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Please keep coming back regularly to read about news related to the Lebanese Air Force. |
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04.02.2010 Defense Minister Elias el-Murr: The Military Cooperation agreement with Russia is ready to be signed by the end of February which will include the promised MiG-29s for the air force.
01.02.2010 A Russian military delegation will visit Lebanon during February which will discuss the signing of a military cooperation protocol between the two countries, which will include and regulate arms procurement. The MiG-29 deal for the Lebanese Air Force will be part of this wider document.
26.01.2010 While making comments on the ongoing search and rescue missions being carried out for the Ethipian Air disaster, Defense Minister Elias el-Murr is quoted as saying that the 2010 will be "the year of the air force" for the Lebanese Army.
22.01.2010 The Lebanese Air Force is expected to take delivery of the first 4 of the 10 IAR Puma helicopters donated by the UAE in February. The deliveries of the rest will be completed by mid-2010.
05.12.2009 It is currently being rumored that the US may offer a number of second hand Belgian Air Force F-16 fighters to the Lebanese Air Force to counter the present Russian offer for MiG-29 jets.
25.11.2009 The team of Russian experts tasked with inspecting and assessing the Lebanese Air Force bases, has concluded that both Kleyate and Rayak aiports are adequate in accommodating MiG-29 fighters. The team has filed a report with it's conclusions to the Lebanese military authorities which includes recommendations for some improvements in both of these airports. Some reports indicate that if the deal is finalized between Lebanon and Russia, Kleyate will become home of the LAF MiG-29 Fulcrums.
20.11.2009 Defense Minister Elias el-Murr anounced that Lebanon will have a respectable air force in 2010 which will make both the army and the people very proud of. The minister added that there are no technical issues behind the MiG-29 deal with Russia expressing his belief that the Kleyate air base in the north can accomodate these fighters without any major overhaul.
19.11.2009 The team of Russian experts has examined and inspected the Kleyat airport in the north this morning. The team will draw assessments before the deal for 10 MiG-29 fighters for the Lebanese Air Force can be finalized.
19.11.2009 During a speach in Dubai, Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji stressed out the importance of warplanes to the Lebanese army, pointing out that they can strengthen it's fighting capabilities.
19.11.2009 The MiG-29 deal for the Lebanese Air Force has gained fresh impetus in the press in the past few days with increasing reports suggesting that the first of the Russian made fighters could be delivered to Lebanon by the end of 2010.
18.11.2009 The team of Russian specialists has arrived in Lebanon and has already proceeded with the examination of the Lebanese Air Force bases this morning. The team is expected to spend several days in Lebanon.
18.11.2009 During his visit to the UAE, Defense Minister Elias el-Murr thanked the UAE for it's assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and for the donation of 10 Puma helicopters which are expected to be delivered to the Lebanese Air Force between the months of January and February.
16.11.2009 Al Markazia news agency reports that a team of Russian military experts is to visit Lebanon in the coming days to assess the Lebanese Air Force bases in Beirut, Kleyate and Rayak airports. The visit comes as a preparation for finalizing a deal between Lebanon and Russia for 10 MiG-29 fighters which was first anounced by both parties in December 2008.
01.10.2009 The Lebanese Air Force has rejected an offer made by the US earlier this year for around 10 OV-10 Bronco aircraft, according to media reports. The same sources indicate that the interest has been shifted to the EMB-314 Super Tucano attack aircraft, which is made by the Brazilian firm Embraer.
29.09.2009 According to some media reports, the Lebanese Air Force intends to establish an air force base at the defunct air strip in Hamat, Batroun. The same reports also mention that the new base may become home to the soon to be delivered Puma helicopters from the UAE.
21.09.2009 The deal for 10 Mikoyan MiG-29 multi-role fighters for the Lebanese Air Force has been put on hold indefinitely, the reasons of which remaining unknown at present.
14.08.2009 It has now been verified that the 10 OV-10 Broncos currently on offer by the US will be unarmed and will lack any weapons aiming devices and will have reconnaisance and surveillance roles. It is still unclear if these specifications fully meet the present needs of the Lebanese Air Force.
02.08.2009 According to an-Nahar daily, a team of Russian military experts are expected in Beirut next week to carry out full assessment of the Lebanese Air Force facilities at Rayak and Kleyat bases prior to the delivery of MiG-29 fighters to Lebanon.
07.07.2009 With the current and future additions of new types of aircraft to the Lebanese Air Force, History Page 7 has been added to the current website with the hope of more pages to come in the near future.
03.07.2009 According to fresh media reports, during his recent visit to Lebanon, General David Petraeus has expressed the US willingness to provide the Lebanese Air Force with 11 OV-10 Bronco light attack propeller aircraft for a total value of around 13 million US dollars. According to the same report, the US has conveyed to the UAE it's approval for the transfer of 10 BAe Hawk T.63 trainer/attack jets to the Lebanese Air Force. Read more here (Arabic).
