Active 1977-present Type Air force Part of Djibouti Armed Forces | Country Djibouti Size 360 personnel Headquarters Djibouti City | |
The Djiboutian Air Force (DAF) (French: Force Aérienne du Djibouti (FAdD)), (Somali: Ciidanka Cirka Jabuuti) is the Air Force of Djibouti. It was established as part of the Djibouti Armed Forces after the country obtained its independence on June 27, 1977. The first aircraft included three Nord N.2501 Noratlas transport aircraft, as well as a French Allouette II helicopter. The Djibouti Air Force is mandated with protecting Djibouti's airspace, and in assisting ground forces.
History
In 1982, the Djibouti Air Force was augmented by two Aerospatiale AS.355F Ecureuil 2 helicopters and a Cessna U206G Stationair followed in 1985 by a Cessna 402C Utiliner. In 1985 the Allouette II was withdrawn from use and put on display at Ambouli Air Base as Djibouti's airport is called. Two years later the three N.2501 Noratlas were also put aside and given back to France later. New equipment came in 1991 by means of a Cessna 208 Caravan followed by all the Russian types in the early nineties. They included four Mi 2, six Mi 8 and two Mi 17 helicopters and a single Antonov An 28 light transport aircraft. Pilot training, if necessary, is conducted in France and continued on the type of flying at home, although demand for new pilots is low with only approximately 250 men in the Djibouti Air Force. The DAF has no units of its own and forms as a whole a part of the Army and its sole base is Ambouli. Serials system of the Djibouti Air Force is in the civilian bracket of the J2-MAA till MAW range although most of the time only last two letters are carried.
As of 2016, the Air Force had a strength of 360 personnel, and operated a small number of transport aircraft and helicopters.