Yemeni Air Force: Difference between revisions
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On 19 March 2015, a first air raid against the internationally recognized Yemeni president [[Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi]], indicated that at least some elements of the Yemeni Air Force had switched allegiance to fight alongside the Houthis rebels. |
On 19 March 2015, a first air raid against the internationally recognized Yemeni president [[Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi]], indicated that at least some elements of the Yemeni Air Force had switched allegiance to fight alongside the Houthis rebels. |
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On 25 March 2015, two Yemeni Air Force aircraft, probably Su-22, took off from San'a al-Dailami air base, which was under Houthi control, to launch an attack on the Yemeni president’s residence in the al-Maasheeq district of Aden, becoming the third time in a week that elements of the Air Force acted against the internationally recognized government.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/yemen/airforce.htm</ref> |
On 25 March 2015, two Yemeni Air Force aircraft, probably Su-22, took off from San'a al-Dailami air base, which shares the structures with [[Sana'a International Airport]], which was under Houthi control, to launch an attack on the Yemeni president’s residence in the al-Maasheeq district of Aden, becoming the third time in a week that elements of the Air Force acted against the internationally recognized government.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/yemen/airforce.htm</ref> |
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Few hours later, the [[Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)]] began. |
Few hours later, the [[Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)]] began. |
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The Yemeni Air Force did not completely join the Houthi rebels, as most of the personnel refused to take orders from their former enemy. Also the maintenance of the air-frames was mostly halted since the ousting of the Saleh regime in 2012.<ref>https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/29/barely-functional-why-us-is-likely-to-be-behind-yemens-precision-airstrikes/</ref> and thus at the beginning of 2015, the situation of the Air Force seemed chaotic with most of the personnel deserted and air-frames lacking maintenance, effectively preventing the Yemeni Air Force to enter in the fight, remaining grounded during the Saudi-led intervention.<ref>http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/04/yemen-houthis-air-force-al-qaeda-advance.html#ixzz3ZXhEyPYa</ref> |
The Yemeni Air Force did not completely join the Houthi rebels, as most of the personnel refused to take orders from their former enemy. Also the maintenance of the air-frames was mostly halted since the ousting of the Saleh regime in 2012.<ref>https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/29/barely-functional-why-us-is-likely-to-be-behind-yemens-precision-airstrikes/</ref> and thus at the beginning of 2015, the situation of the Air Force seemed chaotic with most of the personnel deserted and air-frames lacking maintenance, effectively preventing the Yemeni Air Force to enter in the fight, remaining grounded during the Saudi-led intervention.<ref>http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/04/yemen-houthis-air-force-al-qaeda-advance.html#ixzz3ZXhEyPYa</ref> |
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During the |
During the opening strikes in March 2015, it appeared that Yemeni Air Force main combat assets were largely not hit by the Coalition strikes, with limited hits on the runways, secondary airport structures and logistics air-frames, even in face of fighter jets parked in the open. During the initial strikes at al-Dailami airbase, pictures of the single CN-235-300M, one Beechcraft Super King Air, one AB-412 and one UH-1H destroyed or damaged on ground emerged. It is not clear if the Saudi coalition decided to spare the military aircraft in the opening hours and then this decision changed, or the initial strikes failed to hit the military planes which were subsequently hit by the following strikes.<ref>http://spioenkop.blogspot.it/2015/03/is-saudi-led-coalition-sparing-yemeni.html</ref><ref>http://www.janes.com/article/50393/analysis-initial-saudi-air-strikes-lacked-intensity</ref> Other sources reported that the initial strikes also targeted a number of Su-22s and F-5 jet fighters.<ref>http://www.tacticalreport.com/view_news/Saudi_military_intervention_in_Yemen/4516</ref> |
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Indeed, in the following few days, the coalition strikes started targeting the structures and air-frames to a more severe extent. |
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On 15 April 2015, a Saudi debriefing showed the Arab coalition strikers destroying two Su-22 and one F-5 jet fighters while they were sitting on the tarmac. The F-5 looked covered by a net, while the Su-22s were parked in the open.<ref>http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.fr/2015/04/saudi-video-showing-yemen-su-22-fitter.html</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2qo4usuxWA</ref> Another picture showing the wrecks of two Su-22 and one F-5 jets emerged on 30 April 2015.<ref>http://news.asiaone.com/news/world/saudi-led-warplanes-pound-rebels-south-yemen</ref> |
