Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR)
| Cuban Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Country |  Cuba |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Former roundels |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | L-39, Mi-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29 |
| Trainer | L-39 |
| Transport | Mi-8, Mi-17, An-24 |
The Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (Spanish: Defensa Anti-Aérea Y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) commonly abbreviated to DAAFAR in both Spanish and English, is the air force of Cuba.
Former aircraft include: MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, North American B-25 Mitchell, North American P-51 Mustang, and the Hawker Sea Fury
In the 1980s, Cuba with the help of the Soviet Union was able to project power abroad, using its air force, especially in Africa. During that time Cuba sent jet fighters and transports to fight in countries such as Angola (against UNITA / South Africa) and Ethiopia (against Somalia)
In 1990, Cuba's Air Force was the best equipped in Latin America. In all, the modern Cuban Air Force imported approximately 230 fixed wing aircraft. Although there is no exact figure available, Western analysts estimate that at least 130 (with only 25 operational) of these planes are still in service spread out among the thirteen military airbases on the island.
In 1998, according to the same DIA report mentioned above, the air force had 'fewer than 24 operational MIG fighters; pilot training barely adequate to maintain proficiency; a declining number of fighter sorties, surface to air missiles and air-defense artillery to respond to attacking air forces.
By 2007 the International Institute for Strategic Studies assessed the force as 8,000 strong with 31 combat capable aircraft and a further 179 stored. The 31 combat capable aircraft were listed as 3 MiG-29s, 24 MiG-23s, and 4 MiG-21s. There were also assessed to be 12 operational transport aircraft plus trainers and helicopters.
A look at Google Earth 22*52'28.40" N 82*30'26.04" W on a military air field outside San Antonio de los Banos, south west of Havana Cuba, will reveal what appear to be 8 MiG-21s, 19 MiG-23s and 2 MiG-29s left out to rust in the tropical sun. It looks like the jungle is overtaking some of these aircraft as well.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Version | Total Del'd | Total Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Aircraft | |||||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed |  Soviet Union | fighter trainer | MiG-21MF MiG-21UM | 60 10 | 4 4 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger | Soviet Union | fighter multirole fighter trainer | MiG-23MF/MS MiG-23ML MiG-23UB | 21 21 5 | 6 10 2 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum | Soviet Union | fighter multirole fighter trainer | MiG-29B MiG-29UB | 14 2 | 2 1  |
| Mil Mi-8 Hip | Soviet Union | transport/attack helicopter | Mi-8T Mi-8TKV | 20 20 | 4 2 |
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H | Soviet Union | transport/attack helicopter | Mi-17 | 16 | 8 |
| Mil Mi-24 Hind | Soviet Union | attack | Mi-24D | 20 | 4 |
| Antonov An-24 Coke | Soviet Union /  Ukraine | cargo | An-24 | 20 | 4 |
| Antonov An-26 Curl | Soviet Union | cargo | An-26 | 17 | 3 |
| Yakovlev Yak-40 Codling | Soviet Union | VIP | Yak-40 | 8 | 3 |
| Ilyushin Il-62 | Soviet Union | VIP | Il-62 | 1 | 1 |
| Ilyushin Il-96 |  Russia | VIP | Il-96 | 2 | 2 |
| Aero L-39 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia | trainer/attack | L-39C | 30 | 7 |
| Zlin Z-326 | Czechoslovakia | trainer | Z-326T | 60 | 20 |
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