Yemeni Air Force
The Yemen Air Force, officially known as the Yemeni Air Defense Force, is the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Yemen. It was established in 1926 as part of the Yemeni Army, making it one of the oldest air forces in the Middle East region. Initially equipped with a mix of British, Soviet, and American aircraft, the Yemen Air Force has undergone several modernization efforts over the years. During the 1960s, it played a crucial role in the North Yemen Civil War, providing air support to ground forces. Throughout its history, the air force has participated in various conflicts, including the 1994 Yemeni Civil War and the ongoing Yemeni Crisis since 2015. The current inventory of the Yemen Air Force includes a diverse range of aircraft acquired from multiple countries, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, transport planes, and unmanned aerial vehicles. It has faced various operational challenges due to limited resources and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Key facts
| Official Name | Yemeni Air Force |
| Local Name | القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي اليمنية (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya wal Difa’a al Jawwi al Yamaniya) |
| Country | 🇾🇪 Yemen |
| World rank | #53 |
| Active aircrafts | 177 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 32 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | 76 | |
| Helicopters | 61 | |
| Training | 30 | |
| Transport | 8 | |
| Special missions | 2 | |
Aircrafts most used by Yemeni air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi-8 Hip | 34 | Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally. | |
| L-39 Albatros | 28 | Czech training jet, operational since the Cold War, deployed worldwide for various military aviation roles. | |
| MiG-29 Fulcrum | 23 | Soviet twin-engine fighter jet, notable in late Cold War clashes, widely exported and integral to various aerial engagements globally. | |
| Su-17 Fitter | 23 | Soviet-era fighter-bomber, extensively deployed in varied conflicts worldwide, known for its variable-sweep wing design and robust operational capacity. | |
| MiG-21 Fishbed | 19 | Soviet supersonic jet fighter, renowned for extensive service during the Cold War, prevalent in various international conflicts. | |
| Mi-24 Hind | 14 | Soviet attack helicopter, renowned for Cold War use, predominantly deployed for airborne assault, close combat, and anti-armour roles. | |
| F-5E Tiger II | 11 | American fighter jet, used in the Cold War era, notable for its worldwide military deployments, including operation Desert Storm. | |
| An-24 Coke | 8 | Soviet regional turboprop, noteworthy for widespread civilian and military usage during the Cold War era. | |
| UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" | 8 | American utility helicopter, essential in the Vietnam War, extensively employed for medevac, transport, and combat operations. | |
| 208 Caravan | 2 | American utility aircraft, primarily deployed for passenger and cargo transportation, known for its operational history since the 1980s. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | MiG-29 | ||
| Su-22 | |||
| MiG-21 | |||
| F-5E | |||
| Helicopters | Bell 212 | ||
| UH-1H | |||
| Mi-8/17/171 | |||
| Ka-32 | |||
| Mi-14 | |||
| Mi-25/35 | |||
| Bell 206 | |||
| Special missions | Cessna 208 (Recce) | ||
| Training | L-39 | ||
| F-5B | |||
| Transport | An-24/26 |