On 15 April 2015, a Saudi debriefing showed the Arab coalition strikers destroying two Su-22 and one F-5 jet fighters while they were sitting on the tarmac. The F-5 looked covered by a net, while the Su-22s were parked in the open.<ref>http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.fr/2015/04/saudi-video-showing-yemen-su-22-fitter.html</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2qo4usuxWA</ref> Another picture showing the wrecks of two Su-22 and one F-5 jets emerged on 30 April 2015.<ref>http://news.asiaone.com/news/world/saudi-led-warplanes-pound-rebels-south-yemen</ref> |
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On 4 May 2015, evidence of a Yemeni Il-76TD at Sana'a International Airport engulfed in flames emerged.<ref>http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150504-0</ref> |
On 4 May 2015, evidence of a Yemeni Il-76TD at Sana'a International Airport engulfed in flames emerged.<ref>http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150504-0</ref> |
Revision as of 13:59, 9 May 2015
This article needs to be updated.(March 2015) |
Yemeni Air Force | |
---|---|
Active | 1990 - present |
Country | Yemen |
Colors | Red, White, and Black |
Engagements | Sa'dah Conflict Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen Yemeni Revolution |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Air Force Ensign | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Sukhoi Su-22 Mikoyan MiG-29 |
Fighter | Mikoyan MiG-29 Northrop F-5 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-17 Agusta-Bell AB204/AB205 Mil Mi-24 |
Interceptor | Mikoyan MiG-29 Northrop F-5 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |
Reconnaissance | Northrop F-5 |
Trainer | Aero L-39 Albatros Yakovlev Yak-11 Zlin Z 142 |
Transport | Antonov An-12 Antonov An-24 Antonov An-26 Yakovlev Yak-40 |
The Yemeni Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية اليمنية; transliterated: al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya) is the air operations branch of the Yemeni Armed Forces. It is equipped with both eastern and western types of aircraft. Numbers of aircraft can not be confirmed but servicibility of these aircraft is low. Aircraft have been acquired by donations from other countries or either supporting both the Soviet Union or the United States during the Cold War. However, most of the air force was destroyed by airstrikes conducted by a coalition of Arab states during the 2015 military intervention in Yemen.
North and South Yemen
The Yemen Air Force, known as al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya, was established in 1926. During the mid-1950s, the Imam of Yemen established a private fleet that was run by the military. Later, the Soviets delivered MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters, followed by MiG-21s to the South Yemen Air Force. The northern Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) had ties with Western-oriented countries, and they supported a new air force. In the 1970s, Saudi Arabia donated F-5E and F-5B fighters, and two Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. The Yemen Arab Republic Air Force (YARAF) aircraft markings are the basis of the current roundel and flag, which come from the North Yemen's support of the United Arab Republic between 1958 and 1961.
The South Arabian Air Force (as an air corps of the Federation of South Arabia under British protection) was supported by the British and received BAC Strikemaster Mk 81s, De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers, Jet Provost Mk52As and Bell 47G helicopters. The PRSY/PDRY AF (as an air corps of the independent Southern Yemen after Nov. 1967) aircraft markings were a light blue triangle with a dark outer part and a red star in the center while the fin-flash consisted of a flag in the national tricolour with a blue triangle bearing a red star. This was used as the fin-flash until the unification of Yemen in 1990.
The USSR supported the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and Soviet Air Force MiG-23BN and MiG-25R were based in Aden starting from the late Seventies. During the South Yemen Civil War in January 1986, the Soviet MiG-23BN flew strikes in support of loyalist forces. Up to 90% of the South Yemen Air Force was wiped out during the conflict[1] It is not clear if these MiG-23 were ever transferred to the South Yemen control and later to the unified Yemeni Air Force or they always remained under Soviet control and withdrew later.[2]
Unified Air Force
The Yemeni air force was created in conjunction with the unification of southern - and northern Yemen in 1990. Many of the aircraft used by Yemen are from South Yemen and only a small percentage from North Yemen due to the fact that South Yemen was an ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War and the Soviets supplied them with military hardware. After the fall of the Soviet Union, South Yemen stopped receiving Soviet made fighters. Yemen has used fighters and bombers, mainly in the 1994 civil war to bomb the city of Aden. There were also reports of the use English Electric Lightning fighters in the North Yemen Civil War. They were used by Saudi Arabia since Yemen never owned any Lightnings.
