Albanian Air Force

Albanian Air Force
Forca Ajrore e Republikës së Shqipërisë
Emblem of the Albanian Air Force
Founded1928 (1928)
Country Albania
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size650 Personnel[1]
Part ofAlbanian Armed Forces
Equipment19 helicopters
9 UAVs[2]
Commanders
CommanderMajor General Ferdinant Dimo
Insignia
Roundel
Flag
Aircraft flown
HelicopterUH-60 Black Hawk, AS532 Cougar, H145, BO-105, AW109, Bell 205, Bell 206
ReconnaissanceBayraktar TB2[3]

The Albanian Air Force (Albanian: Forca Ajrore e Republikës së Shqipërisë - Air Force of the Republic of Albania) is the air force of Albania and one of the branches of the Albanian Armed Forces.

History

Early history

In 1914 the government of Albania ordered three Lohner Daimler aircraft from Austria to form an air force. As a result of the outbreak of World War I, the order was cancelled. Albania did not have the resources to start the development of a proper Air Force during the 1920s and 1930s. After the establishment of the Albanian Kingdom in 1928, King Zog formed the Royal Albanian Air Corps under the direction of the Royal Albanian Army.

After its launch, the group was provided with four Albatros C.XV/L.47s and one Albatros C.XV/L.47b, but they were never put into full service.

The Royal Air Force, and the rest of Albanian armed forces, were abolished following the Italian invasion of Albania.[4]

Socialist Albania

After World War II, the Albanian Air Force finally came into existence on 24 April 1951 when Albania was equipped with Soviet aircraft.[5] The first squadron was equipped with Yak-9Ps. The first jet fighter to enter service was the MiG-15bis, entering service on 15 May 1955, followed by the MiG-17F. Some of the MiG-15s were Soviet fighters used and then withdrawn from the North Korean Air Force. The MiG-19 became the backbone of the Albanian Air Force. 12 MiG-19PM were delivered by the USSR in October 1959 and in the same year pilots and specialists were sent in the USSR to obtain training for the new aircraft. An academy was founded in Vlorë in 1962.[5] Albania cut diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union in 1962, leading to a shift to China for the supply of necessary parts to maintain its MiGs.[6] After the collapse of USSR-Albanian relations, significant numbers of Shenyang J-6 fighters (Chinese copy of the MiG-19S), were acquired from China. In the early 1970s, Albania exchanged its lot of MiG-19PM fighters with 12 more advanced, Chengdu J-7A fighters (Chinese copy of the Soviet-built MiG-21). Two of them were lost in incidents in the early 1970s and eight had problems with lack of batteries in the early 1980s.

In total, during the 70s and early 80s, the equipment of the Albanian Air Force consisted of 142 Shenyang J-6Cs, 12 Chengdu J-7As, a fighter squadron equipped with MiG-17s, a considerable number of MiG-15 (both BIS and UTI versions), and 4 Soviet-made Il-14 transport aircraft. A squadron of Shijiazhuang Y-5 was deployed in Tirana and the Air Force Academy in Vlora had two squadrons of Yak-18 for basic pilot training purposes. The helicopter component consisted in 18 Harbin Z-5 (Chinese copy of Mil Mi-4) helicopters based in Farka Tirana, meanwhile there was a single prototype of a light Harbin H-5 bomber based in Rinas.

Due to the collapse of relations between Albania and the Chinese, maintenance became extremely difficult and the number of deadly incidents involving Mikoyan fighters increased. Despite Albanian efforts and some initial success in repairing the engines of the MiGs, the lack of specific jet fuel forced authorities to start production locally, resulting in low-quality production (the first attempt was in 1961, when the Kuçova factory produced the special jet fuel (a derivative of kerosene called TSI)). The fuel shortened the lifespan of the jet engines and was often blamed as the main reason for several deadly incidents. 35 Albanian pilots lost their lives from 1955 to 2005, mainly due to mechanical failures with the MiG aircraft.

Recent history

Following the fall of communism in Albania in 1990, the air force had 200 jets and 40 helicopters, and four Il-14 transport planes.[6] In the early 1990s, 7594 Regiment became Aviation Regiment 4020, seemingly with its 1st Squadron of fighter aircraft and 2nd Squadron of Shenyang FT-5s, and Shijiazhuang Y-5s (Antonov An-2s).[7] During the 1997 uprising in Albania, seven aircraft of the airforce were destroyed and their parts were stolen.[6] In the early 90s, in an effort to keep the fighter jets flying, the Albanian Air Force received spare parts from Bulgaria and engines from the ex-GDR. By 2004, Albania still had 117 J-6C aircraft, (although most were not operational) and only 12 J-7A. The Albanian fighter jets were finally withdrawn from active service in late 2004 after the last deadly incident involving a J-6C which crashed during take-off from the military area at Mother Teresa Airport in Tirana.

