Lebanese Air Force
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The Lebanese Air Force is the air force branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
| Fighter Aircraft | Hawker Hunter FGA.70/FGA.70A (Up to four operational)[citation needed], | 4 |
| 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 |
The Lebanese Air Force had a lack of fixed-wing combat aircraft capability since 1983. Before then, the fighter 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.[1]
Until August 2007, the Hunters were out of active service due to their outdated technology, a lack of combat value, a lack of funds, and mostly due to political decisions at the time.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 was first reported on August 20, 2007, that at least four Hawker Hunters were successfully put back in service and pilots were being trained for bombing missions due to the difficulties faced in Nahr El Bared where militants were holed in underground bunkers. The Hunters are yet to be used in the conflict but have been reported to be in full operational status.
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.[2]
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.