"Lean Together"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
, battles = *
1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
The 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War was a two month long conflict between the Somali Republic and the Ethiopian Empire. Fighting erupted in multiple locations on the border following support by the Somali government to insurgents in the Og ...
*
Shifta War
*
Ogaden War
*
Somaliland War of Independence
The Somaliland War of Independence ( so, Dagaalkii Xoraynta Soomaaliland, lit=Somaliland Liberation War) was a rebellion waged by the Somali National Movement against the ruling military junta in Somalia led by General Siad Barre lasting from i ...
*
1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
The 1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War occurred between June and August 1982 when Ethiopia, sending a 10,000 man invasion force backed by warplanes and armored units, supported by thousands of SSDF rebels invaded Central Somalia. The United Stat ...
*
Isaaq genocide
*
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
, decorations =
, battle_honours =
, battle_honours_label =
, flying_hours =
, website =
, commander1 =
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ( so, Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud, ar, حسن شيخ محمود; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022. He is the founder and current chairman of the Union for ...
, commander1_label =
Commander-in-Chief
, commander2 =
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
Odowaa Yusuf Rageh
, commander2_label =
Chief of the Armed Forces
, commander3 = Brigadier General Mohamud Sheikh Ali
, commander3_label =
Chief of the Air Force
, notable_commanders = Brigadier General
Ali Matan Hashi
Ali Matan Hashi (1927–1978; so, Cali Mataan Xashi, ar, علي متان حاشي), also known as Ali Matan, was a Somali senior military official and politician. He was the first Somali pilot, and a prominent member of the Supreme Revolutiona ...
, identification_symbol =
![Roundel of Somalia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Roundel_of_Somalia.svg)
, identification_symbol_label =
Roundel
A roundel is a circular disc used as a symbol. The term is used in heraldry, but also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of diff ...
, identification_symbol_2 =
![Flag of Somalia (vertical)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Flag_of_Somalia_%28vertical%29.svg)
, identification_symbol_3 =
![Flag of the Somali Air Force](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Flag_of_the_Somali_Air_Force.png)
, identification_symbol_2_label =
Fin Flash
Military aircraft insignia are insignia applied to military aircraft to identify the nation or branch of military service to which the aircraft belong. Many insignia are in the form of a circular roundel or modified roundel; other shapes such as ...
, identification_symbol_3_label = Flag of the Air Force
, aircraft_attack =
, aircraft_bomber =
, aircraft_fighter =
, aircraft_helicopter =
, aircraft_interceptor =
, aircraft_patrol =
, aircraft_recon =
, aircraft_trainer =
, aircraft_transport =
, colors =
, colors_label = Ensign
The Somali Air Force (SAF; so, Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed,
Osmanya: 𐒋𐒕𐒆𐒖𐒑𐒖𐒆𐒖 𐒋𐒘𐒇𐒏𐒖 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒜𐒆, CCS; ar, القوات الجوية الصومالية, ''Al-Qūwāt al-Gawwīyä as-Ṣūmālīyä'') is the
air force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
of
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. Called the Somali Aeronautical Corps (SAC) during its pre-independence period (1954–1960), the ''Somali Air Force'' was renamed as such after Somalia gained independence in 1960.
Ali Matan Hashi
Ali Matan Hashi (1927–1978; so, Cali Mataan Xashi, ar, علي متان حاشي), also known as Ali Matan, was a Somali senior military official and politician. He was the first Somali pilot, and a prominent member of the Supreme Revolutiona ...
, Somalia's first pilot and person principally responsible for organizing the SAF, was its founder and served as its first Chief. At one point, the Somali Air Force had the strongest airstrike capability in the
Horn of Africa. But by the time
President Siad Barre fled
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...
in 1991, it had completely collapsed. The SAF headquarters was technically reopened in 2015.
History
Following an agreement signed between the Somali and Italian governments in 1962, Somali airmen began training in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
with the assistance of Italian technical staff and pilots.
[Italy. Centro di documentazione, ''Italy. Servizio delle informazioni, Italy; documents and notes, Volume 14'', (Centro di documentazione: 1965), p.460.] At the time, fifty Somali cadets also started training in the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
as
jet pilots, later joined by over two hundred of the nation's elite
NCOs
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
and
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
for general military training.
