Lebanese Air Force

The Lebanese Air Force is the air force branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Lebanese Air Force Aircraft

Fighter Aircraft	Hawker Hunter FGA.70/FGA.70A (Up to five to be made operational),	5
Helicopters	Aérospatiale SA-342 Gazelle, Aérospatiale SA-318 Alouette II, Aérospatiale SA-319 Alouette III, Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma, UH-1H, UH-1N, Robinson R44	81+
Trainers	Scottish Aviation Bulldog, Fouga Magister CM-170	10
Transport	Gulfstream Turbo Commander 690A(Non-Operational), Falcon 20, de Havilland Dove(Non-Operational)	10

Roundel of the air force

The Lebanese Air Force had a lack of fixed-wing combat aircraft capability from 1993 to 2007. Before then, the fix-winged combat force consisted of Hawker Hunters purchased from the United Kingdom between 1952 and 1958 and based in Rayak AFB with the 2nd squadron. 16 Mirage IIIELs and BLs were purchased from France in 1968 and based in Beirut under the 5th squadron until put in storage in the late 1970's and Mirage III were sold to Pakistan in 2000.

Until late 2007, the Hunters were out of active service due to their outdated technology, a lack of combat value, a lack of funds, and mostly due to political decisions at the time. It has been decided that at least five Hawker Hunters would be put back in service if parts for the planes could be found. One of the reasons for this was the Nahr El Bared conflict, where militants were holed in underground bunkers.

The Hawker Hunters has not flown any combat sorties since September 17, 1983. This was during the period where the French and Americans were rebuilding the Lebanese army, and three F.Mk.70s were made airworthy, and started combat operations on September 15. Because the main airfield, Rayak Air Base had been shelled by Syrian forces, the Hunters had to operate from an airfield in Byblos. The last sortie was an joint attempt with French Super Etendards from the Clemenceau to attack Druze positions. One Hunter was shot down and the pilot barely managed to eject himself into the sea. The second Hunter was heavily damaged and made a forced landing at Byblos. The third did not return to the base but flew straight to Akrotiri, Cyprus, with the pilot eventually requesting political asylum.

The Air force has a fairly large number of helicopters for a small Air Force, only the UH-1H, Bell 212, Gazelle and R44 helicopters remain operational while all others remain in storage awaiting their overhaul into active duty. Thus the Lebanese Air Force consists of six squadrons, being the 2nd at Rayak AFB operating the Hawker Hunters, the 8th operating the Gazelles, the 10th and the 11th at Beirut AFB operating the UH-1, the 12th at Rayak AFB, operating some UH-1Hs on loan from Beirut AB, the 14th at Kleyate AFB, also operating the UH-1H on loan from Beirut AFB, and the 15th at Rayak AFB, operating the R44 Raven.

During the battle of Nahr el-Bared camp in North Lebanon, the Lebanese army, lacking fixed-wing aircraft, modified the UH-1H allowing it to carry 400lb. (250Kg) Mk.82 dumb bombs to strike the militant positions. Each Huey was equipped on each side with a special pads engineered by the Lebanese army, and attached to each was a dumb bomb. It is one of the very rare if not the only time where a helicopter is used to bomb in this fashion. The Lebanese army also made use of Gazelle helicopters equipped with Euromissile HOT missiles and machine guns pods.

The Lebanese AirForce is studying the new JF-17 Thunder

Aircraft Inventory

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Total ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Agusta-Bell AB 212 || Template:Italy || Utility Helicopter || 5 || Stored || To be made operational |----- | Aérospatiale Alouette III SA-319 || Template:France || Utility Helicopter || 3 || Retired || |----- | Aérospatiale Gazelle SA-342 || Template:France ||
Naval Patrol
Battlefield Scout
Anti-tank|| 12 || At least 3 stored. || All to be made operational. |----- | Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma || Template:France || Utility and Transport Helicopter || 3 || Stored || To be made operational. |----- | Bell B-205 UH-1H || United States || Utility helicopter || 23 || Active || Some with local modifications to carry 250 kg and 400 kg bombs |----- | Fouga Magister CM-170 || Template:France || Advanced Trainer || 4 || Stored || |----- | Hawker Hunter || United Kingdom ||
Fighter
Ground Attack ||8 || Stored || A number can be recalled to service in emergency situations |----- | Robinson R44 || United States ||
Utility Helicopter
Trainer || 4 || Active || |----- | Scottish Aviation Bulldog || United Kingdom || Basic Trainer || 4 || Stored || |----- |----- | |}