The first MiG-29SMT was delivered in October 2004.[3] Two MiG-29UBs are possibly also modified to SMT-standard as MiG-29UBT. A second batch of 6 MiG-29SMTs and 2 MiG-29UBTs was ordered in 2003 and delivered in 2004-05. The MiG-29s are armed with R-27 (AA-10 Alamo), R-73 (AA-11 Archer) and R-77 (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missiles, as well as Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge) air-to-surface missiles. In the first quarter of 2007 another 34 MiG-29SMTs were ordered from Russia.[4] They are used for air defence alongside the antiquated Northrop F-5B/E/F, the MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-20/-22s. Ukraine delivered 21 second-hand MiG-21bis and 12 Su-22s in the period 2005-07.[5][6] Yemen plans to buy more MiG-29s from Russia.[7]
War in Sadah
Yemeni Air Force has been used extensively in the Sadah War against the Houthi rebellion. The Yemeni Air Force has been proven effective destroying enemy positions and buildings. Most enemy casualties were attributed to air raids. A number of accidents have occurred, including one in which a fighter plane accidentally fired a missile and killed more than 80 civilians. During Operation Scorched Earth on 2 and 5 October and on 8 November 2009, three fighter jets reported as a MiG-21, a Su-22 and another Sukhoi-type of aircraft respectively crashed during military missions. The government claimed the crashes were due to technical malfunctions, while the rebels claimed they shot them down with MANPADS.[8]
War on Terror
As part of the Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown, the Yemeni Air Force have launched air raids on terrorist bases throughout Yemen to kill important terrorist leaders. The raids were confronted with antiaircraft fire.[9]
2011 Yemeni uprising
The Yemeni Air Force performed air strikes against opposition forces to the Saleh government during the 2011 Yemeni uprising. On 28 September 2011, a Su-22 was shot down during a bombing mission north of Sanaa by rebel soldiers using a MANPAD.[10] The pilot ejected and was captured.
On 30 October, the al-Daylami air base near Sanaa was attacked by uprising forces. Different official sources reported two or three fighter jets destroyed on the ground either by mortar shells or with planted explosive charges.[11] The aircraft were loaded with ammunition and combat ready for strikes on the next day. Among the destroyed aircraft it was reported at least one MiG-29.[12]
Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)
On 19 March 2015, a first air raid against the internationally recognized Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, indicated that at least some elements of the Yemeni Air Force had switched allegiance to fight alongside the Houthis rebels.
On 25 March 2015, two Yemeni Air Force aircraft, probably Su-22, took off from San'a al-Dailami air base, which shares the structures with Sana'a International Airport, which was under Houthi control, to launch an attack on the Yemeni president’s residence in the al-Maasheeq district of Aden, becoming the third time in a week that elements of the Air Force acted against the internationally recognized government.[13]
Few hours later, the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present) began. The Yemeni Air Force did not completely join the Houthi rebels, as most of the personnel refused to take orders from their former enemy. Also the maintenance of the air-frames was mostly halted since the ousting of the Saleh regime in 2012.[14] and thus at the beginning of 2015, the situation of the Air Force seemed chaotic with most of the personnel deserted and air-frames lacking maintenance, effectively preventing the Yemeni Air Force to enter in the fight, remaining grounded during the Saudi-led intervention.[15]
During the opening strikes in March 2015, it appeared that Yemeni Air Force main combat assets were largely not hit by the Coalition strikes, with limited hits on the runways, secondary airport structures and logistics air-frames, even in face of fighter jets parked in the open. During the initial strikes at al-Dailami airbase, pictures of the single CN-235-300M, one Beechcraft Super King Air, one AB-412 and one UH-1H destroyed or damaged on ground emerged. It is not clear if the Saudi coalition decided to spare the military aircraft in the opening hours and then this decision changed, or the initial strikes failed to hit the military planes which were subsequently hit by the following strikes.[16][17] Other sources reported that the initial strikes also targeted a number of Su-22s and F-5 jet fighters.[18]
Indeed, in the following few days, the coalition strikes started targeting the structures and air-frames to a more severe extent. On 15 April 2015, a Saudi debriefing showed the Arab coalition strikers destroying two Su-22 and one F-5 jet fighters while they were sitting on the tarmac. The F-5 looked covered by a net, while the Su-22s were parked in the open.[19][20] Another picture showing the wrecks of two Su-22 and one F-5 jets emerged on 30 April 2015.[21] On 4 May 2015, evidence of a Yemeni Il-76TD at Sana'a International Airport engulfed in flames emerged.[22]
The fate of the Yemeni MiG-29 fleet remains unknown while the assessment on the actual number of other air-frames destroyed is difficult to establish.
