Lebanese Air Force

The Lebanon Air Force, formally known as the Lebanese Air Force (LAF), is the air component of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was established in 1949 on the foundation of the Lebanese Air Training School, which was formed in 1946. Initially equipped with a small fleet of British-made aircraft, such as the Hawker Audax and Hawker Fury, the LAF has undergone several reorganizations and modernizations over the years. In the 1950s and 1960s, it expanded its capabilities with the acquisition of French-made Dassault Ouragan and Hawker Hunter jets. Subsequently, the LAF incorporated Soviet aircraft, such as the MiG-21, in the 1970s. Currently, the LAF operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including combat jets (such as the A-29 Super Tucano), attack helicopters (such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra), transport planes (such as the Cessna 208 Caravan), and utility helicopters (such as the Bell UH-1). The LAF primarily focuses on defense and surveillance missions within Lebanon's borders, safeguarding the country's airspace and supporting ground forces when necessary.