[John Gordon Stewart Drysdale, ''The Somali dispute'', (Pall Mall Press: 1964)] Most of the newly trained personnel then returned to Somalia.
The ''Corpo Aeronautico della Somalia'' was established in the 1950s, and was first equipped with a small number of Western aircraft, including two
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained ...
s, eight
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper Dakota paratroop variants, two
Beech C-45 Expeditor
The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November ...
s for transport tasks, two
North American T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air force ...
s (H model), two
Stinson L-5 Sentinels, and six
North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
s for use as
fighter aircraft. However, all the surviving Mustangs were returned to Italy before Somalia gained its independence in June 1960. The Aeronautical Corps was officially renamed the Somali Air Force in December 1960. Two
Heliopolis Gomhouria light aircraft soon arrived from Egypt (Egyptian-built Zlin 381 Czech licence versions of the German
Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann), and eight
Piaggio P.148 trainers were donated by Italy in 1962.
On 15 October 1969, while paying a visit to the northern town of
Las Anod
Las Anod ( so, Laascaanood; ar, لاسعانود) is the administrative capital of the Sool, Somaliland, Sool region of Somaliland.
Territorial dispute
The city is disputed by Puntland and Somaliland. The former bases its claim due to the ki ...
, Somali President
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke
Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke ( so, Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke, ar, عبد الرشيد علي شارماركي) (8 June 1919 – 15 October 1969), also known as Abdirashid Shermarke, was Prime Minister of Somali Republic from 12 July 1960, to 14 J ...
was shot dead by one of his bodyguards. A military
coup d'état
A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...
took place on October 21, 1969, the day after his funeral, in which the
Somali Army
The Somali National Army ( Somali: ''Xooga Dalka Soomaaliyeed,'' lit. ''"Somali Ground Forces"'') is the ground forces component of the Somali Armed Forces, and is the largest out of the three service branches that make up the majority of the A ...
seized power without encountering armed opposition. The putsch was spearheaded by Major General
Mohamed Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...
, who at the time commanded the army. Barre then proclaimed Somalia a
socialist
Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the ...
state and initiated rapid
modernization programs. Numerous Somali airmen were sent abroad to train in countries such as Italy, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, Soviet Union, and
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. After their training, many of these men went on to become the nation's leading instructors and
fighter pilots. Fifty
MiG MiG-17s were donated by the Soviets, while 29
MiG-21MFs were purchased by the Somali government.
Asli Hassan Abade
Asli Hassan Abade was the first African woman Air Force pilot in whole of Africa and middle east. She is a Somali Air force pilot, military figure, and civil activist. She was the first and so far the only female pilot in the Somali Air Force (S ...
was the first female pilot in the Somali Air Force. She received training on single-propellor aircraft, and later earned a scholarship to study at the
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and U ...
.
In July 1975, according to
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a British research institute or think tank in the area of international affairs. Since 1997, its headquarters have been Arundel House in London, England.
The 2017 Global Go To Think ...
estimates, the Somali Air Force had three
Il-28 bombers (confirmed in 2015 by author Tom Cooper), two fighter-ground attack squadrons with two
MiG MiG-15s and a total of 23
MiG-17s and
MiG-19s; a fighter squadron with 24
MiG-21s; a transport squadron with three
Antonov An-2s and three
An-24/26s; a helicopter squadron with
Mil Mi-2s,
Mi-4s and
Mi-8s; other survivors of the early SAF years reportedly included three C-47s, one C-45, and six Italian Piaggio P.148s.
Ogaden War (1977–1978)
The roles of the Air Force in the late 1970s included aerial warfare and air defence.
In July 1977, the
Ogaden War broke out after Barre's government sought to incorporate the predominantly Somali-inhabited
Ogaden region in
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
into a pan-Somali
Greater Somalia. The
Somali Armed Forces
The Somali Armed Forces are the military forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Headed by the president as commander-in-chief, they are constitutionally mandated to ensure the nation's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Ch ...
invaded the Ogaden and were initially successful, capturing most of the territory. But the tide turned with the Soviet Union's sudden shift of support to Ethiopia, soon followed by nearly the entire
Eastern Bloc. The Soviets halted their supplies to Barre's regime and increased distribution of aid, weapons, and training to Ethiopia's newly-communist
Derg regime. They also brought approximately 15,000
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
n troops to assist the Ethiopian military. By 1978, the Somali troops had been pushed out of the Ogaden.
