The Air Force of Lebanon ( Arabic القوات الجوية اللبنانية, DMG al-Quwwāt al-Ǧawwiyya al-Lubnāniyya , French Force Aérienne Libanaise , FAL) form the air force of the Lebanese armed forces . They consist of around 1000 men and have largely outdated aircraft, so that they are hardly capable of combat and only limited transport missions.
After the outbreak of the Palestinian War , Egypt , Syria , Jordan and Israel set up their own air forces. In Lebanon it was General Fuad Schihab at the time who saw the need to set up an air force of his own. In early 1949, for example, the Rayak Air Base airport, which dates back to the First World War, was rebuilt with French and British help. The first Lebanese aircraft mechanics were trained by French instructors. On May 13, 1949, General Shehab commissioned Lieutenant Colonel Emile Boustany (Deputy General Staff) with the establishment of Lebanese air forces. The first aircraft came from France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Calls
There have been repeated clashes with the Israeli air force in the past , but also combat operations against Hezbollah . On June 6, 1967, a Hunter was shot down by a Mirage IIICJ in the border area with Israel. In 1984 and 1985 there were repeated hunting missions against the Israelis from Halate Airbase . According to reports from Lebanese media, a Hunter is said to have shot down an Israeli machine.
On December 16, 2008, the Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr announced from Moscow that the Russian Federation had agreed to the delivery of ten MiG-29s to Lebanon. On December 17, 2008, a spokesman for the Russian Military Cooperation Department announced that Russia would pay for the ten aircraft and their transportation. On December 18, 2008, the Lebanese defense minister also announced that helicopter pilots would be called up for training on the MiG-29. In the meantime, however, it has become known that Russia intends to deliver six Mil Mi-24 /35 helicopters instead of the Migs . At the end of 2015, it became known that the Lebanese Air Force was purchasing six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for ground combat support. Use is planned from 2018.
Lebanon
United Kingdom
United States
France
Italy
Russia
Brazil
