الجناح الجوي للقوات المسلحة الليبيرية
Liberia’s military air arm began in 1970 with three Cessnas, became the Liberian Air Force by act of the legislature on 12 August 1987, was wrecked in the civil wars and formally dissolved in 2005, and in 2026 — despite Nigerian, Ghanaian and now Moroccan help to revive it — the Armed Forces of Liberia have no aircraft at all.
The Liberian air arm story: Cessnas, a short-lived air force and a revival on paper
1970–1987: an aviation unit of Cessnas
Liberia’s army traces itself to the Liberia Frontier Force, set up as a 500-strong permanent force on 6 February 1908 and renamed the Armed Forces of Liberia under the National Defense Law of 1956. Military flying came late. According to Wikipedia and FrontPage Africa, the AFL’s Aviation Unit was founded in 1970 with three Cessna U-17C aircraft. In the 1980s it grew with more Cessnas — three 172s, a 206, a 207 and two single-engined turboprop 208s — and in 1985 it had three fixed-wing aircraft at Spriggs Payne Airport in Monrovia.
1987–1989: the Liberian Air Force, briefly
On 12 August 1987 an act of the legislature turned the unit into the Liberian Air Force, with responsibility for air defence, search and rescue and reconnaissance patrols, Wikipedia says. In 1989 it received two refurbished DHC-4 Caribou transports, a Piper Aztec and three IAI Arava short take-off twins, its most capable fleet. It had no combat aircraft, and no source checked records any.
1989–2005: destroyed by war, dissolved in peace
The timing was fatal. Charles Taylor’s invasion of 24 December 1989 began the First Liberian Civil War, which lasted to 1997; a second war followed from 1999 to 2003. Wikipedia says all aircraft, equipment, materiel and facilities of the Liberian Air Force were badly damaged, leaving the force inoperable. Spriggs Payne became a base for the West African ECOMOG force, and a rebel rocket attack in April 1996 destroyed several aircraft there. No source checked records the Liberian Air Force flying in combat in either war. In 2005, as the new Armed Forces of Liberia were rebuilt from scratch with American-funded contractors, the air force was formally dissolved.
2017–2022: Nigeria and Ghana
Talk of bringing it back began within the decade after. defenceWeb dates re-establishment efforts to at least 2017. Nigeria trained two Liberian service members in 2018, and the AFL held talks with Ghana. In November 2022 a Nigerian Air Force team under Air Vice Marshal F.O. Edosa toured James Spriggs Payne and Roberts International airports to assess a revived Air Wing, and Nigeria approved further training for two officers. No aircraft was promised in the reports checked.
2025–2026: Morocco, and an honest zero
In October 2025 Liberia signed a military cooperation agreement with Morocco, and in September 2026 Morocco promised to help "establish and operationalize an Air Wing", chiefly by training people. Wikipedia lists an Air Wing among the AFL’s branches. But defenceWeb’s August 2026 profile is blunt: the Air Wing remains non-existent, the AFL has no aerial capability whatsoever, and there is no serious prospect of re-establishing it without more substantial outside support. This page records an air arm that, for now, exists in plans and in history.
The Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing in numbers
خدمة
- Name used
- الجناح الجوي للقوات المسلحة الليبيريةCalled the Liberian Air Force from 1987 to 2005 and the Air Wing in current AFL and press usage. English Wikipedia redirects "Liberian Air Force" to its Armed Forces of Liberia article
- تأسست
- 12 August 1987As the Liberian Air Force, by act of the legislature; the AFL Aviation Unit dates from 1970
- Dissolved
- 2005Formally dissolved during demobilisation after the civil wars
- Status in 2026
- Not operationaldefenceWeb: non-existent, the AFL having no aerial capability whatsoever; Wikipedia still lists an Air Wing among AFL branches
- AFL Chief of Staff
- Davidson F. ForlehBrig. Gen. since 2024 per defenceWeb; Maj. Gen. per FrontPage Africa, September 2026
قوة
- الطائرات
- لا أحدdefenceWeb, August 2026
- Trained aircrew
- Two (Nigeria, 2018)Nigeria trained two Liberian service members in 2018 and approved further training for two officers in 2022
- Armed Forces of Liberia
- حوالي 20002,010 active per IISS 2026 as cited by Wikipedia; about 2,000 per defenceWeb (23rd Infantry Brigade about 1,940, Coast Guard about 60)
بنية تحتية
- القواعد الجوية
- لا يوجد أي منها قيد الاستخدامSpriggs Payne, Monrovia, was the aviation unit’s home in 1985; a Nigerian team assessed Spriggs Payne and Roberts International in 2022
How the Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing is organised
Liberia has no military aircraft. The Liberian Air Force, created on 12 August 1987, was wrecked in the civil wars and dissolved in 2005, and defenceWeb reported in August 2026 that the Armed Forces of Liberia have no aerial capability whatsoever. Nigeria, Ghana and, since 2025, Morocco have offered help, chiefly training, to revive an Air Wing.
