| Mauritania Islamic Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Force Aérienne Islamique de Mauritanie | |
 Mauritanian Armed Forces emblem | |
| Founded | 1960; 65 years ago (1960) |
| Country |  Mauritania |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Part of | Mauritanian Armed Forces |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | PresidentMohamed Ould Ghazouani |
| Commanding Officer | Brigadier General Hamadi Ely Maouloud[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano |
| Helicopter | Harbin Z-9 |
| Transport | Basler BT-67,Cessna 208 Caravan,Harbin Y-12,Pilatus PC-6 |
TheMauritania Islamic Air Force (French:Force Aérienne Islamique de Mauritanie orFAIM, sometimes alsoFaidem) is theair force of theArmed Forces of Mauritania. It was established in 1960. Like many of the former French colonies, Mauritania received limited economic and military aid fromFrance. The FAIM started out as a French-operated transport force, and has seen combat against thePolisario Front in the 1970s.
The Mauritania Islamic Air Force came into being shortly after the country's independence, in 1960. At that time, it was named theAviation Group of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Groupement Aérien de la République Islamique de Mauritanie). Its first aircraft were oneDouglas C-47 and severalMax Holste MH.1521 Broussards, all donated by France and operating from the airfield atNouakchott. All of the newly created air force's personnel was French. Five additional C-47s and three Broussards were bought in the following years. In 1966, the air force was officially re-designated as theMauritania Islamic Air Force (Force Aérienne Islamique de Mauritanie orFAIM for short). The purchase of sixSOCATA Rallyes allowed for the training of native pilots to begin in 1970.[2]
Thanks to the influx of newly trained native pilots and ground personnel, the FAIM grew significantly in the early 1970s. A 1971 reorganisation saw the creation of a transport squadron (operating C-47s) and a liaison squadron (operating the Broussards and seven second-handReims-Cessna Skymasters. TwoDouglas C-54s were bought in 1974, and twoShort Skyvan 3Ms followed the next year. In 1976, fourReims-Cessna FTB337Gs and fourBritten-Norman Defenders were acquired, and formed a surveillance squadron. Both of these types could be armed with gun and rocket pods. Over the years, a total of nine Defenders were bought. Subsequently, negotiations for the purchase ofFMA IA 58 Pucarás were initiated with Argentina. A contract was almost concluded, but the acquisition process was stopped due to financial considerations. However, fourde Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalos were bought in 1978.[3] As of 1976, the FAIM numbered less than 150 personnel.[4]
In 1976, thePolisario Front started to attack Mauritanian territory. Flying activity by the FAIM was intense, and in June, the second-ever foray of the Polisario in Mauritania, in the direction of the capitalNouakchott, was detected by FAIM aircraft while still underway towards its target. The Polisario convoy, comprising about 100 vehicles, thus had to retreat prematurely. Moreover, FAIM BN-2 Defenders repeatedly harassed the convoy while it was driving towards the Algerian border. However, these aircraft were vulnerable to ground fire, and on 29 December a Defender was shot down by a9K32 Strela-2MANPADS, with the whole crew being killed.[5] Another followed on 16 July 1977, with one killed; the two survivors evaded capture from the Polisario.[6] A third Defender was downed by a Strela-2 on 10 January 1978, with its pilot being killed. In early February of the same year, Defenders helped evacuate dozens of wounded soldiers from the army garrison of Tichlé, which had withstood a Polisario attack.[7]
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The war against the Polisario Front was a huge strain on the Mauritanian national budget, and it caused more and more discontent in the country, including inside of its armed forces. Two successful military coups took place in 1978 and 1979 respectively. While the war with the Polisario continued, on 27 May 1979 the junta's strongmanAhmed Ould Bouceif died in the crash of the FAIM DHC-5D that was bringing him to anECOWAS summit inDakar, together with the other 11 occupants. The new Mauritanian government then decided to stop the country's involvement inWestern Sahara, and a peace treaty between Mauritania and the Polisario Front was signed in August.[8]
The Air Force School was recently created inAtar. It was founded to train pilots, mechanics, other crewmen for the Air Force.[9]
More recent procurements have been from China in the form of theHarbin Y-12 II turboprop transports were delivered in September 1995, one crashed in April 1996. A second one crashed on July 12, 2012.[10] TheXian Y-7 (a licensed variant of theAn-24) was delivered from October 1997, which crashed in May 1998. And a SF.260 was crashed in May 2024.[citation needed]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| EMB 314 Super Tucano | Brazil | Attack /COIN | 4[11] | |||
| Reconnaissance | ||||||
| Cessna 208 | United States | Reconnaissance | 2[11] | |||
| Transport | ||||||
| Basler BT-67 | United States | Transport /Utility | 1[11] | ModifiedDC-3 withP&W PT6A Turboprop engines | ||
| Cessna 441 | United States | VIP transport | 1[11] | |||
| Pilatus PC-6 | Switzerland | Utility | 1[11] | STOL capable aircraft | ||
| CASA/IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | Transport | 2[11] | |||
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | Transport | King Air 350 | 2[11] | ||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Harbin Z-9 | China | Utility | 2[11] | |||
| AgustaWestland AW109 | Italy | Utility | 2[11] | |||
| Trainer aircraft | ||||||
| EMB-312 | Brazil | Trainer | 5[11] | |||
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 | Italy | Trainer | 1[11] | |||
