Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Army, National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC) Active 139,251–151,251 personnel (Central Staffs: 14,000, Army 110–120,000 Republican Guard 6–8,000 Navy 6,703 Air 2,548 )
AIR FORCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • Force Aérienne de la Republic Democratique de Congo (FARDC) • Force Aérienne du Congo
Air Force 2,548 personnel.
Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
• AIRCRAFT 28 combat capable. Total 88 Aircraft.
Interceptor & Fighter Ground Bomber 1 sqn with 6 Ftr/FGA ac (Store or all out of service):
5 Dassault Mirage 5M;
1 Dassault Mirage 5DM;
Air Defence (Interceptor) 1 sqn with 6 Ftr ac:
1 Mik-Gur. MiG-23MS Flogger-E (Ex-Libyan; delivered 1998)
1 Mik-Gur. MiG-23UB Flogger-C (operational conversion);
5 MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F (Ex-Yugoslavian; incl 1 MiG-21UM; flown by Serbian mercenaries)
Fighter Ground Attack 2 sqns with 16 FGA ac:
4 Sukhoi Su-25TK Frogfoot-A (ex-Georgian; delivered 1999)
5 Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot-A (many stored; ex-Georgian; delivered 1999)
1 Sukhoi Su-25UB Frogfoot (ex-Georgian; delivered 2000)
5 AerMacchi MB-326K Impala;
1 Soko J-1 Jastreb (Ex-Yugoslavian; operated by mercenaries; delivered 1997)
Transport 2 sqn with 34 Tpt Ac:
1 Boeing 727-22C (VIP);
1 Douglas DC-8-55 (Ex Nigerian Second-hand; delivered 2011)
2 Lockheed C-130E Hercules;
2 Lockheed C-130H Hercules;
3 Antonov An-12BP Cub;
2 Antonov An-26 Curl;
2 de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo;
2 Mitsubishi MU-2JE;
1 Britten-Norman (IAR) BN-2A Islander (utility light transport);
1 CASA C-212 Aviocar;
4 Douglas C-47 Dakota / Skytrain;
10 Reims Cessna FTB-337G Skymaster;
3 Cessna 310R (Comm/utility);
Advanced Flying Training 1 sqn with 11 Adv Trg Ac:
9 AerMacchi MB-326GB;
2 Soko G-2A Galebc (Ex-Yugoslavian; operated by mercenaries; delivered 1997)
Basic Flying Training 1 sqn with 15 BscTrg ac:
5 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260MC(MZ) Warrior;
10 Reims Cessna FRA-150M Aerobat
• HELICOPTER 14 Attack capable. Total 57 Helicopters.
Anti-Armour Attack 1 sqn with 14 Atk Hel:
6 Mil Mi-35P Hind-F (Second-hand; supplier may be Belarus or Ukraine; delivered via Poland and Egypt; operated by Russian or Ukrainian mercenaries; may incl some as lease; may incl 4 Mi-24P version; delivered 1996-1997)
2 Mil Mi-24K Hind-E (Ex-Ukrainian; delivered 2000)
4 Mil Mi-24V Hind-E (Ex-Ukrainian; delivered 2011)
2 Mil Mi-24D Hind-D (Ex-Ukrainian; delivered 2000)
Support sqn with 43 Spt Hel:
1 Mil Mi-26 Halo (non op; delivered 2002)
35 Mil Mi-17 Hip-H / Mil Mi-8 Hip-C (very few serviceable);
1 Eurocopter AS-332L Super Puma;
4 Aerospatiale SA-330C Puma;
2 Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III (utility);
• MISSILES
AAM 150 R-13S/AA-2 Atoll (For MiG-21 combat aircraft);
• FACILITIES
D.R. Congo Air Force Headquarters (Commandement de la Force Aérienne): Kinshasa HQ
Democractic Republic of Congo (Zaire) AF Airfields and Airbases Organisation:
1 Groupement Aerien / Kinshasa Air Base:
1ere Groupement Aérien Tactique
12e Groupe de Liaison
122ere Escadrille: SA-316B/330C, AS-332L, Cessna 310, MU-2JE
13e Groupe d'Entraînement
131ere Escadrille: Reims-Cessna FRA150L, SF-260MC
132ere Escadrille: MB-326GB, G-2A
19e Escadre d'Appui Logistique
19e Groupe de Transport
191ere Escadrille. C-130B7H, C-47
2 Groupement Aerien / Kamina Air Base:
2eme Groupement Aérien Tactique
21e Wing de Chasse et d'Assaut
211ere Escadrille: MiG-23MS/UB, Mirage 5
212ere Escadrille: Mi-35/24
213ere Escadrille: Su-25, MB-326K, J-1
22e Group de Transport Tactique
221ere Escadrille: DHC-5D, FTB-337G
Note: Congo (Democractic Republic of Congo) has 26 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1) and 172 airports with unpaved runways (,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 91 under 914 m: 61)
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