The Lebanese Air Force was first established in 1949, following the Israeli War of Independence on Lebanon’s southern border. The force was initially tasked with internal policing duties, operating from former French Air Force bases. In 1953 Vampire jet fighter-bombers and trainers began to arrive. These were later replaced by Hawker Hunters and in 1968 Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighter-bombers entered service. The civil war which began in the mid-1970s saw the military intervention of both Syria and Israel. During the civil war, the LAF became a largely helicopter force. Since the end of the civil war in the late 1990s, a number of fixed-wing aircraft have been returned to service and orders have been placed for additional equipment.
Take delivery of 3 Cessna 208 Caravan transports.
Take delivery of ten MiG-29s from Russia to replace the Hunters.
Take delivery of 10 SA330 Pumas from UAE.
The Lebanese military serial numbering system consists of a letter prefix and a three digit mumber, e.g. L-160 for Vampire T.55 and L-1006 for UH-1H. The letter ‘L’ identifies Lebanon. The serials are not reused once a type has been retired.
Air Force Command, Yarzeh, Beirut.
The LAF is organised into seven Squadrons located at three air bases.
The main air bases currently used are Beirut Airport, Kleiat and Rayak.
In addition to the main bases, here are also a number of smaller airfields around the country which are sometimes used by the Air Force.
Lebanese Military Aviation Bibliography – to be added.
This page gives details of some of the aircraft types that were offered or promised to the Lebanese Air Force but not delivered, cancelled official orders, and types have been falsely reported as being in service.
Six examples were reportedly delivered in 1983.
Some AB204Bs were reportedly in service 1968 to 1971.
Some O-1s were reportedly in service 1966 to 1975.
Six Tiger Moths were reportedly donated by Iraq and used 1957-1966, but there is no evidence to support this.
Ten examples were offered by Russia in 2008, but during negotiations with the Lebanese Government in 2010 were replaced by Mi-24 helicopters.
Two examples were reportedly in service at some time.
Some reports say that a few examples of the Czech-built version of the Fi-156 Storch, the K-65 Cap, were received in the late 1940s.