01.07.2009 With the help of French experts, the Lebanese Air Force will put a few of the existing Fouga Magister jet trainers back into active service. These aircraft will serve as intermediate jet trainers and will serve until a suitable replacement could be acquired.
17.06.2009 Lebanon has taken delivery of it's second Sikorsky S-61N firefighting helicopter. The final and third helicopter of the same type will be delivered in a fortnight.
11.06.2009 Army commander General Jean Kahwaji will soon be heading to Doha, Qatar for talks with local officials. He is expected to discuss Qatari aid for the air force, including financing a deal with Eurocopter to do repair and provide spare parts to the exisiting Gazelle and Puma helicopters.
01.06.2009 Lebanon recieved the first of 3 Sikorsky S-61N firefighting helicopters before midnight on May 31, 2009. Two more are expected to be delivered during June 2009.
16.04.2009 The Lebanese Air Force took delivery of its first Cessna 208 Caravan at the Beirut Air Force Base. The aircraft, which is a part of US assistance program to the Lebanese Armed Forces, will be used for reconnaisence and precision attack missions.
10.04.2009 Lebanon will soon take delivery of 3 Sikorsky S-61N helicopters based in Scotland (UK). These helicopters which will be based at the Beirut AFB and will be operated by the Lebanese Air Force, will exclusively be used for firefighting missions.
08.04.2009 As reported exlusively here first on 04.01.2009, the US has confirmed the delivery of the first Cessna 208 Caravan armed with hellfire missiles to the Lebanese Air Force by the end of April 2009.
03.04.2009 A high ranking delegation headed by Lebanese Air Force commander General Samir Maalouli, is currently in an official visit to the US. It is noteworthy that the US had promised to deliver a number of armed Cessna 208 Caravans to the Lebanese Air Force.
29.03.2009 An-Nahar daily reports that the first 2 MiG-29s out of the 10 ordered for the Lebanese Air Force, will be delivered on Independence day. The daily refers the news to sources close to the Russian president without giving further details.
04.03.2009 According to al-Markazia news agency, the Lebanese Air Force is seeking a number of BAe Hawk jet trainers, primarily from the UAE. According to the same source, Saudi Arabia may also be able to provide the Hawk jets from its own inventory.
12.02.2009 After a request from the Lebanese Army command, www.lebaneseairforce.info website will be closed before Monday the 16th of February 2009.
11.02.2009 The UAE donated SA-330/IAR-330 Puma helicopters are expected to be shipped and delivered to the Lebanese Air Force in the following few weeks.
10.02.2009 The UAE will be donating 10 IAR Puma helicopters to the Lebanese Air Force. These will be delivered shortly and will be ready for active service entry.
08.02.2009 The Diyar daily reports that Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is scheduled to visit Beirut before the end of the month, to finalize the primary agreement reached in Decemebr 2008 for MiG-29 fighters deal with Lebanon.
28.01.2009 For the first time since August 1983, two Hawker Hunter jets of the Lebanese Air Force land at the Beirut AFB.
14.01.2009 After meeting his Lebanese counterpart Elias el-Murr, visiting Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa anounces that Italy will provide the Lebanese army with aircraft spare parts. It is worth mentioning that the only Italian type in the Lebanese Air Force inventory are a number of Agusta-Bell 212 helicopters stored since the mid-90s.
10.01.2009 There are renewed and fresh efforts between the UAE and Lebanon for the acquisition of a number of advanced jet trainers. Attempts made earlier in 2008 for several BAe Hawk trainers from the UAE have failed for several non-convincing reasons.
04.01.2009 The US is promising to deliver a single Cessna 208 Caravan, armed with Hellfire missiles to the Lebanese Air Force in 2009 with further 2 of the same type planned to follow in 2010.
18.12.2008 Defense Minister Elias el-Murr: Pilots from the helicopter force of the Lebanese Air Force will be transferred to fixed wing jet training, specifically to train on the MiG-29 which is expected to be delivered within 8 months.
17.12.2008 Defense Minister Elias el-Murr: The Lebanese Air Force will be equipped with Russian made helicopters as part of fleet modernization and standardization.
16.12.2008 Defense Minister Elias el-Murr anounces from Moscow that Russia has agreed to deliver 10 MiG-29 multi-role fighter jets to the Lebanese Air Force.
14.12.2008 The US will be offering the Lebanese Air Force the Cessna 208 propeller aircraft armed with Hellfire missiles and fitted with reconaissance cameras.
08.12.2008 The Kuwait based Alseyassah quoting anonynous sources, reports Russias willingness to provide Lebanon with attack helicopters and MiG-29 jet fighters. Full article in Arabic can be found here.
New, fresh and exclusive photos of the Lebanese AF Hawker Hunter jets now added here.
22.11.2008 For the first time since the early 90s, 2 Hawker Hunter jets of the Lebanese Air Force take part in the Independence Day military parade making 3 passes over Martyr Square. The air force also flies 8 UH-1H, 3 Raven II and 3 Gazelle helicopters during the parade in a special Cedar formation.
