View source for Zambia Air Force

{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name= Zambian Air Force
|image=[[File:Roundel of Zambia.svg|160px]]
|caption=Air Force roundel
|dates= 1968 - ''present''
|country= [[Zambia]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Air force]]
|type=
|role=
|size= 
|command_structure=
|garrison= [[Lusaka]]
|garrison_label=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Commanders -->
|current_commander= Erick Chimese<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trulyzambian.com/news/president-sata-suspends-two-contracts-9973|title=President Sata Suspends Two Contracts|work=Truly Zambian}}</ref>
|current_commander_label= 
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief_label=
|notable_commanders= [[Lieutenant General]] [[Ronnie Shikapwasha]]
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol= 
|identification_symbol_label= 
|identification_symbol_2= [[File:Zambia Air Force Ensign.svg|100px]] 
|identification_symbol_2_label= Ensign
<!-- Aircraft -->
|aircraft_attack= [[MiG-21]]
|aircraft_bomber= [[MiG-19]]
|aircraft_electronic=
|aircraft_fighter= [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21MF]]
|aircraft_interceptor=
|aircraft_recon= 
|aircraft_patrol=
|aircraft_trainer= [[Aermacchi SF.260]], [[Hongdu K-8 Karakorum]]
|aircraft_transport= [[Antonov An-26]], [[Harbin Y-12]], [[Xian MA60]]
}}

The '''Zambian Air Force''' ('''ZAF''') is the [[air force]] of [[Zambia]] and the air operations element of the [[Zambian Defence Force]]. Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former '''Northern Rhodesian Air Wing''' was renamed as the '''Zambia Air Wing''' which lasted until 1968.  The Zambian Air Force was then established.<ref>http://www.air-britain.com/zambia.pdf</ref>

The primary missions of the Air Force are to defend Zambia's borders and protect its airspace. In addition, it provides various forms of air support to other government departments. It also flies reconnaissance, trooping and transport missions for the police and airlifts medical supplies and personnel to inaccessible areas. Finally, the organisation provides emergency transport whenever needed. One of the more recent relief operations mounted by the Air Arm occurred in early 2007, when it came to the aid of flood victims in the North-Western Province. 

The IISS Military Balance 2013 lists the following aircraft, all with 'very low serviceability':<ref>IISS Military Balance 2013, 539.</ref>

==Aircraft==
=== Current inventory ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat Aircraft]]
|-
| [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| fighter
| 
| 10<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34">{{cite web |last = |first = |url= http://forms.flightglobal.com/WorldAirForces2015?product=PREM&mode=DOWNLOAD&DMDcode=FGWC4&fcid=%7B05ceef25-b72e-4bea-9a83-a7ab7d02e55a%7D_FC078_PREM_201412&fcfileext=pdf |title = World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34|work= |publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2015 |doi = |accessdate= 27 May 2015}}</ref>
| MiG-21-2000<ref>{{cite web |last = |first = |url=http://www.mig-21.de/english/inservice.htm#zambia |title = Mig21 in Service|work= |publisher= |year= |doi = |accessdate= }}</ref>
|-
| [[Shenyang J-6]]
| [[People's Republic of China]]
| light attack
| [[Shenyang J-6#Variants|F-6A]]
| 8<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
| licensed built [[MiG-19]]
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Military transport aircraft |Transport]]
|-
| [[Dornier Do 228]]
| [[Germany]]
|transport  
|
|5<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|
|-
| [[Xian MA60|MA60]]
| [[China]]
| utility transport
|
| 1<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|
|-
|[[Harbin Y-12]]
| [[China]]
|transport
|
|8<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Helicopters]]
|-
| [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|Bell 205]]
| [[United States]]
| utility
|
| 14<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|
|-
|[[Harbin Z-9]]
| [[China]]
|utility
|
|3<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|licensed built [[Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin]] 4 on order
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer Aircraft]]
|-
| [[Shenyang J-6|J-6]]
| [[People's Republic of China]]
| jet trainer
| [[Shenyang J-6#Variants|FT-6]]
| 2<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
| 
|- 
| [[Hongdu JL-8]]
| [[China]]
|jet trainer
|[[Hongdu JL-8#Variants|K-8]]
| 16<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|
|-
|[[SIAI-Marchetti SF.260| SF.260TW]]
| [[Italy]]
| trainer 
|
|6<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|6 on order<ref name="AFMFEB16">{{cite book|title=[[AirForces Monthly]]|year=February 2016|publisher=[[Key Publishing|Key Publishing Ltd]]|location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]]|pages=4}}</ref> 
|-
|[[Hongdu L-15]]
| [[China]]
|jet trainer
|
|
|6 on order<ref name=" World Air Forces 2015 pg. 34"/>
|}

Few details are available on force deployment, but combat elements are understood to be located at [[Lusaka]] (K-8), [[Mbala, Zambia|Mbala]] (F-6) and [[Mumbwa]] (MiG-21), with the small fleet of transport aircraft and utility helicopters also reportedly stationed at [[Lusaka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Southern-Africa/Air-force-Zambia.html|title=Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS|publisher=}}</ref>

==Air Force commanders==
*? to 1997 Lieutenant General [[Ronnie Shikapwasha]]<ref>http://allafrica.com/stories/199712020034.html</ref>
*c. 2001 Lieutenant General Sande Kayumba
*? to 2006 Lieutenant General Christopher Singogo<ref name="peopledaily">{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200608/26/eng20060826_297015.html|title=People's Daily Online  -- Zambian president fires air force commander|publisher=}}</ref>
*2006 to 2010 Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala<ref name="peopledaily"/><ref name="lusakatimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/04/07/rb-retires-defence-chiefs-deputies/|title=Zambia : President Banda retires top defense Chiefs(corrected)|publisher=}}</ref>
*2010 to 2011 Major General Andrew Sakala<ref name="lusakatimes"/><ref>http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/index.php/politics/1084-zra-boss-suspended</ref>
*2011 to ''present'' Lieutenant General Erick Chimese<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trulyzambian.com/news/president-sata-suspends-two-contracts-9973|title=President Sata Suspends Two Contracts|work=Truly Zambian}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Military of Zambia|Air force]]
[[Category:Aviation in Zambia|Air force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1968]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in Zambia]]