Malian Air Force

The Mali Air Force (French: Armée de l'air du Mali), established in 1961, serves as the primary aerial warfare branch of Mali's armed forces.[3] The force was initially created with the assistance of the French military, which provided training and equipment to establish the air force's initial capabilities.[4] In the following years, the Mali Air Force received significant support from the Soviet Union, which provided both equipment and training to the force.[5]

Malian Air Force
Armée de l'air du Mali
Malian Armed Forces emblem
Founded1961 (1961)
Country Mali
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofMalian Armed Forces
Engagements
Commanders
Chief of Air StaffGeneral Alou Boi Diarra[1]
Deputy Chief of Air StaffLieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko[2]
Insignia
Roundel

History

The Mali Air Force (French: Armée de l'air du Mali) was founded in 1961 with French-supplied military aid. This included MH.1521 Broussard utility monoplane followed by two C-47 transports until replaced by Soviet aid starting in 1962 with four Antonov AN-2 Colt biplane transports and four Mi-4 light helicopters.[6]

In the mid-1960s the Soviets delivered five MiG-17F fighters and a single MiG-15UTI fighter trainer to equip a squadron based at Bamako–Sénou initially with Soviet pilots. Two Ilyushin Il-14 transports and a Mil Mi-8 helicopter were delivered in 1971 followed by two Antonov An-24 transports.

In 1974, 12 MiG-21Bis were obtained from the Soviet Union, with a pair of two-seat MiG-21UMs to follow a couple of years later. These initial Fishbeds served alongside the four remaining MiG-17Fs and saw combat on two occasions during the Agacher Strip War in 1974 against Upper Volta, and again in 1985 with the same country, now renamed Burkina Faso. In 2005, another three MiG-21MFs were delivered from the Czech Republic, reinforcing the surviving jets. By 2010, the Fishbeds were only flown on ceremonial occasions. By January 2012, only one MiG-21MF and one MiG-21UM remained operational until they were grounded for lack of spare parts, ammunition, and pilots a few months later. In January 2013, the Nigerian Air Force sent a technical team to Bamako–Sénou International, with the aim of refurbishing the MiG-21s, but the project was abandoned. Other jets withdrawn from service were six L-29 Delfins, which were used for training.[7]

In June 2015 the Malian government ordered Super Tucano light attack aircraft from the Brazilian company Embraer.[8] Four were paid for and were delivered in 2018.[9] One of these crashed in Sévaré two years later, killing both pilots.[10]

In December 2020, the Malian government ordered 4 Mi-171 helicopters. They were delivered by Russia on 30 September 2021.[11]

Equipment

Only equipment and vehicles for which photographic proof is available are included on this list.[12]

Aircraft Origin In service Commissioning date Notes
Unmanned aerial combat vehicles (UCAVs) (9)
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey ~9 2022 and 2023 [12]
Attack aircraft and armed jet trainers (16)
L-39C Czech Republic ~13 2022 and 2023 [12]
A-29B Super Tucanos Brazil ~3 2018 [12]
Attack and armed transport helicopters (15)
Mi-35M Russia ~4 2017 and 2021 They are equipped with an FLIR turret.[12]
Mi-24D Soviet Union ~2 2009 and 2012 [12]
Mi-24P Soviet Union ~4 2022 The helicopter that was damaged during an April 2022 attack on Mopti airbase was likely operated by Wagner PMC.[12]
Mi-171Shs Russia ~4 2021 [12]
Mi-8MT Soviet Union ~1 n/a [12]
Transport and utility helicopters (4)
Mi-8T Soviet Union ~2 2023 [12]
H215 Super Pumas France ~2 2016 [12]
Trainer/utility aircraft (8)
Humbert Tétras 912 France ~3 2003 [12]
Humbert Tétras 912CSLM France ~5 2012 [12]
Transport and utility aircraft (6)
C-295W Spain ~2 2016 and 2022 [12]
Basler BT-67A United States ~1 1998 [12]
Cessna 208 Caravan United States ~1 2019 It is equipped with an FLIR turret.[12]
Y-12E China ~2 2017 [12]
VIP aircraft (1)
Boeing 737-7BC BBJ United States ~1 2015 [12]
Reconnaissance UAVs (limited quantities)
Hawker Q800X France n/a 2021 [12]
Orlan-10 Russia n/a 2022 They are likely operated by Wagner PMC.[12]
Radars (1)
P-18 Soviet Union ~1 2022 [12]

References

  1. http://kremlin.ru/supplement/5977
  2. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1645
  3. "Mali Air Force". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. "French Air Force (2023)". www.wdmma.org. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. "Here's what we know about the military aircraft delivered to Mali Air Force - AeroTime". 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  6. World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. Files 337, Sheet 04.
  7. Sands, Glenn (February 2018). "Mali's Air Force". Air Forces Monthly (359): 84–86.
  8. Hoyle, Craig (June 15, 2015). "T"PARIS: Mali to boost defences with Super Tucano"". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  9. Secretdefense.org, "Mali : les nouveaux avions de chasse d’IBK seraient inutilisables (Exclusif)", https://www.secret-defense.org/16/07/2018/ibk-mali-avions-scandale//
  10. Aviation Safety Network, April 7, 2020, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/234839
  11. "Mali receives 4 helicopters, weapons from Russia: Defense Minister". Devdiscourse. ANI — Sputnik. 1 October 2021.
  12. Oryx. "Russia's African Offensive: Russia Builds Up Malian Air Force". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
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