-12, Xian MA60

The Zambian 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 Rhodesian Air Wing was renamed as the Zambia Air Wing which lasted until 1968. The Zambian 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.

The IISS Military Balance 2013 lists the following aircraft, all with 'very low serviceability':[3]

Aircraft

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
Dornier Do 228 Germany transport 5[4]
MA60 China utility transport 1[4]
Harbin Y-12 China transport 8[4]
Helicopters
Bell 205 United States utility 14[4]
Harbin Z-9 China utility 3[4] licensed built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin 4 on order
Trainer Aircraft
J-6 People's Republic of China jet trainer FT-6 2[4]
Hongdu JL-8 China jet trainer K-8 16[4]
SF.260TW Italy trainer 6[4] 6 on order[6]
Hongdu L-15 China jet trainer 6 on order[4]

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.[7]

Air Force commanders

  • ? to 1997 Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha[8]
  • c. 2001 Lieutenant General Sande Kayumba
  • ? to 2006 Lieutenant General Christopher Singogo[9]
  • 2006 to 2010 Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala[9][10]
  • 2010 to 2011 Major General Andrew Sakala[10][11]
  • 2011 to present Lieutenant General Erick Chimese[12]

References

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  2. http://www.air-britain.com/zambia.pdf
  3. IISS Military Balance 2013, 539.
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  8. http://allafrica.com/stories/199712020034.html
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  11. http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/index.php/politics/1084-zra-boss-suspended
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