Before the war, Somalia had acquired four
Ilyushin Il-28 bombers. Flown by MiG-17 pilots, the aircraft could have played a decisive role in the conflict. Although only three of the Il-28s remained in service by the time war broke out, they supported the initial invasion. But the planes were rendered fairly ineffective because they were used to fly high-altitude bombing missions. Once the
Ethiopian Air Force
The Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) () is the air service branch of the Ethiopian National Defence Force. The ETAF is tasked with protecting the national air space, providing support to ground forces, as well as assisting civil operations during nati ...
began to contest the skies, the Il-28s were withdrawn from combat, remaining at their airfields until Ethiopian air strikes destroyed them. None of the Il-28s survived the war.
Status in 1980-1981
According to Nelson et al. in 1980, out of approximately twenty-one Somali combat aircraft, less than half a dozen — MiG-17s and MiG-21s — were reportedly kept operational by
Pakistani mechanics. Six Italian single-engine
SIAI-Marchetti SF.26OW trainer/tactical support aircraft delivered in late 1979 were reportedly grounded the following year because of the lack of
110-octane gasoline in Somalia for the
piston-engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
d aircraft. The shortage of combat aircraft was reportedly being addressed by the planned delivery of thirty Chinese
Shenyang J-6
The Shenyang J-6 ( Chinese: 歼-6; designated F-6 for export versions; NATO reporting name: Farmer) is the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft, the world's first mass-produced supersonic aircraft.
Design and ...
fighter-bombers, which began to arrive in the country in 1981.
The
Library of Congress Country Studies wrote in 1992-93 that: "..there
erenumerous unconfirmed reports of Somali-
South African military cooperation. The relationship supposedly began on December 18, 1984, when
South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha
Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha, (27 April 1932 – 12 October 2018) was a South African politician who served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era, the longest-serving in South African history. Known as a libe ...
visited Somalia to hold discussions with Barre. The two leaders reportedly signed a secret
communiqué
A press release is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public release. Press releases are also considere ...
granting
South African Airways landing rights in Somalia and the
South African Navy access to the ports of
Kismayo
Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, Maay: ''Kismanyy'', ar, كيسمايو, ; it, Chisimaio) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region.
The city is situa ...
and
Berbera
Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
. It was said that Somalia also agreed to sell South Africa eight MiG-21 fighters. In exchange, South Africa supposedly arranged to ship spare parts and ammunition for
Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft that the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...
had supplied to Somalia, and to cover the salaries of ten former
Rhodesian Air Force
The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury (now Harare) which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was the ...
pilots already in Somalia helping to train Somali pilots and technicians and flying combat missions in the north."
On 28 October 1985, a Somali MiG-21 crashed.
Civil war and Issaq genocide
By 1987-88, the Somali armed forces were fragmenting, as were wider state structures, and multiple insurgencies were growing, leading the country into the
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
.
In response to
Somali National Movement
The Somali National Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Wadaniga Soomaaliyeed, ar, الحركة الوطنية الصومالية) was one of the first and most important organized guerilla groups opposed to the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 19 ...
(predominantly
Issaq
''Issaq'' () is a 2013 Indian Hindi romantic film directed by Manish Tiwary and produced by Dhaval Gada and Shailesh R. Singh. The film, written by Padmaja Thakore-Tiwary, Manish Tiwary and Pawan Sony, was released on 26 July 2013. The film fe ...
clan) attacks on the cities of
Hargeisa
Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...
and
Burao
Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (; so, Burco, , ar, برعو) is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was also the third largest city of Somalia. Burao was the site of the declaration of an in ...
, Barre responded by ordering indiscriminate "shelling and
aerial bombardment
An airstrike, air strike or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighters, heavy bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters and drones. The offic ...
of the major cities in the northwest and the systematic destruction of Isaaq dwellings, settlements and water points".
