Lebanese Air Force

The Lebanon Air Force, formally known as the Lebanese Air Force (LAF), is the air component of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was established in 1949 on the foundation of the Lebanese Air Training School, which was formed in 1946. Initially equipped with a small fleet of British-made aircraft, such as the Hawker Audax and Hawker Fury, the LAF has undergone several reorganizations and modernizations over the years. In the 1950s and 1960s, it expanded its capabilities with the acquisition of French-made Dassault Ouragan and Hawker Hunter jets. Subsequently, the LAF incorporated Soviet aircraft, such as the MiG-21, in the 1970s. Currently, the LAF operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including combat jets (such as the A-29 Super Tucano), attack helicopters (such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra), transport planes (such as the Cessna 208 Caravan), and utility helicopters (such as the Bell UH-1). The LAF primarily focuses on defense and surveillance missions within Lebanon's borders, safeguarding the country's airspace and supporting ground forces when necessary.

Key facts

Official Name	Lebanese Air Force
Local Name	القوات الجوية اللبنانية (Al Quwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniya)
Country	🇱🇧 Lebanon
World rank	#81
Active aircrafts	78 (as of 2024)
Aircrafts on order	0
Roundel

Number of active aircrafts by type

Aircraft type	Active
Helicopters	60
Training	9
Combat aircrafts	9

Aircrafts most used by Lebanese air forces

Aircraft	Active	Type
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"	35	American utility helicopter, essential in the Vietnam War, extensively employed for medevac, transport, and combat operations.
SA330 Puma	11	French medium-lift utility helicopter with extensive global service in troop transport since the late 1960s.
SA340 Gazelle	8	French light utility helicopter, known for its extensive use in military and civil applications since its 1960s introduction.
EMB 312 Tucano	6	Brazilian military trainer aircraft, utilized heavily in the 1980s, known for participation in the Iran–Iraq war.
MD-500	6	American light helicopter, renowned during the Cold War era, predominantly deployed for law enforcement and utility applications.
R44 Raven	6	American light, four-seat helicopter, extensively used worldwide for civilian operations, military training, and police usage since the 1990s.
Bulldog	3	Scottish trainer aircraft, operational during the late twentieth century, extensively deployed in military and civilian flight training.
208 Caravan	3	American utility aircraft, primarily deployed for passenger and cargo transportation, known for its operational history since the 1980s.

Full inventory in 2024