Thursday, November 18, 2010

Rwandan Air Force

After achieving independence in 1962, the air arm (Force Aerienne Rwandaise) was formed with Belgian help. By 1972 the first modern equiment started to arrive in the form of seven Alouette IIIs. Other deliveries included SA 342L Gazelles, Britten-Norman Islanders, Nord Noratlas, SOCATA Guerrier armed light planes and AS 350B Ecureuils. After fighting began between the RPA and the government in 1990 most aircraft were shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed. Few survived.

Aircraft reported to be currently in service are listed below.

AircraftOriginTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin Franceutility helicopterSA 365CS1
Aérospatiale SA 355 Ecureuil Franceutility helicopterSA 355F1
Mil Mi-24 Hind Soviet Unionattack helicopter
2
Mil Mi-8 Hip Soviet Uniontransport helicopter
3


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