To end what he saw as the "Isaaq problem", Barre's regime specifically targeted
civilian members of the clan, especially in Hargeisa and Burao. Atrocities his forces committed against the Isaaqs included
aerial strafing of fleeing refugees before they could reach the Ethiopian border.
Genocide
Genocide is the intentional destruction of a people—usually defined as an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group—in whole or in part. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in 1944, combining the Greek word (, "race, people") with the Lat ...
scholar
Adam Jones said the following of Barre's campaign against the Isaaq:
In two months, from May to July 1988, between 50,000 and 100,000 people were massacred by the regime's forces. By then, any surviving urban Isaaks – that is to say, hundreds of thousands of members of the main northern clan community – had fled across the border into Ethiopia. They were pursued along the way by British-made fighter-bombers piloted by mercenary South African and ex-Rhodesian pilots, paid $2,000 per sortie.
Despite the government's continued refusal to grant foreigner access to the north to report on the situation, ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' reported that Isaaq refugees had been strafed:
Western diplomats here said they believed that the fighting in Somalia... was continuing unabated. More than 10,000 people were killed in the first month after the conflict began in late May, according to reports reaching diplomats here. The Somali Government has bombed towns and strafed fleeing residents and used artillery indiscriminately, according to the officials.
Dissolution
Metz et al. 1993 wrote that in 1990, "the SAF was organized into three fighter ground-attack squadrons equipped with J-6 and Hawker Hunter aircraft; three fighter squadrons equipped with MiG-21MF and MiG-17 aircraft; a counterinsurgency squadron equipped with SF-260W aircraft; a transport squadron equipped with
An-2,
An-24
The Antonov An-24 (Russian/Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-24) ( NATO reporting name: Coke) is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport/passenger aircraft designed in 1957 in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau and manufactured by Kyiv, Ir ...
,
An-26
The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1986.Gordon, Yefim. Komissarov, Dmitry & Sergey. "Antonov's Turboprop Twin ...
,
BN-2,
C-212, and
G-222
The Aeritalia G.222 (formerly Fiat Aviazione, later Alenia Aeronautica) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The Unite ...
aircraft; and a helicopter squadron equipped with
Mi-4,
Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 (russian: Ми-8, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s and introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1968.
It is now produced by Russia.
In addition t ...
, and Agusta-Bell aircraft;" it was also equipped with a number of training aircraft. The IISS ''Military Balance'' for 1990-91 estimated that the Somali Air Force had 2,500 personnel and a total of 56 combat aircraft, listing four Hunters, 10 MiG-17s, 22 J-6s, eight MiG-21MFs, six SF-260Ws, and a single
Hawker Hunter FR.76 reconnaissance aircraft (p. 117).
By the time President Barre fled
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...
for his home region of
Gedo
Gedo ( so, Gedo, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Gethy'', ar, جيذو, it, Ghedo or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region (''States and regions of Somalia, gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. It was created in ...
in late January 1991, the country's air force had effectively ceased to exist amid the
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
. In 1993, eight MiG-21s (six MiG-21MFs and two MiG-21UMs), three MiG-15UTIs, one SF-260W and an unknown number of MiG-17 wrecks were seen at Mogadishu airport. Three Hawker Hunters (serial numbers 704, 705 and 711) were seen at
Baidoa Airport by
Australian forces during the
UNOSOM II
United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) was the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia and took place from March 1993 until March 1995, following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991.
UNOSOM II carried on ...
intervention, but later removed.
Relaunch in the 2010s
During the decades since the
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
began, former members of Barre's air force have kept in contact with each other. On October 29, 2012, 40 former senior Somali National Army and Air Force officers participated in a three-day workshop called ''Improving Understanding and Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL)'', organized by
AMISOM in
Djibouti
Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
.
In October 2014, Somali Air Force cadets underwent additional training in
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
.
On 1 July 2015,
Somali Defence Minister Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini
General Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini ( so, Cabdulkaadir Sheekh Diini, ar, عبد القادر الشيخ ضئنئ) is a Somali politician and military official. He served as Chief of Army from March 2011 to March 2013, under both the Transitional Fed ...
reopened the headquarters of the Somali Air Force in Afisone, Mogadishu, to help re-establish the air force after a quarter century of civil war.
