| Malagasy Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Tafika Anabakabaka Malagasy Armée de l'air malgache | |
 | |
| Active | 1960–present |
| Country |  Madagascar |
| Type | Air force |
| Size | 14 aircraft |
| Part of | Madagascar Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Antananarivo |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | Aérospatiale Alouette II Eurocopter AS350 Eurocopter EC130 |
The Malagasy Air Force (French: Armée de l'air malgache) is the aerial warfare branch of the Madagascar Armed Forces.
History
[edit]The Malagasy Air Force was founded in 1960 with mainly former French aircraft such as Douglas DC-3s, Max Holste MH.1521 Broussards and Dassault MD 312s.[1] As of 1970, the air force had 400 personnel on strength, and operated 10 transport aircraft, 11 liaison aircraft, three trainer aircraft and 10 helicopters.[2] The Malagasy Air Force received four MiG-17F fighters from North Korea in 1979. The first Mil Mi-8s were delivered in 1976, and two Antonov An-26s followed in 1980.[3] Several Alouette IIIs were also received in the early 1980s.[1] At an unknown time in the 1980s, the Malagasy Air Force received 10 MiG-21bis fighters and two MiG-21UM trainers. MiG-21s are confirmed to have been operational between 1990 and 2001. They flew little, and all of them were eventually put into storage.[4]
In 2009 the Malagasy Air Force acquired four ex-Belgian Alouette IIs. For over a decade the only aircraft operational were Alouette IIs, CASA C-212s and some old light aircraft, as the last An-26 had been retired around 2009. In 2019 the Malagasy Air Force acquired a CASA/IPTN CN-235 to help replace some of its ageing equipment[1] that was resold in 2021.
Destruction of 14 planes in early 2009
[edit]14 airplanes where destroyed in Farafangana in the 2009 coup of Rajoelina.[5], including the last operable Mig's.
Organisation
[edit]The Malagasy Air Force operates out of its bases at Arivonimamo, near the capital Antananarivo. There are also airports available in Antalaha, Antsohihy, Diego Suarez, Fianarantsoa, Fort Dauphin, Mahajunga, Nosy-Be, Toamasina and Toliara.
Fleet
[edit]Current fleet
[edit]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | |||||
| Aérospatiale Alouette II | France | Utility | 2[6] | ||
| Eurocopter AS350 | France | Utility | 2[6] | ||
| Eurocopter EC130 | France | Utility | 2[6][7] | ||
| Let L-410 | Czechoslovakia | 1[8] | |||
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c "African Aerospace - Aircraft boost for Madagascar". www.africanaerospace.aero. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 33
- ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 34
- ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 36
- ^ Alain, du 5 février 2009
- ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ L’Armée malagasy reçoit officiellement un hélicoptère Airbus H130
- ^ IVATO - L’État et l’armée affichent leur unité
Bibliography
[edit]- Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.