Albanian Air Force

Albanian Air Force Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare
Active	1955 – Today
Country	Albania
Allegiance	Republic of Albania
Type	Air Force
Part of	Albanian Armed Forces
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Astrit Jaupi
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	MiG-15, MiG-17, J-5, / retired 2005
Bomber	H-5 / retired 1997
Fighter	MiG-19, Shenyang J-6C / retired 2005
Interceptor	Chengdu J-7 / retired 2005
Patrol	BO-105
Trainer	Agusta AB 206, CJ-6
Transport	Il-14, Mil Mi-4, Harbin Z-5 / retired 2005 Agusta AB 205, Y-5

The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. Currently it operates under the Albanian Joint Forces Command and it is regrouped in the Albanian Air Brigade. The headquarters is located in Tirana and it operates two airbases, Kuçova Air Base and Tirana Air Base.^[1]

History

Military aviation started in Albania in 1914, when the Albanian government ordered three Lohner Daimler aircraft from Austria to form the Albanian Air Corps. As a result of the outbreak of World War I, the order was cancelled. Albania did not have the resources to restart the development of a proper Air Force during the 1920s and 1930s.

After World War II, the Albanian Air Force finally came into existence when Albania was equipped with Soviet aircraft. The first squadron was equipped with Yakovlev Yak-9s. The first jet fighter to enter service was the MiG-15, dating officially the 15th of May 1955, followed by the MiG-17. Some of the MiG-15s were Soviet fighters used and then withdrawn from the North Korean Air Force. The backbone of the Albanian Air Force jet fighters became MiG-19, NATO code "Farmer". 12 MiG-19PM were delivered by the USSR in October 1959 and on the same year pilots and specialists were sent in USSR to train with the allweather interceptor MiG-19 PM. After the collapse of USSR-Albanian relations, significant numbers of Shenyang J-6 fighters (Chinese copy of the MiG-19S), were delivered from China. In the early 70s, Albania exchanged its lot of Soviet made MiG-19PM (NATO code "Farmer-E"/beam-riding missiles equipped), with 12, more advanced, Chengdu J-7A fighters (Chinese copy of the Soviet built MiG-21). Two of them were lost in incidents in the early 70s, eight had problems with lack of batteries in the early 80s.

In total, during the 70s and early 80s, the Albanian Air Force was able to deploy 142 Shenyang J-6C, 42 Chengdu J-7A, a fighting squadron equipped with 70 MiG-17, a considerable number of MiG-15 (both BIS and UTI versions), and 12 Soviet made transport aircraft Il-14. A squadron of Shijiazhuang Y-5 was deployed in Tirana and the Air Force Academy in Vlora had 2 squadrons of Yak-18 for basic pilot training purposes. The Helicopter component consisted in 67 helicopters Harbin Z-5 based in Farka Tirana, meanwhile there was a for prototype of a light H-5 bomber based in Rinas.

A Shenyang J-6C fighter

Agusta-Bell AB205

Due to relations collapse between Albania and the Chinese, maintenance became extremely difficult and the number of deadly incidents involving Mikoyan fighters increased. Despite Albanian efforts and some initial success in repairing and converting the engines of the MiGs, the lack of specific jet fuel forced the Albanians to start production in a national scale, but without having the proper technological and Yugoslavian-Russian sabotage thus resulting in a low-quality production (The first attempt dates on 1961, when the Kuçova factory produced the special Jet kerosene called TSI). Such fuel conditioned the life-time of the jet engines and often was blamed as the main reason of the deadly incidents (35 Albanian pilots lost their life from 1955 to 2005 mainly due to MiG's mechanical failures). In the early 90s, in an effort to keep the MiGs flying, the Albanian Air Force received spare parts from Bulgaria and engines from the ex-GDR. As of 2004, Albania still had 117 J-6C aircraft, although most were not operational and only 24 Chengdu J-7A in flying condition.^[2] The Albanian fighter jets were definitively withdrawn from active service in late 2004 after the last deadly incident involving a J-6C during take-off from the military area at Mother Teresa Airport in Tirana. Since November 2006, the Air Force operates in a new structure, the Albanian Air Brigade, which is part of the Albanian Joint Forces Command. Currently, the Albanian Air Brigade does not operate any old Soviet aircraft, but uses modern NATO fighters. Part of the same Brigade is also an Air Defence Battalion equipped with 37 mm Antiaircraft artillery. The MANPADS have already been retired from active service on 2008, due to aging factor. The high-altitude surface-to-air HQ-2 – Hong Qian missiles, a modified version of the Lavochkin S-75 (Russian С-75, NATO reporting name SA-2 Guideline), have also been withdrawn from service and are in storage if nedded. 9 Shijiazhuang Y-5 are currently in service, aiming to a small future parachute capability for some of the country's elite forces.