Aircraft
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antonov An-12 | Soviet Union | tactical transport | An-12BP | 1 | |
Antonov An-24 | Soviet Union | tactical transport | An-24RV | 6 | |
Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | tactical transport | An-26 | 6 | |
Yakovlev Yak-40 | Soviet Union | tactical transport | 2 | ||
Aero L-39 Albatros | Czechoslovakia | jet training/light attack | L-39C | 12 | |
Agusta-Bell AB204/AB205 | Italy | utility | AB204B | 2 | |
Agusta-Bell AB206 | Italy | utility | AB206B | 5 | |
Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey | Italy | utility | AB212 | 5 | |
Agusta-Bell AB214 | Italy | utility | AB214 | 6 | |
CASA/IPTN CN-235 | Spain | tactical transport | CN-235-300M | 0/1[23] | One funded in 2010, delivered in second half of 2012, destroyed at Sana'a International Airport in March 2015[24] |
Ilyushin Il-76 | Soviet Union | transport | 2/3 | At least one destroyed at Sana'a International Airport May 2015 | |
Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union | transport | Mi-17 Mi-171Sh |
25 | |
Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States | tactical transport | C-130H | 3 | |
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | transport/attack | Mi-8T | 10 | |
Mil Mi-14 | Soviet Union | transport/anti-submarine | 2 | ||
Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | attack | Mi-24D Mi-35 |
14 8 |
|
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | Soviet Union | fighter | MiG-21bis/MF MiG-21U MiG-21UM |
40 4 8 |
At the beginning of the 2015 Saudi-led intervention, the actual number of active air-frames was not clear, probably a small fraction. |
Mikoyan MiG-29 | Russia | multirole fighter | MiG-29SMT MiG-29UBT |
20 5 |
Status unknown. Probably grounded due to lack of spare parts and trained personnel. |
Northrop F-5 | United States | fighter/advanced trainer | F-5E F-5F |
8 3 |
At the beginning of the 2015 Saudi-led intervention, the actual number of active air-frames was not clear, probably a small fraction or even none. At least one F-5 was displayed while being destroyed on the ground by Saudi airstrikes while a bigger number may have been destroyed. |
Sukhoi Su-22 | Soviet Union | ground attack | Su-22M-2 Su-22M-3K Su-22U |
30 Unknown 3 |
At the beginning of the 2015 Saudi-led intervention, the actual number of active air-frames was not clear, probably a small fraction. At least two Su-22s were displayed while being destroyed on the ground by Saudi airstrikes while a bigger number may have been destroyed. |
Yakovlev Yak-11 | Soviet Union | trainer | 14 | ||
Zlin Z 142 | Czechoslovakia | trainer | Z 142 | 12 | |
Cessna 208 Caravan | United States | reconnaissance | 2 | Can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles[25] | |
Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | surveillance | Airking-350ER | 4 | [26] |
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle | United States | recon UAV | 12 | 9 equipped for day, 3 equipped for night[27] | |
Total : | 249 |
Air Defence
Up to more than six hundred SAM vehicles procured over the time. 12 Tor missile systems were ordered and tested in 2007.[28]
Gallery
-
Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen Air Force roundel (until 1962)
-
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force roundel (1962–1990)
-
South Yemen Air Force roundel (1967–1990)
See also
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=62
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/1988/0311/ayem.html
- ^ "MiG-29 Fulcrum Fighter Bomber - Airforce Technology". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "MiG Takes a Heading to Yemen". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Trade Registers". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ MiG-29SMTs to Yemen, Aviapedia (5-9-2006)
- ^ "Yemen plans to buy more MiG-29 fighters from Russia". 26 February 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Yemen rebels 'down fighter jet'". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "BBC News - Yemen 'bombs house of suspected al-Qaeda militant'". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Yemen rebels 'shoot down' government jet fighter". 28 September 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Press Room". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ http://www.worldnewstribune.com/?p=1164
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/yemen/airforce.htm
- ^ https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/29/barely-functional-why-us-is-likely-to-be-behind-yemens-precision-airstrikes/
- ^ http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/04/yemen-houthis-air-force-al-qaeda-advance.html#ixzz3ZXhEyPYa
- ^ http://spioenkop.blogspot.it/2015/03/is-saudi-led-coalition-sparing-yemeni.html
- ^ http://www.janes.com/article/50393/analysis-initial-saudi-air-strikes-lacked-intensity
- ^ http://www.tacticalreport.com/view_news/Saudi_military_intervention_in_Yemen/4516
- ^ http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.fr/2015/04/saudi-video-showing-yemen-su-22-fitter.html
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2qo4usuxWA
- ^ http://news.asiaone.com/news/world/saudi-led-warplanes-pound-rebels-south-yemen
- ^ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150504-0
- ^ http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/yemen-set-for-new-counter-terror-aircraft.html
- ^ http://www.janes.com/article/50393/analysis-initial-saudi-air-strikes-lacked-intensity
- ^ Yemen; AF incepts C208 Caravan reconnaissance aircraft - Dmilt.com, 26 September 2013
- ^ Yemen; US delivers 4 Air King 350 ISR aircraft - Dmilt.com, 5 June 2014
- ^ Yemen; ScanEagle UAV order - Dmilt.com, 8 October 2014
- ^ John Pike. "Yemen Air Force". Retrieved 24 January 2015.