The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force.

The primary missions of the Air Force are to defend Zambia's borders and protect its airspace. In addition, it provides various forms of air support to other government departments. It also flies reconnaissance, trooping and transport missions for the police and airlifts medical supplies and personnel to inaccessible areas. Finally, the organisation provides emergency transport whenever needed.

History Prior to the demise of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, military air operations in the then British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia were provided by the Royal Air Force, and then the Royal Rhodesian Air Force.

The Northern Rhodesia Air Force (NRAF) was established on 1 March 1964, primarily operating in a liaison and transport role. It consisted of two squadrons:

No. 1 Squadron NRAF operated four Douglas C-47s as well as two Percival Pembrokes. No. 2 Squadron NRAF operated eight De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers in a liaison role.

On 24 October 1964, on the date of the establishment of the independent Republic of Zambia, the name of the Northern Rhodesia Air Force was subsequently changed to Zambian Air Force (ZAF). The early years of the ZAF saw continued close cooperation with the United Kingdom as a supplier of aircraft, and recruiting British officers still was a standard practice. Thanks to deliveries of six de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks and other equipment, the Flying Training School was formed. These were followed by five DHC-4A Caribous. Starting in 1966, moving away from the British became a priority, and the ZAF started favouring the purchase of Italian and Yugoslavian aircraft. In this period, deliveries of Agusta-Bell AB.205s allowed for the formation of the ZAF's first helicopter squadron. Other aircraft acquired from Italy included SIAI-Marchetti SF.260s and Aermacchi MB-326GB light attack aircraft. Soko J-21 Jastrebs and Soko G-2 Galebs (two aircraft delivered in 1971Taylor John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. . p. 487.) were delivered by Yugoslavia.

In the late 1970s, relations with China increased in importance. In this period, 12 Shenyang F-5s and FT-5s were delivered, as well as 12 Shenyang F-6s. In September 1980, the USSR started the deliveries of at least 16 MiG-21bis fighters and two MiG-21UM trainers.

Zambia Air Force ranks and insignia

+RankInsigniaLance corporal Corporal Sergeant Staff Sergeant Warrant officer IIWarrant officer l2ND Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier general Major general Lieutenant general General Source International encyclopedia of uniform Insignia

Equipment Few details are available on force deployment, but combat elements are understood to be located at Lusaka (K-8), Mbala and Mumbwa, with the small fleet of transport aircraft and utility helicopters also reportedly stationed at Lusaka. Zambia Air Force's JL-10 are equipped with PESA fire control radar along with wingtip rails for PL-5 air-to-air missiles. A 23mm gun pod can be mounted on the centreline. Four hardpoints allow for various ordnance, including 250 and 500 kg bombs, HF-18 57mm rocket pods, LS-6 guided bombs or the TL-10/YJ-9E air-to-surface missile.

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes Transport Beech 1900 United States Utility 1 C-27J Spartan Italy Transport 2 Cessna 208 United States Utility 2 Xi'an MA60 China Transport 1 Harbin Y-12 China Utility 7 Helicopters Bell 205 United States Utility 12 Bell 212/Bell 412 United States/ Canada Utility/Transport 7 Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union/ Russia Utility Mi-171 5 Harbin Z-9 China Utility 7 Trainer Enstrom 480 United States Trainer 2 Hongdu JL-8 China Jet trainer K-8 15 Hongdu JL-10 China Attack / Jet trainer L-15Z 6 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italy Basic trainer 11

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes UAV Elbit Hermes 450 Israel UCAV 3

Retired aircraft Retired aircraft include Aermacchi MB-326 (MB-326GB variant), Bell 206, De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk, De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (DHC-4A variant), Douglas C-47, MiG-21 (bis, UM variant), Percival Pembroke, Saab Safari (MFI-15 variant), Shenyang J-5 (F-5, FT-5 variant), Shenyang J-6 (F-6, FT-6 variant), Soko G-2 Galeb, Soko J-21 Jastreb.

Air defence systems Model Origin Type Variant Number Notes Rapier United Kingdom Surface-to-air missile S-125 Soviet Union Surface-to-air missile M-1939 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft gun ZPU-4 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft gun ZU-23-2 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft gun

Commands Commands are typically under the leadership of an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) who holds a rank of Brigadier General. Strike Command Training Command Tactical Air Mobility Command Logistics Command Northern Air Defence Command Central Air Defence Command

Formations No. 65 Wing "Preamonitus Preamonitus " No. 71 Wing "Defending with valor"

Flying units No. 1 Squadron (C-27J) "With excellence" No. 2 VIP Squadron No. 8 Squadron (K-8P) "Ready to Move" No. 10 Squadron "On eagle wings, we lift" No. 11 Squadron (Mi-171E/Sh) "Warrior spirit" No. 14 Squadron "Strike Command" No. 21 Squadron (K-8P) "Fighting vipers" No. 22 Squadron (Y-12)"Anytime Anywhere" No. 33 Squadron (Bell 212, Bell 412, Enstrom) "Service above self" No. 43 Squadron (L-15Z) "Poised and ready to strike"

Training units Centre for Advanced learning "Learning for proficiency" Zambia Air Force Academy "To learn to defend our country" Technical Training School "Strive for excellency" Ground training School "Knowledge Efficiency" Flying Training School "Nihil Nisi Optima" Air Defence School "Excellence through knowledge"

Leadership

Commanders RankNamePeriodGroup CaptainJohn Edward Kilduff1964 - 1972Lieutenant GeneralPeter Dingiswayo Zuze1972 - 1976Major GeneralChristopher Kabwe1976 - 1980Lieutenant GeneralHannania Lungu1980 - 1990Lieutenant GeneralHerbert Simutowe1990 - 1991Lieutenant GeneralRonnie Shikapwasha1991 - 1997Lieutenant GeneralSande Kayumba1997 - 2001Lieutenant GeneralChristopher Singogo2001 - 2006Lieutenant GeneralSamuel Mapala2006 - 2010Lieutenant GeneralAndrew Sakala2010 - 2011Lieutenant GeneralEric Mwaba Chimese2011 - 2018Lieutenant GeneralDavid Muma2018 - 2021Lieutenant GeneralColin Barry2021 - 2023Lieutenant GeneralOscar Nyoni2023-

See also Bibliography of the history of Zambia Nina Tapula, first woman pilot for the Zambian Air Force Thokozile Muwamba, Zambia's first female fighter pilot Yichida Ndlovu, Zambia's first commercial pilot

References Notes

Bibliography