Fresh photos of the Hawker Hunter jets (November 20, 2008) added on History Page 3.
17.11.2008 Lebanese Air Force Hawker Hunter jets make low fly passes over the capital Beirut and the southern coastline to the city of Sidon.
12.11.2008 For the first time since 1994, a Lebanese Air Force Hawker Hunter jet has flown on a routine training mission from the Rayak base, making the type officially active again and restoring the fixed wing capability of the air force.
02.10.2008 In a televised interview, interior minister Ziad Baroud confirmed reports concerning the near purchase of 2 firefighting helicopters which will be operated by the Lebanese Air Force. Type and country of origin of the helicopters were not mentioned.
24.09.2008 Lebanese and US officials have reached an agreement to supply the Lebanese Air Force with AH-1 Cobra gunship helicopters. A US military delegation is expected to visit Beirut soon to finalize the deal. According to initial reports, the helicopters will fly to Lebanon via Jordan.
22.09.2008 During his visit to the US, President Suleiman will be seeking a deal for helicopter gunships, possibly AH-1 Cobras or a similar type, and push for approval from Washington for a deal for a number of US made jet fighters from a second party.
05.09.2008 According to the local media, the US is expressing willingness in supplying the air force with a number of AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. It is worth mentioning that, the Lebanese Air Force first showed interest in the AH-1 helicopter in 1983 and later in early 2006.
28.08.2008 A Lebanese Air Force helicopter has made an emergency landing after coming under fire from an unknown ground source over Tilal Sijud in Nabatieh. Lieutenant pilot Samer Hanna has been reportedly killed in the incident and 3 others in the helicopter have been wounded..
26.08.2008 A decision has been made to refurbish a number of existing Agusta Bell 212 utility helicopters. The air force hopes that up to 5 of the type can be put into service once again. The deal also includes the repair of a number of grounded Bell UH-1H utility helicopters for the past 2 or 3 years.
23.08.2008 For the first time since 1993, the Lebanese Air Force will start recruiting and training pilots for fixed wing aircraft. Because of lack of local expertees and equipment, the cadets who will be devided into small groups, will continue their basic and advanced trainings in the UAE, Egypt and Jordan and will form the core of the fighter pilots of the future. Other friendly Arab states may later contribute to the program.
21.08.2008 The Lebanese Air Force will soon be recomissioning the 3 surviving Scottish Aviation Bulldogs basic trainers into active service.
18.08.2008 Specialists from IAR will soon be conducting checks and feasibility studies on existing 2 or 3 Lebanese Air Force Puma helicopters for the purpose of overhauling these helicopters back into active service.
15.08.2008 The acquisition of Hawk trainer jets from the UAE has been dropped by the air force after studies that were carried out in the past few months. Other trainer jets are currently beeing considered which meet the air force's future plans better.
07.08.2008 As-Safir daily reports that Lebanon will soon purchase 2 Kamov Ka-32 Russian made helicopters. The interior ministry plans to raise funds to cover the cost of the firefighting helicopters which have proved their worth in the past few days in their operations in Lebanon. Link to story (Arabic)
04.08.2008 A Kamov Ka-32A dual rotor helicopter has arrived at the Beirut Air Force Base on lease, which will be used for firefighting missions alongside Lebanese Air Force UH-1H Hueys.
The Kamov Ka-32 en route to Kartaba on August 4, 2008 Photo copyright by Vatche Mitilian
23.07.2007 Majority leader MP Saad Hariri has offered the cost of leasing 2 firefighting helicopters from Cyprus for a 3 months period to the Higher Relief Council.
02.07.2008 An Agusta Westland 139 helicopter was gifted by Qatar to Lebanon which will serve as the Presidential helicopter. The VIP configured Agusta 139 will be operated by the Lebanese Air Force.
29.06.2008 Al Shiraah weekly reports of talks between Lebanese and US military officials for possible US made fighters for the air force. The report could not be independently verified.
20.06.2008 A Lebanese Air Force Gazelle helicopter has made a forced landing near Taybe (Baalbek) in the Bekaa Valley injuring two of its pilots. The helicopter, which was on a routine training mission, has been burnt and written off. Injuries of the pilots are reportedly non life threatening and the accident has been quoted to technical difficulties.
17.06.2008 Al Manar TV: For the first time since the May 17 agreement in 1983, the US is willing to provide the Lebanese Air Force with attack helicopters. So far, the US has only supplied unarmed utility helicopters to the air force.
01.06.2008 The Hawker Hunter is expected to fly again very soon as the Martin Baker ejection seat cartridges have been made available.
01.06.2008 The UAE has agreed to donate a number of Hawk jets to the Lebanese Air Force.
31.05.2008 During a surprise visit to Beirut, U.S. Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Eric Edelman told reporters that the US will supply the Lebanese Air Force a number of utility helicopters. No mention was made about the number and type of the helicopters.
03.12.2007 |
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