Gabonese Air Force

The Gabonese Air Force (French: Armée de l'air Gabonaise) is the official aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Gabon.

Gabonese Air Force
Armée de l'air Gabonaise
Gabonese Air Force roundel
Active	January 25, 1972 - Present
Country	Gabon
Type	Air Force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	1,500
Part of	Armed Forces of Gabon
Headquarters	Libreville
Anniversaries	January 25
Commanders
Commander in Chief	Brice Oligui Nguema
Commander of the Air Force	General Jean Martin
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Dassault Mirage F1
Helicopter	Alouette III, AS332, SA342, SA330, EC135, EC120,
Transport	ATR 42, C-130, CN-235

History

In the early 1960s, following the country's independence from the French Republic, aerial detachments were inside the country, with the first official aerial installation being the Mouila Training Center which was established in 1966 in the south-west of the country. On January 25, 1972, by presidential decree signed by President Omar Bongo, the Gabonese Air Force became an official branch of the armed forces, separate from the army. In January 1980, at the initiative of President Bongo, the Air Force developed and adopted a combat structure, acquiring a fleet of fighters, and creating the Mvengue Air Base in the capital.^[1][2]

Order of battle

• Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville with:
  • Mirage F-1AZ
  • MB-326M Impala I
• Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville with:
  • C-130 Hercules
  • CN-235
• Ministerial Air Liaison Group (Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
  • 1 Falcon-900EX
  • 1 Gulfstream III

Current inventory

A Gabonese ATR-42 on approach

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
Mirage F1	France	Fighter		6[3]
Transport
ATR 42	France / Italy	VIP transport		1[4]
CASA CN-235	Indonesia / Spain	Transport		1[3]
EADS CASA C-295		Transport	W	1[5]
C-130 Hercules	United States	Transport	C-130H	1[3]
Helicopters
Alouette III	France	Light utility		2[3]
SA342 Gazelle	France	Attack / Scout		3[3]
Eurocopter AS332	France	Transport		1[3]
Aérospatiale SA 330	France	Transport / Utility		5[3]
Eurocopter EC135	France	Utility		2[3]
Eurocopter EC120	France	Light utility		2[3]

Retired aircraft

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the CM.170 Magister, C-130H Hercules, Embraer EMB 110, Fokker F28, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.^[6][7] The first fighters flown by the air force were Dassault Mirage 5Gs.^[8]