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Zambia Air Force
Zambia Air Force
	Zambia Air Force roundel
Founded	1964; 61 years ago
Country	Zambia
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Part of	Zambia Defence Force
Headquarters	Lusaka
Motto(s)	"Defend and Support"
Commanders
Current; commander	Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni
Notable; commanders	Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha
Insignia
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Hongdu L-15, Shenyang J-6
Helicopter	Mil Mi-17, Bell 205, Bell 206
Trainer	Aermacchi SF.260, Hongdu K-8, Hongdu L-15, FT-6, Aermacchi MB-326
Transport	Harbin Y-12, Xian MA60, Alenia C-27J Spartan

The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force. Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former Northern Rhodesia Air Force was renamed as the Zambia Air Force.

The primary missions of the Air Force are to defend Zambia's borders and protect its airspace. In addition, it provides various forms of air support to other government departments. It also flies reconnaissance, trooping and transport missions for the police and airlifts medical supplies and personnel to inaccessible areas. Finally, the organisation provides emergency transport whenever needed.^{[citation needed]}

History

Prior to the demise of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, military air operations in the then British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia were provided by the Royal Air Force, and then the Royal Rhodesian Air Force.

The Northern Rhodesia Air Force was established on 1 March 1964, primarily operating in a liaison and transport role. It consisted of two squadrons:^[1]

No. 1 Squadron NRAF operated four Douglas C-47s as well as two Percival Pembrokes.

No. 2 Squadron NRAF operated eight De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers in a liaison role.

On 24 October 1964, on the date of the establishment of the independent Republic of Zambia, the name of the Northern Rhodesia Air Force was subsequently changed to Zambian Air Force. The early years of the ZAF saw continued close cooperation with the United Kingdom as a supplier of aircraft, and recruiting British officers still was a standard practice. Thanks to deliveries of six de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks and other equipment, the Flying Training School was formed. These were followed by five DHC-4A Caribous. Starting in 1966, moving away from the British became a priority, and the ZAF started favouring the purchase of Italian and Yugoslavian aircraft. In this period, deliveries of Agusta-Bell AB.205s allowed for the formation of the ZAF's first helicopter squadron. Other aircraft acquired from Italy included SIAI-Marchetti SF.260s and Aermacchi MB-326GB light attack aircraft. Soko J-21 Jastrebs and Soko G-2 Galebs were delivered by Yugoslavia.^[1]

In the late 1970s, relations with China increased in importance. In this period, 12 Shenyang F-5s and FT-5s were delivered, as well as 12 Shenyang F-6s. In September 1980, the USSR started the deliveries of at least 16 MiG-21bis fighters and two MiG-21UM trainers.^[2]

Equipment

Few details are available on force deployment, but combat elements are understood to be located at Lusaka (K-8), Mbala (F-6) and Mumbwa (MiG-21), with the small fleet of transport aircraft and utility helicopters also reportedly stationed at Lusaka.^[3] Zambia Air Force's JL-10 are equipped with PESA fire control radar along with wingtip rails for PL-5 air-to-air missiles. A 23mm gun pod can be mounted on the centreline. Four hardpoints allow for various ordnance, including 250 and 500kg bombs, HF-18 57mm rocket pods, LS-6 guided bombs or the TL-10/YJ-9E air-to-surface missile.^[4]

Current inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
Shenyang J-6	China	Fighter	F-6	8^[5]
Transport
Beech 1900	United States	Utility		1^[5]
C-27J Spartan	Italy	Transport		2^[5]
Cessna 208	United States	Utility		2^[5]
Harbin Y-12	China	Utility		1^[5]
Xi'an MA60	China	Transport		7^[5]
Helicopters
Bell 205	United States	Utility		12^[5]
Bell 206	United States	Utility		2^[5]
Bell 212	United States	Utility		2^[5]
Enstrom 480	United States	Trainer			2 on order^[5]
Harbin Z-9	China	Utility		7^[5]
Mil Mi-17	Russia	Utility	Mi-171	5^[5]
Trainer
Hongdu JL-8	China	Jet trainer	K-8	16^[5]
Hongdu JL-10	China	Attack / Jet trainer	L-15Z	6^[5]
Saab Safari	Sweden	Basic trainer	MFI-15	14^[5]
Shenyang J-6	China	Conversion trainer	FT-6	2^[5]
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260	Italy	Basic trainer		12^[5]
UAV
Elbit Hermes 450	Israel	UCAV		3^[6]

