Air Force of Zimbabwe

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military unit

The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998–2001.

History

Formation and early days

The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF; previously known as the Royal Rhodesian Air Force), was reconstituted into the Air Force of Zimbabwe in 1980. The RhAF's mixed collection of aircraft were joined by other aircraft from 1981 onwards, supplied by Kenya, Britain, China and elsewhere.Template:Citation needed Support also came from the Pakistan Air Force who trained most of the Zimbabwean pilots in the initial days, assisted in the re-construction of Thornhill Air Base, and provided Air Marshal Azim Daudpota to Zimbabwe as the Chief of Air Staff (1983–1986).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1981, the Air Force of Zimbabwe ordered 8 eight Hawk MK60s, which were delivered in July 1982. On the night of 25 July 1982, a sabotage attack on Thornhill Airbase damaged four Hawks, nine Hunters and a single FTB-337G. One Hawk was written off, another was repaired on site and the other two were returned to BAE for a rebuild. A follow-up order for five additional Hawks was completed in September 1992.

The first supersonic interceptor operated by the air force was the Chinese-built Chengdu J-7/F7 Airguard, 12 of the II and IIN variants were delivered in 1986. Two Eurocopter AS532 Cougar helicopters were reported to be in use for VIP duties in 1997, delivered in April 1995 and September 1996. In April 2021, a newer (refurbished) Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma was added to the fleet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Second Congo War 1998–2003

The Second Congo War, also known as "Coltan War" and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire), and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; although hostilities are currently ongoing. Zimbabwe's well-trained military entered the war as the best-equipped side. In mid-August 1998, the AFZ deployed five or six F-7s, most of the C.212s, at least four Cessna 337G Lynxs, and a dozen or more helicopters, including Alouettes, Bell 412s and Mi-35s, to Congo. All aircraft were flown by Zimbabwean pilots. After receiving an urgent shipment of spare Hawks, the AFZ apparently deployed some of them as well. At the start of the war, the Hawks had been reported to be in unflyable condition. Due to these circumstances the AFZ contingent in the Congo in August and September 1998 consisted of flights from No.3, No.4, No.5, No.7 and No.8 Squadrons, while a flight from No.2 Squadron was to follow later.

The No.2 AFZ Squadron deployed 12 BAe Hawk T.Mk.60/60As, which were used as strike-fighters and equipped with AIM-9B Sidewinder AAMs, Mk.82-series bombs, and Hunting BL.755 cluster-bomber units (CBUs), as well as launchers for unguided rockets. Only six or seven F-7s From No.5 squadron were fully mission-capable. Prior to the war in Congo, Zimbabwe was in the middle of negotiations with China for 12 additional F-7s.

For transport, the AFZ had the No.3 Squadron, flying 12 CASA C-212 Aviocar and six Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander light transports which had already seen heavy service, and were to see even more of this in Congo. Transport and liaison were also duties of the No.7 Squadron, equipped with Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette IIIs (including ex-Portuguese Air Force – and Romanian IAR-built examples), as well as of the No.8 Squadron, equipped with Agusta-Bell 412SPs which were later armed with rocket launchers for this war. However, the latter unit would soon play a significant role in the war in DRC, as it was only recently equipped with the newest addition to the AFZ: six Mi-35 helicopters (including two Mi-35Ps). The first AFZ Mi-35-crews were trained at Thornhill AB, in Gweru, by Russian instructors. CO of this unit was Sqn. Ldr. Mukotekwa.

The first noted AFZ operation took place on 26 August 1998, where they destroyed a 5 km armoured column of rebels as they were approaching Kinshasa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After defeating the invaders in Kinshasa, the Zimbabweans, in the belief that Kabila's government was already safe, suggested that there was no need to continue the war, and peace should be negotiated. This resulted in the reinforcement of rebel efforts as well as the Rwandans and Ugandans rushing better-equipped units into the battle. The garrisons in eastern Congo that remained loyal to Kabila fell to rebel attacks. The Ndigili airport, in Kibanseke Province, as well as Kitona, both held by Zimbabwean troops, were attacked simultaneously. In both cases, the AFZ responded with fierce air strikes. Rebels claimed that up to 100 civilians were killed by their bombs.

A series of fierce battles were fought between 4 and 13 September 1998, during which the Angolan mechanised forces were finally able to deploy their full firepower. The Chadian contingent was meanwhile deployed in NE Congo, where it participated in re-capture of Lubutu. The AFZ and FAC were active in this area for several days, flying a number of strikes during which cluster-bomb units (CBUs) were used. According to government reports, 45 rebels were killed and 19 captured in this battle.