The Somali air force is not currently operational and has no aircraft. It is composed of approximately 170 personnel: 40-50 officers, ranging from second lieutenant to colonel, and 120-130 non-commissioned officers and airmen. Turkey is delivering residential training to a group of young Somali air force personnel and intends to support further development of Somali aviation capabilities. The potential cumulative ten-year cost of redeveloping a Somali air arm is $50 million.
On 6 March 2020, Somali Brigadier General Sheikh Ali met with Pakistani Air Chief Marshal
Mujahid Anwar Khan in
Islamabad
Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital ...
to discuss cooperation efforts and
bilateral ties between the Somali Air Force and
Pakistani Air Force
, "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional)
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = ...
.
Equipment
Somali Air Force servicemen wore green flight suits with
shoulderboards indicating their rank, along with a visored pilot mask and helmet when actively flying. The Air Force would traditionally wear a sky blue (in summer) or navy blue service shirt, navy blue trousers, beret or sidecap, shoulderboards and black boots. Dress uniforms consisted of a navy blue
peaked cap
The peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It ...
, blazer, trousers, black formal shoes and tie and sky blue shirt. Servicemen would wear ribbons on their left breast, as well as Air Force insignia.
The following table uses Nelson et al.'s 1981 Somali Air Force's aircraft estimates:
The SAF purchased two
Piaggio P.166
The Piaggio P.166 is an Italian twin-engine pusher-type utility aircraft developed by Piaggio Aero. The aircraft model name was Portofino, and is also known as Albatross in South African military service.
Design and development
The basic P.16 ...
-DL3 utility aircraft and two P.166-DL3/MAR maritime patrol aircraft in 1980.
[Nicolli 2012, p. 89.]
An Air Defence Command - seemingly a fourth service - was formed by the late 1980s. In 1987, according to U.S.
DIA records, it was 3,500 strong, headquartered in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...
, with seven
AA gun
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
/
SAM brigades and one radar brigade.
Eight years later, the Somali Air Defence Force operated most of the surface-to-air missiles. As of 1 June 1989, the IISS estimated that Somali surface-to-air defence equipment included 40
SA-2 Guideline
The S-75 (Russian: С-75; NATO reporting name SA-2 Guideline) is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude air defence system, built around a surface-to-air missile with command guidance. Following its first deployment in 1957 it became one of the most w ...
missiles (operational status uncertain), 10
SA-3 Goa
The S-125 ''Neva/Pechora'' (russian: С-125 "Нева"/"Печора", NATO reporting name SA-3 ''Goa'') is a Soviet surface-to-air missile system that was designed by Aleksei Isaev to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective ra ...
, and 20
SA-7 surface-to-air missiles.
[IISS Military Balance 1989–90, Brassey's for the IISS, 1989, 113.]
Ranks of the Somali Air Force
;Officers
;Enlisted
See also
*
Somali Navy
The Somali Navy ( so, Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliyeed, ar, القوات البحرية الصومالية ''Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah as-Sumaliyah'') is the naval warfare service branch of the Somali Armed Forces. During the post-independence period, t ...
*
Somali Police Force
)
, mission =
, formedyear =
, formedmonthday =
, preceding1 = Police Corps of Somalia (1910–1960)
, employees =
, volunteers =
, budget =
, nongovernment =
, country ...
*
Somali Custodial Corps
)
, mission =
, formedyear =
, formedmonthday =
, preceding1 =
, employees =
, volunteers =
, budget =
, nongovernment =
, country = Somalia
, countryabbr = ...
Notes
References
*
* Research complete May 1992.
* Research complete October 1981.
*
*''World Aircraft Information Files Brightstar publishing London File 338 sheet 4''
*WorldAirForces.com
Historical Somali Aircraft
External links
* Court Chick & Albert Grandolini, with Tom Cooper & Sander Peeters
Somalia, 1980-1996 Air Combat Information Group, September 2, 2003.
*
Image of Somali HunterDerelict Somali MiG, 1993ASN Aircraft accident Blackburn Beverley C.1 XL151 Aden- Beechcraft missing report 1960
change of air force chief, 1975
{{Authority control
Military of Somalia
Air forces by country
Military aviation in Africa
Organizations established in 1960