Военно-воздушные силы Республики Конго

Air warfare branch of the Republic of the Congo's military

The Congolese Air Force is the air branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville).

After achieving independence from France in 1960, the Congolese air force (Force Aerienne Congolaise) was started with equipment such as the Douglas C 47s, Broussards and Bell 47Gs, these were followed by Nord Noratlas tactical transports and Sud Alouette helicopter. In the 1970s the air force switched to Soviet equipment. This included five Ilyushin Il 14 and six turboprop Antonov An 24 transports and an An 26 in return for providing bases for Cuban MiG 17 operations over Angola. These fighters and a few MiG 15UTI combat trainers were transferred to the FAC. In 1990 these fighter were replaced by 16 USSR supplied MiG 21MF/bis Fishbeds plus a couple of MiG 21US trainers. Together with a Soviet training mission which stayed until late 1991, during that time there were numerous accidents that involved both Soviet and Congolese personnel. After the Soviets left there was only limited funding for MiG operations and they were withdrawn. Six Mi 8 helicopters were delivered from Ukraine in mid 1997 before the Cobra rebel takeover.

A small, but adequate budget and personnel. Financial aid also came from the former USSR and some personnel were either Soviets or Cubans.

France, China and Ukraine supplied the arms and aircraft. France and China also trained the air force as a whole, but France has also trained most of its air force officers.