Air defence systems

Model	Origin	Type
Rapier	United Kingdom	Surface-to-air missile
S-125	Soviet Union	Surface-to-air missile
M-1939	Soviet Union	Anti-aircraft gun
ZPU-4	Soviet Union	Anti-aircraft gun
ZU-23-2	Soviet Union	Anti-aircraft gun

Commands

Commands are typically under the leadership of an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) who holds a rank of Brigadier General.

Strike Command^[7]
Training Command^[7]
Tactical Air Mobility Command^[7]
Logistics Command^[7]
Northern Air Defence Command^[7]
Central Air Defence Command^[7]

Formations

No. 65 Wing "Preamonitus Preamonitus "^[8]
No. 71 Wing "Defending with valor"^[8]

Flying units

No. 1 Squadron (C-27J) "With excellence"^[8]
No. 8 Squadron (K-8E) "Ready to Move"^[8]
No. 10 Squadron "On eagle wings, we lift"^[8]
No. 11 Squadron "Warrior spirit"^[8]
No. 14 Squadron "Strike Command"^[8]
No. 21 Squadron (K-8E) "Fighting vipers"^[8]
No. 22 Squadron (Y-12)"Anytime Anywhere"^[8]
No. 33 Squadron "Service above self"^[8]
No. 43 Squadron "Poised and ready to strike"^[8]

Training units

Centre for Advanced learning "Learning for proficiency" ^[8]
Zambia Air Force Academy "To learn to defend our country"^[8]
Technical Training School "Strive for excellency"^[8]
Ground training School "Knowledge Efficiency"^[8]
Flying Training School "Nihil Nisi Optima"^[8]
Air Defence School "Excellence through knowledge"^[8]

Leadership

Commanders

Rank	Name	Period
Group Captain	John Edward Kilduff	1964 - 1972
Lieutenant General	Peter Dingiswayo Zuze	1972 - 1976
Major General	Christopher Kabwe	1976 - 1980
Lieutenant General	Hannania Lungu	1980 - 1990
Lieutenant General	Herbert Simutowe	1990 - 1991
Lieutenant General	Ronnie Shikapwasha^[9]	1991 - 1997
Lieutenant General	Sande Kayumba	1997 - 2001
Lieutenant General	Christopher Singogo^[10]	2001 - 2006
Lieutenant General	Samuel Mapala^[10]^[11]	2006 - 2010
Lieutenant General	Andrew Sakala^[11]^[12]	2010 - 2011
Lieutenant General	Eric Mwaba Chimese^[13]	2011 - 2018
Lieutenant General	David Muma^[14]	2018 - 2021
Lieutenant General	Colin Barry^[15]	2021 - 2023
Lieutenant General	Oscar Nyoni^[16]	2023-

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Cooper et al. 2011, p. 199
^ Cooper et al. 2011, pp. 199–200
^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS".
^ Donald, David. "China's L-15 Jet Displayed by Zambia In South Africa". Aviation International News. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
^ "Zambian military parades new weapons * Military Africa". Military Africa. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Welcome to What We do Page". Zambia Air Force. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q "About Zambia Air Force". Zambia Air Force. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^ "Zambia: Chiluba Sacks Vice President In Major Cabinet Reshuffle". allafrica.com. 2 December 1997. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b "People's Daily Online -- Zambian president fires air force commander". en.people.cn.
^ ^a ^b "Zambia : President Banda retires top defense Chiefs(corrected)". 7 April 2010.
^ "ZRA boss suspended". Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
^ "President Sata Suspends Two Contracts". Truly Zambian. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
^ "Pres. Lungu Replaces Chimese as ZAF Commander". Zambia Online.
^ Moonga, Chambwa (30 August 2021). "I have a lot to offer to the air force - ZAF Commander Lt Gen Colin Barry". The Zambian Observer. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
^ Mwitumwa, Buumba (20 December 2023). "We don't want confusion in ZAF, Hichilema warns new Commander". The Zambian Observer. Retrieved 9 January 2024.

Bibliography

Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.