Malagasy Air Force

The Malagasy Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Madagascar People's Armed Forces.

Malagasy Air Force
Active1960- Present
CountryMadagascar
Part ofMilitary of Madagascar
Garrison/HQAntananarivo

History

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. In the wake of the establishment of a communist government, the Malagasy Air Force acquired MiG-17 fighters from North Korea in 1979. Several Alouette IIIs, Mil Mi-8s and Antonov An-26s were also received throughout the early 1980s. In 2009 the Malagasy Air Force acquired four ex-Belgian Alouette IIs. For over a decade the only aircraft operational were a pair of Alouette IIs, some MiG-17s and a CASA C-212. In 2020 the Malagasy Air Force acquired a CASA/IPTN CN-235 to help replace some of its ageing equipment.[1]

Organisation

The Malagasy Air Force operates out of bases at Antalah, Antsohihy, Arivoniamamo, Diego Suarez, Fianarantsoa, Fort Dauphin, Majunga, Nosy-Be, Tamatave, and Tulear. The Air Forces fighter squadron rely on a pair of decaying MiG-17s for air defence but these may not be airworthy because of lack of parts. The new CASA/IPTN CN-235 provides transport in accomplice the helicopter fleet. Basic training is provided by a small fleet of Cessna 206s from South Africa. A Boeing 737 provides VIP transport.

Fleet

Current Fleet
A MiG-17 parked at Ivato Airport
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
CASA/IPTN CN-235 Spain/Indonesia Heavy Transport 1[2]
CASA C-212 Spain General Transport 1[2]
Boeing 737 United States VIP 1[2]
Trainer
Cessna 206 United States General Trainer 5[2] Delivered Via South Africa
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette II France Multi-purpose helicopter 2[3]
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil France Multi-purpose helicopter 5[4]
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 Germany/Japan Multi-purpose helicopter 1[4]

Former Inventory

Mikoyan MiG-17 - 4 delivered in 1975 from North Korea.[5] Entered service in 1979.[1], Mikoyan MiG-21 - 2 MiG-21MF and 2 MiG-21UM delivered in 1996 from Russia,[5] replacing the MiG-17s in service.[1], Antonov-An-26, Max Holste MH-1521 Broussard, Douglas DC-3, Dassault MD-312, Aérospatiale Alouette III, Douglas C-53, Britten-Norman Defender, Cessna 337, Bell 47, Mil Mi-8, Yakovlev Yak-40

References
  1. "African Aerospace - Aircraft boost for Madagascar". www.africanaerospace.aero. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  2. "Madagascar Air Force / Armée de l'Air Malgache". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  3. "World Air Forces 1975 pg. 305". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. Martin, Guy (September 2019). "Madagascar's military receives more aircraft". Air International. Vol. 97 no. 3. p. 9. ISSN 0306-5634.
  5. "Trade Registers". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
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