Air Force
The Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aérea De Moçambique - FAM) was part of the national army initially, and from 1985 to 1990 was known as the People's Liberation Air Force.
Due to Mozambique's history, the air force has a history of using former Portuguese aircraft, ever since its setting-up after independence in 1975, supported by Cuba and the USSR. As such there was an inflow of Soviet-built aircraft to support the government in the civil war up to 1992. Following the ceasefire in that year the change in government policies towards Western-style economics meant that Cuban support for the Air Force dwindled and most of the aircraft have fallen into disrepair at the three main bases of Beira, Nacala and Nampula. The FAM is now effectively a token force, and the defence budget has been cut down to 1.5 of Mozambique's Gross National Product. The aircraft inventory is thus:
The number of personnel in the Air Force are estimated at 4000.
| Aircraft | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonov An-12 | light transport | 2 | ||
| Antonov An-26 | light transport | 8 | 1 stored | |
| Antonov An-24 | light transport | |||
| Shenyang F-5 | Fighter Aircraft | Shenyang F-5 | ||
| Dornier Do 28 | light transport | 3 | ||
| Mil Mi-8 | transport and attack helicopter | 2 | an additional 10 are out of service | |
| Mil Mi-24 | transport and attack helicopter | unknown | ||
| Cessna Skymaster | two-seat light observation, liaison and basic training aircraft | 2 |
Read more about this topic: Military Of Mozambique
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or force:
“Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that’s westward bound to plow the rolling sea,
To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.”
—Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933)
“‘Tis happy, therefore, that nature breaks the force of all sceptical arguments in time, and keeps them from having any considerable influence on the understanding. Were we to trust entirely to their self-destruction, that can never take place, ‘till they have first subverted all conviction, and have totally destroy’d human reason.”
—David Hume (1711–1776)