Moldovan Air Force
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| Moldovan Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 21 August 1991 - |
| Country | Moldova |
| Size | 1,040 2007 |
| Insignia | |
| Air Force flag |  |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | MiG-29 |
| Transport | An-72, An-26, An-2, Mi-8 |
The Moldovan Air Force is the national air force of the Republic of Moldova. It was formed following Moldova's independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991 and is part of the Military of Moldova.
Contents |
[edit] Structure
In 2002 the Air force consisted of 1,400 men.[1]
In 1994 the Air force consisted of 1,300 men organized into one fighter regiment, one helicopter squadron, and one missile brigade. They had thirty-one MiG-29 aircraft, eight Mi-8 helicopters, five transport aircraft (including an Antonov An-72), and twenty-five SA-3/SA-5 Gammon surface-to-air missiles.[2]
In 2007 the Air Force had been reduced to a strength of 1,040 men organized into one helicopter squadron, and one missile battalion. They had six MiG-29S aircraft, upgraded in Ukraine and stationed in Mărculeşti Air Base, eight Mi-8 helicopters, five transport aircraft (including an Antonov An-72), and twelve SA-3 surface-to-air missile.
[edit] Air Force Inventory
Template:Standard tble
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonov An-2 Colt |  Soviet Union |
transport | An-2 | 2 | Operational |
| Antonov An-26 Curl | Soviet Union /  Ukraine |
transport | An-26 | 1 | Operational |
| Antonov An-72 Coaler | Soviet Union |
transport | An-72 | 2 | Operational |
| Mil Mi-8 Hip | Soviet Union |
transport helicopter | Mi-8 | 8 | Operational |
| MiG-29S Fulcrum | Soviet Union |
fighter | Mig-29 | 6 | In Flying Condition but Not Operational |
| Surface-to-air missile | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
| S-125 | Soviet Union |
surface-to-air missile | SA-3 | 12 | Operational |
In October 1997 United States purchased 14 MiG-29S Fulcrum which were equipped with an active radar jammer in its spine and were capable of being armed with nuclear weapons. They also purchased six MiG-29A Fulcrum, one MiG-29B Fulcrum. All the spare parts for those aircraft were also purchased. As were the 500 air to air missiles. [3]
All of those MiG-29 Fulcrums were transported from Moldova to the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in C-17 Globemaster III transport planes over the period of two weeks. [4]
January 2006 Yemen Ready To return MIG-29S Fighters To Moldova
[edit] Moldovan MiG-29s on display
- Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas.[5]
- NAS Fallon Airpark.
- The NAIC at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A two seat MiG-29UB is on display.
- Two MiG-29s are on display at Nellis AFB. One is at the outside of the Threat Training Facility[6] and another, in better shape, inside a hangar alongside a MiG-23 Flogger [7].
- One is currently stored in a restoration hangar at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. As of June 2007, the aircraft has been put in display at the Cold War Exhibit of the Museum and continues to receive minor upgrading while on display.[8][9]
[edit] References
- ^ Show Indicator Information
- ^ Moldova - The Armed Forces
- ^ Arms Control Association: Arms Control Today: U.S. Buys Moldovan Aircraft to Prevent Acquisition by Iran
- ^ DefenseLink News Transcript: DoD News Briefing: Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative
- ^ http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/database/aircraft/showimage.php?id=1996
- ^ Threat Training Facility
- ^ [http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/Museums/ThreatTrainingFacility/Aircraft/index.html Threat Training Facility Aircraft]
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070313-F-1234P-038.jpg
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070313-F-1234P-001.jpg
[edit] External links
[edit] See alsow
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