On 13 September, when the Angolans attacked towards Kamina, the Zimbabweans found themselves under fierce attacks by thousands of rebels in the Manono area. It was in this area that the AFZ suffered its first documented loss of this war: on 4 September the Aermacchi SF.260 flown by wing commander Sharaunga crashed in bad weather, killing the pilot. Nine days later an Alouette III helicopter carrying several high-ranking officers, including Col. Kufa and Sqn. Ldr. Vundla, was shot down by rebels in eastern central Congo. Kufa and Vundla were killed, while Flt. Sgt. Sande was captured by RCD.

In late October 1998, the Zimbabweans launched an offensive in SE Congo. The offensive was made possible owing to the deployment of additional foreign troops in Congo, including some 2,000 Namibians. This began with a series of air strikes, partially flown by BAe Hawk T.Mk.60s of the No.2 Squadron, newly deployed in Congo, and by F-7s of the No.5 Squadron. These units first targeted airfields in Gbadolite, Dongo and Gmena, and then rebel and Rwandan communications and depots in the Kisangani area, on 21 November. On the following day the No.2 Squadron launched a strike package of six aircraft, armed with Mk.82 bombs and Matra 155 rocket launchers for unguided rockets calibre 68mm, which reached out far over central Congo. They deployed over Lake Tanganyika and attacked ferries used to transport Burundi troops and supplies into the war in Congo. According to Zimbabwean reports their strike came as a complete surprise. With machine-guns and light infantry weapons as the only means of air defense, six ferries were sunk and 600 Burundi and Rwandan troops killed. In a similar attack, on 7 December 1998, Zimbabwean planes or helicopters sank two rebel boats on Lake Tanganyika some 40 km north of Moba.<ref name=Dinar>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 1998, it was reported that a $54 million shipment of helicopters, fighters and spotter aircraft had arrived in Zimbabwe to assist in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is unclear who received the delivered weapons. There were only very few reports about the fighting in the next few days, probably because the Congolese, Zimbabwean and Angolan governments found themselves under heavy pressure from Western powers because of this offensive. The few reports released from sources close to the rebels indicated Zimbabwean and Congolese attacks on Nuyuzu, Kasinge and towards Manono, supported by T-62 tanks and heavy artillery. According to Zimbabwean reports the Hawks and F-7s continued their operations and made additional attacks against Kalemi on 24 November, and a new round of strikes against different airfields in eastern Congo two days late. After the attacks the pilots of No.5 Squadron claimed destruction of an unidentified An-12 transport on the ground.<ref name=Cooper>Template:Cite web</ref>

When Congolese President Laurent Kabila was assassinated in early 2001, the Zimbabwean Air Force deployed five Chengdu J-7/F7 Airguard to Kinshasa to participate in a fly-past at the state funeral. One of the five fighter planes crashed en route to the event and while four subsequently made the fly-past, two of the remaining aircraft also crashed during the return flight home. The crashes were blamed on low flying hours for pilots in the air force and insufficient training time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Current organizational structure

The AFZ is subdivided into the Administration Wing, the Engineering Wing, the Flying Wing, and the Regimental Wing.<ref name=orgstruct>Template:Cite web</ref> The Administration Wing supports equipment purchasing, recruitment, staff support, food supplies, and related functions. The Engineering Wing maintains and inspects aircraft and related equipment, and covers the School of Technical Training, a tertiary education institution responsible for training aircraft maintenance engineering technicians. The training institute is the only federation aviation school in Africa. The Flying Wing handles aircrew personnel divided into eight squadrons at three primary bases. It also covers the schools for flying and parachute training. The Regimental Wing covers those squadrons specially selected to guard other AFZ assets, such as personnel and installations.<ref name=orgstruct /> and weapon activations.

