Benin Air Force | |
---|---|
Forces AĆ©riennes du Benin | |
Country | Republic of Benin |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Part of | Benin Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Cotonou |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lieutenant-colonel Hermann William Avocanh |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Fin flash | |
Aircraft flown | |
Transport | de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Hawker Siddeley HS 748 |
The Benin Air Force (French: Forces AĆ©riennes du Benin or FAB) is the aerial service branch of the Benin Armed Forces. It was formed in 1960 when Benin gained independence from France as the Dahomey Air Force. The Air Force provides support to the army, primarily through transport and liaison, and presidential transportation. It has relied heavily on donations, initially from France and more recently from Belgium. During the short lived People's Republic of Benin, when it was known as the Benin People's Air Force, Soviet aircraft were acquired to demonstrate the change of political allegiance. The current operational fleet consists of two aircraft.