Eritrean Air Force

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Eritrean Air Force
Active	since 1994
Country	Eritrea
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	MB-339, Mi-24, Su-25
Fighter	MiG-29, Su-27
Trainer	M-290
Transport	An-12, Y-12, Mi-8

The Eritrean Air Force was established shortly after Eritrean War of Independence in 1994. The make-up of the original force was composed of aircraft that were abandoned by the defeated Ethiopian armed forces. The Eritrean Air Force is a smaller branch of the Eritrean Defence Forces.

Expansion of the Eritrean Air Force (ERAF) did not occur until the Eritrean-Ethiopian War in which the two air forces fought for superiority. In a sort of arms race Eritrea responded to Ethiopia's purchase of Su-27's with a purchase of MiG-29's.^[1] Also during the border war with Ethiopia, Eritrea captured attack helicopters from Ethiopia. In 2000 the ERAF bought eight Su-25's from Georgia, and six more MiG-29's from Moldavia. In 2003 Eritrea also acquired several Su-27's.^[2]

The Commander of the Eritrean Air Force is Major General Teklai Habteselassie. The Eritrean Air Force ^[3] Headquarters is in Asmara, Eritrea.

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service^[4]
Aermacchi M-290 RediGO	Finland	trainer	L-90TP	8
Aermacchi MB-339	Italy	attack	MB-339C	6
Antonov An-12 Cub	Russia	transport	An-12	6
Harbin Y-12	China	utility transport	Y-12	3
IAI Astra	Israel	VIP transport	IAI Astra 1125	1
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum	Russia	fighter trainer	MiG-29 MiG-29UB	5 2
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Russia	transport helicopter	Mi-8 Mi-17	2 1
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Russia	attack helicopter	Mi-24D Mi-35	10 5
Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot	Russia	attack	Su-25	6
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker	Russia	fighter	Su-27SK Su-27UB	8