Rwandan Air Force

Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise
Rwanda Air Force Roundel
Founded1962; 64 years ago (1962)
Country Rwanda
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size1,000 personnel
Part ofRwanda Defence Force
Commanders
President of RwandaPaul Kagame
Air Force Chief of StaffLt Gen Jean-Jacques Mupenzi
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterMil Mi-24
Utility helicopterMil Mi-17
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, and C-47 Skytrains. During the Rwandan Civil War, most of the aircraft were either shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed.

Inventory

A Rwandan Air Force Mil Mi-17
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Cessna 208 Caravan United States Utility 2
Diamond DA42 Austria Utility 2
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union
/ Russia		 Utility 12
Mil Mi-24 Soviet Union
/ Russia		 Attack Mi-35 5
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey UCAV N/A

References

  1. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 484. ISBN 9781032012278.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "World Air Forces1983 pg. 366". flightglobal.com. 6 August 1983. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Oryx. "An International Export Success: Global Demand For Bayraktar Drones Reaches All Time High". Oryx. Retrieved 4 January 2024.