Albania receive 8 MiG-23 from Luftwaffe in 1994 and bout 18 more from Ukraine in 2000. All of them undergone updates with Israeli electronics/radars and completed training in Turkey and Ukraine. All of 26 MiG-23 are in storage and pristine condition if needed ready to go. Also Albanian Air force in difficulties to maintain their old MiG fleet, went shopping for parts and update 40 MiG-19 only for training, before entering in NATO the Air force did a smart move bot from China 36 J-7(MiG-21) build new in 2000/2001 all of them are in storage to, due to NATO requirements can't be used. But it is a value asset to defend the small Albanian air space if needed.

Former Soviet and Chinese aircraft

Deployment of the Albanian Air Force until 2005

See also

• List of Albanian Air Force aircraft
• Albanian Armed Forces
• Albanian Land Forces
• Albanian Naval Defense Forces

References

External links

• Albanian Air Force official site

v t e Albania topics Index Outline Symbols Flag Coat of arms People Language List of Albanians Albanian diaspora Kosovo refugees Albanian Americans Arbëreshë people Arvanites Writers Enver Hoxha Mother Teresa Ismail Qemali Sali Berisha Skanderbeg Ismail Kadare History Origins Praevalitana Epirus Nova Middle Ages Albania under the Bulgarian Empire Albania under the Serbian Empire Principality of Arbër Kingdom of Albania Albanian Principalities in Middle Ages League of Lezhë Venetian Albania Ottoman Albania Albanian Pashaliks Massacre of the Albanian Beys Albanian National Awakening Revolts of 1833–1839 Revolt of 1843–1844 Revolt of 1847 League of Prizren League of Peja Revolt of 1910 Battle of Deçiq Independence Declaration Independent Albania Provisional Government of Albania Albania during the Balkan Wars Principality of Albania (1914–1925) Italian protectorate over Albania Vlora War Republic of Mirdita Albanian Republic (1925–1928) Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939) Albania under Italy (Invasion Colonization) Albania under Germany Resistance Communist Albania (1946–1992) Post-Communist Albania (since 1992) Timeline Politics Constitution Heads of State Prime Minister Parliament Political parties Elections (2007) Counties Districts Municipalities Foreign relations History of Kosovo Kosovo War Corruption LGBT rights Geography Cities: Tirana Geographical regions: Northern Mountain Range Southern Mountain Range Western Lowlands Central Mountain Range Mountains: Mount Dajti Golem Korab Dinaric Alps Mount Korab Tomorri Mountain Seas: Adriatic Sea Ionian Sea Rivers: Drin River Buna River Vjosë Black Drim Lakes: Lake Skadar Lake Ohrid Lake Prespa Lagoons: Karavasta Narta Plains: Myzeqe Korçë Plain Zadrima Capes: Cape of Gjuhëz Cape of Rodon National Parks: Butrint Lura Llogara Thethi Valbona Valley Shebenik-Jabllanica Fir of Hotova Karaburun-Sazan Economy Agriculture Albanian lek International rankings of Albania Telecommunications Transport Banks Rail Transport Tourism Military Military Air Force Rapid Reaction Brigade Naval Defense Forces Joint Forces Command Support Command Culture Languages Nationalism Literature Art Cinema Costume Cuisine Emigration Music Sports Smoking Holidays Religion Television Radio Mythology Epic Poetry Religion Islam Albanian Orthodox Church Roman Catholicism Protestanism Byzantine Catholicism Categories Archaeological sites Cities Communications Culture Economy Education Geography Government History Military People Politics Politicians Religion Society Sports Transport Albania stubs Buildings and structures Category Portal WikiProject