Directorates found in the air force of Zimbabwe:

Squadrons

Squadrons of the Air Force of Zimbabwe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Squadron Number Motto Aircraft Base
No. 1 Squadron Speed and courage Hawker Hunter, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Gweru-Thornhill Air Force Station
No. 2 Squadron Strike from above Hongdu JL-8, BAE Systems Hawk
No. 3 Squadron Swift to support BN-2 Islander, CASA C-212 New Sarum Air Force Station
No. 4 Squadron Seek and strike Vacant Gweru-Thornhill Air Force Station
No. 5 Squadron Find and destroy Chengdu J-7
No. 6 Squadron Aspire to achieve SIAI-Marchetti SF.260
No. 7 Squadron Fight anywhere and everywhere Alouette III, Mil Mi-24 New Sarum Air Force Station
No. 8 Squadron By night and day Bell 412, Mil Mi-17

Aircraft

Current inventory

Ascertaining a list of aircraft types operated by the Air Force of Zimbabwe is difficult because of secrecy. AFZ has been constantly linked to Mikoyan MiG-29 since 1980, and even sent pilots to the then-USSR for training. In February 2002, the EU enforced an arms embargo on Zimbabwe in reaction to severe violations of human rights in the nation. Unable to buy spare parts for the British-designed and manufactured BAE Systems Hawk, in 2006 the air force received its first K-8. The air force also has MiG-23 fighter jets donated by the late Muammar Gaddafi. In the late 1980s, an order for MiG-29s was placed with Russia, but was cancelled in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Negotiations to buy 14 MiG-29SMTs from Russia were held again in 2004,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but an order for JF-17 fighters was apparently placed instead. One BAE Systems Hawk was returned to service in 2019 for the AFZ 40th anniversary mass flypast and was noted in a flypast at the April 2022 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Between 2022 and 2023, AFZ was able to restore more of its BAE Systems Hawks to service; a spokesman for the defense forces declined to comment on the circumstances of their refurbishment.<ref name="AC1">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Zimbabwe AF K-8 2017H (6929123083).jpg
K-8 Karakorum Trainer at Ysterplaat Airshow, Cape Town.
File:Zimbabwe Mil Mi-8 (cropped).jpg
A Mil Mi-8 on takeoff
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
Chengdu J-7 China Multirole F-7 9<ref name="World Air Forces 2025">Template:Cite web</ref> 1 lost in May 2025.<ref name="crashmay2025" />
MiG-23 Soviet Union Multirole 3<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Transport
BN-2 Islander United Kingdom Utility BN-2A 5<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
CASA C-212 Spain Transport 9<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Helicopters
Alouette III France Utility 13<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Bell 412 United States Utility AB412 8<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union Utility Mi-172 1<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Mil Mi-24 Soviet Union Attack Mi-35 6<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Trainer
Chengdu J-7 China Jet trainer FT-7 2<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
Hongdu JL-8 China Jet trainer K-8 9<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" /> 1 crashed in February 2025.<ref name="crashfebruary2025" />
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italy Trainer 27<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" /> 1 lost in September 2025.<ref name="crashseptember2025" />
PAC MFI-17 Mushshak Pakistan Trainer MFI-395 Super Mushshak (12 Super Mushshaks on order)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
BAE Systems Hawk United Kingdom Advanced trainer Unknown Restored to service in 2022-23.<ref name="AC1"/>

Retired aircraft

Previous notable aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the English Electric Canberra, de Havilland Vampire, C-47 Dakota, Aermacchi AL-60, Reims 337 Lynx<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank structure

The AFZ's rank structure is similar to the RAF's rank structure from where, via the Rhodesian Air Force, its ranks were derived.

Officers/Commissioned Ranks
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Zimbabwe
Airmen/Other ranks/Non Commissioned Ranks
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Zimbabwe

Aircraft losses

Exact figures for the Air Force of Zimbabwe's aircraft losses have not been publicly published. It is believed four Hawks were lost, three F7s and several helicopters.

  • Michael Enslin, 21 years of age the time, was shot down in a BAe Hawk at 1000 feet while recovering from a dive. He survived for 5 days in the bush until he was rescued. He was the third pilot to be shot down.
  • SF.260MC flown by Wing Commander. Sharaunga crashed in bad weather, killing the pilot.
  • The Pilot Wing Commander became disorientated at night while on the way to take part in a flypast at Laurent Kabila's funeral, and the pilot ejected. He was found alive in the jungle by Zimbabwean troops five days later.

Incidents and accidents

Incidents and accidents starting 1980 (1980 included) when Air Force of Zimbabwe was formed. Incidents and accidents prior to that should be attributed to Rhodesian Air Force.

See also

References

Notes

Template:Reflist

Bibliography

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  • Roy Nesbit and Dudley Cowdery with Andrew Thomas, Britain's Rebel Air Force: The War from The Air in Rhodesia 1965–1980 (Grub Street, 1998) Template:ISBN includes an AFZ chapter
  • World aircraft information files brighstar publishing File 340 Sheet 5

Template:Refend

Template:Military of Zimbabwe Template:Air forces Template:Authority control

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