By 2006, Albania had scrapped over half of its Z-5s and had signed a contract for the delivery of six Bolkow 105s over three years.[8] This acquisition allowed air force to operate with 4 Shijiazhuang Y-5s, 7 B206s, 3 B205s, 6 Bolkow 105s.[8] Currently, the Albanian Air Brigade does not operate any Soviet-era aircraft. Since 2011, 9 Shijiazhuang Y-5 have been retired from service. In 2011, the air force sold four Il-14 transport planes for scrap.[6]

In 2016, 40 retired Albanian military aircraft were prepared for auction at a future date. The aircraft for sale include a military trainer aircraft, the Yak-18, and four types of military jets – MiG-15s, MiG-17s, MiG-19s, and MiG-21s – and four Mi-4 transport helicopters. The government said there has been interest from collectors and museums, and that it will sell another 100 jets if the auction is successful. The funds generated were used to further modernise the Air Force.[6]

Retired aircraft

Fighter / Attacker

Image Aircraft Origin Type Total

168-184 Aircraft

Notes Regiment In service
Chengdu F-7A China Jet fighter 12 In the 1970s 1 F-7A pilot accedently entered Yugoslav airspace during a traning drill, he was intercepted by 2 Yugoslav Mig-21 and was forced to land in Kosovo, when landing the Yugoslav Mig-21 deployed their parachutes to stop but the Albanian F-7A pilot activated full afterburner took off and escaped back to Albania. [9][10][11] Part of Aviation Regiment 4020 (1970-1974) and Aviation Regiment 4010 (1974-2004) 1970-2004
MiG-19PM Soviet Union Jet fighter 12 Albania–Yugoslav aircraft incident (1967) Part of

Aviation Regiment 4020 Replaced by J-6

1959-1965
MiG-17F Soviet Union Jet fighter 12 12 Mig-17 delivered 1962[12][13] Part of

Aviation Regiment 4030

1962-?
MiG-15 and MIG-15 UTI Soviet Union Jet fighter 32-48+ 8+ Mig-15UTI and 24+ MIg-15bis. In 1957 2 Mig-15 captured a american T-33 and its pilot that violated Albanian Airspace. Part of Aviation Regiment 4020, 4030 and 4004 1955-2000
Shenyang F-6 and FT-6 China Jet fighter 65-71+ Chinese variant of Mig-19. [14][15][16][17] Part of Aviation Regiment 4010, 4020 and 4030 1965-2004
Shenyang F-5 and Shenyang FT-5 China Jet fighter 35+ 13 F-5 and 22 FT-5 [18][19][20] Part of Aviation Regiment 4010 4020 and 4030 1970-2004

Bombers

Image Aircraft Origin Type Total 1 Aircraft Units Regiment In service
Harbin H-5 China Bomber 1 Aviation Regiment 4020 operated 1[21] Part of Aviation Regiment 4020 Retired
Ilyushin Il-28 Soviet Union Bomber 1 operated 1 but traded it for 1 Harbin H-5 [22] Part of Aviation Regiment 4020 Retired

Helicopters

Image Aircraft Origin Type Total 80+ Aircraft Units Regiment In service
Bell 212 United States Helicopter Unknown Retired
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil France Helicopter Unknown[23] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired
Harbin Z-5 China Helicopter 37 Z-5 of those 31 were Z-5A variants and 6 were Z-5D.[24][25][26][27][28] Part of Aviation Regiment 4040 Retired
Mil Mi-1 Soviet Union Helicopter 2 2 units delivered 1957[29][30] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired
Mil Mi-4 Soviet Union Helicopter 41 41 Mil Mi-4 but 1 was lost in a accident[31][32][33] Part of Aviation Regiment 4040 and 4050 Retired
Mil Mi-8T Soviet Union Helicopter Unknown Mil Mi-8T [34] Possible in service

Trainer

Image Aircraft Origin Type Total 208 Aircraft Units Regiment In service
Yakovlev Yak-9 Soviet Union Propeller fighter 84 72 aircraft and 12 Yak-9V trainer[35][36] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired
Yakovlev Yak-18 Soviet Union Trainer 10 4 Yak-18 delivered 1951 and 6 Yak-18A delivered 1959 [37] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired
Yakovlev Yak-11 Soviet Union Trainer 6 6 Recived in 1953 [38] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired
Nanchang CJ-6 China Trainer 30 10 BT-6, 20 BT-6A [39][40] Part of Aviation Regiment 4004 Retired
Polikarpov Po-2 Soviet Union Trainer 78 78 Aircraft recived between 1950-1966[41][42][43] Part of Aviation Regiment 4050 Retired 1985

Transport

Image Aircraft Origin Type Total 4+ Aircraft Units Regiment In service
Ilyushin Il-14 Soviet Union Transport 4 4 Units, 2x Il-14 from Soviet Union, 1x Avia 14T from Czechoslovakia, 1x VEB Il-14P from East Germany.[44][45] Part of Aviation Regiment 4020 and 4050 Retired 2002
Lisunov Li-2 Soviet Union Transport Unknown Retired
Shijiazhuang Y-5 (or Nanchang Y-5) China Transport Unknown Part of Aviation Regiment 4020 and 4050 Retired

Current Equipment

Aircraft

See also: List of Albanian Air Force aircraft
See also: List of equipment of the Albanian Armed Forces

The Albanian Air Force has retired all of its fixed-wing aircraft and now operates several types of helicopters.

Image Aircraft Origin Type In service Notes
AgustaWestland AW109 Italy SAR / Utility 1[2]
Bell 205 Italy Multipurpose utility 3[2]
Bell 206 Italy Utility 3[2]
MBB Bo 105 Germany Light utility 4[2]
Airbus Helicopters H145 Germany Light utility 2[2]
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar France Utility 4[2]
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk United States Utility 2[2] 4 on order[2]

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Image Aircraft Origin Type In service Notes
Unmanned aerial vehicles
RQ-20 Puma United States UAV 6[46]
Magni X Israel micro-UAS Unknown [47]
Thor Israel UAS Unknown [48]
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey UCAV 3[49] 6+ on order, UAV ground control station is installed in Kuçova Air Base[49]
Byker YIHA-III Turkey

Pakistan

Loitering munition 800 (First Batch)
Other 2400 to be delivered 		On October 10th 2024 Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Turkey will donate "a significant number of kamikaze drones" to Albania, on the sidelines of a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his official visit to Tirana. Rama did not specify the number of drones, but emphasised that "no one should be concerned about who will strike Albania, but in the context of our relations, it is a gift from Turkey. Rama also said that the acquisition of an unspecified number of Turkish kamikaze drones does not mean “Albania will attack anyone.” A spokesperson for the government contacted by Reuters was unable to provide any further details on the number or type of drones. [3][4][5]

On March 2025. The Albanian Minister of Defense has posted video on their youtube channel where the AAF were operating the YIHA Kamikaze Drone from Turkey. The drone has a range of 60+ Km[50]

Radars

As of November 2020, Albania Air Force operates a AN/FPS-117 Long-range radar system on Mida mountain , which was a joint investment of Albania and the US through Lockheed Martin with $19 million coming from Albania and $3 million from the US. The radar is integrated into the NATO Integrated Air Defense System.[51]

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Albanian Armed Forces

The air force's headquarters is located in Tirana and it operates three airbases: Tirana Air Base with the national Control and Reporting Centre, which reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Torrejón in Spain, Kuçovë Air Base, and Lapraka Air Base, home to the government's transport helicopters.[52]

Ranks

Officer ranks

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Albanian Air Force[56]
Gjeneral lejtant Gjeneral major Gjeneral brigade Kolonel Nënkolonel Major Kapiten Toger Nëntoger

Other ranks

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Albanian Air Force[56]
Kryekapter Kapter Rreshter Tetar Nëntetar Ushtar IV Ushtar III Ushtar II Ushtar I

Roundels

  • Roundels of Albanian Air Force (1946–1992)
  • (1946–1958)
  • (1958–1960)
  • (1960–1992)
  • (1960–1992)
  • Fin flash (1946–1960)

See also

References

  1. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 72. ISBN 9781032508955.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hoyle, Craig (2025). World Air Forces 2026 (Report). FlightGlobal. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Shqipëria merr 3 dronët e parë Bayraktar, do të përdoren për misione ushtarake, policore dhe civile". Tv Klan. 1 March 2024.
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  6. ^ a b c d e Semini, Llazar (6 March 2016). "Albania, once Europe's most isolated country under a 50-year Communist regime, is selling dozens of obsolete Eastern Bloc military jets". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  7. ^ Aeroflight (17 September 2004). "Aviation Regiment 4020 (7594 Regiment)". Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b Lofting, Chris; Coupland, John. "Albania 2006". baes.org.uk/. British Aviation Enthusiasts Society. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
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  10. ^ "Chengdu F-7A/MiG-21F-13, Rinas AFB, Albania". YouTube. 31 December 1969. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare – Fly Dardania". 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  12. ^ Gordon, Yefim (2002). Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17: The Soviet Union's Jet Fighter of the Fifties. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 1-85780-107-5.
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  16. ^ Koleka, Benet (12 October 2018). "Albania's graveyard of MiGs to become NATO air base". Reuters. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  17. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (1 April 2019). "Albania's Ghost Air Force Is Up for Sale, But It Doesn't Look So Good". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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  23. ^ "Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil", Wikipedia, 17 February 2026, retrieved 17 February 2026
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  25. ^ Hoyle, Craig (2025). World Air Forces 2026 (Report). FlightGlobal. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  26. ^ Wragg, David (2011). The World Air Power Guide. Casemate Publishers. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-84468-784-8.
  27. ^ Wragg 2011, p. 50.
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  47. ^ [1]
  48. ^ [2]
  49. ^ a b "Bayraktar drones have arrived in Albania, announces defense minister". Euronews Albania. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  50. ^ "Aircraft | Drones". Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  51. ^ "Mida Mountain Radar has been activated. Xhaçka: We have a completed view of the Albanian Territory". Ministry of Defence. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  52. ^ Komanda Forcave Ajrore Shqiptare Archived 13 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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  55. ^ a b https://www.aaf.mil.al/komanda-e-faj/141-struktura/6954-2024-02-21-12-30-20
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