Armed Forces of Liberia
The AFL, led by Chief of Staff Davidson F. Forleh since 2024, has two working branches according to defenceWeb: the 23rd Infantry Brigade and the Coast Guard, about 2,000 people in all. Wikipedia still lists an Air Wing among the branches.
الجناح الجوي للقوات المسلحة الليبيرية
Created as the Liberian Air Force by act of the legislature on 12 August 1987 and formally dissolved in 2005. defenceWeb (August 2026) lists its command as "Service Branch Disbanded" and says the AFL has no aerial capability whatsoever.
Nigerian, Ghanaian and Moroccan help
Nigeria trained two Liberian service members in 2018 and sent an assessment team to Spriggs Payne and Roberts International in November 2022; Morocco signed a cooperation agreement on 21 October 2025 and in September 2026 promised help, mainly training, to establish and operationalise an Air Wing. No aircraft has been named.
Liberian Air Force, 1970–2005
Three Cessna U-17Cs from 1970, then Cessna 172s, a 206, a 207 and two 208s, and in 1989 two DHC-4 Caribou, a Piper Aztec and three IAI Aravas; all badly damaged in the civil wars.
Every type the Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing has retired
7 types, from the Cessna U-17C to the Cessna U-17C. تمثل الأرقام القصوى عدد الطائرات التي تم استلامها على مدار فترة الخدمة بأكملها، وليس قوة الأسطول في أي تاريخ محدد.
| يكتب | دور | قمة | تم تقديمه | تم استبداله بـ | ملحوظات | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna U-17C | Liaison and reconnaissance | 3 | 1970– | ثلاثة. | ||
| سيسنا 172 | Light aircraft and training | 3 | ثلاثة. | |||
| Cessna 206 and 207 | جدوى | 2 | One of each. | |||
| سيسنا 208 كارافان | النقل الخدمي | 2 | Two single-engined turboprops. | |||
| دي هافيلاند كندا DHC-4 كاريبو | نقل STOL | 2 | 1989– | Two, refurbished. | ||
| IAI Arava | نقل STOL | 3 | 1989– | ثلاثة. | ||
| Piper Aztec | توأم خفيف | 1 | 1989– | واحد. |
Where Liberia’s military aircraft flew from
No pin is an active military base. James Spriggs Payne Airport in Monrovia was the home of the AFL aviation unit, which had three fixed-wing aircraft there in 1985; in the civil wars it became an ECOMOG base and a rebel rocket attack in April 1996 destroyed several aircraft. تم الحصول على الإحداثيات ومعلومات المدرج من ويكيبيديا الإنجليزية، حيث تعذر الوصول إلى موقع معلومات الطيران الوطني.
| قاعدة | منظمة الطيران المدني الدولي (ICAO) | حالة | المدرج | الوحدات والطائرات |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Spriggs Payne AirportMontserrado County (Monrovia) | GLMR | مغلق | 05/231829 مترًا |
|
لا توجد قاعدة جوية مطابقة لهذا البحث.
Who is stationed where in the Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing
الوحدات الجوية حسب القاعدة، والوحدات الحالية أولاً. There are no current units: the AFL aviation unit and Liberian Air Force of 1970–2005 are listed as former, at Spriggs Payne. Where the 1989 transports were kept is not published.
لا توجد وحدة مطابقة لهذا البحث.
Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing milestones, 1914 to today
6 February: the Liberia Frontier Force is created as a 500-strong permanent force.
The National Defense Law renames it the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The AFL Aviation Unit is founded with three Cessna U-17Cs.
The unit has three fixed-wing aircraft at Spriggs Payne Airport, Monrovia.
12 August: an act of the legislature creates the Liberian Air Force.
Two refurbished DHC-4 Caribou, a Piper Aztec and three IAI Aravas arrive; 24 December: Charles Taylor’s invasion begins the First Liberian Civil War.
April: a rebel rocket attack on Spriggs Payne, then an ECOMOG base, destroys several aircraft.
The Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003) ends; all Liberian Air Force aircraft and facilities have been badly damaged.
The Liberian Air Force is formally dissolved as the AFL is rebuilt with US-funded contractors.
Nigeria trains two Liberian service members; the AFL also holds talks with Ghana on reviving an aviation capability.
November: a Nigerian Air Force team under AVM F.O. Edosa assesses Spriggs Payne and Roberts International for a revived Air Wing.
Davidson F. Forleh becomes AFL Chief of Staff, per defenceWeb.
21 October: Liberia and Morocco sign a military cooperation agreement.
August: defenceWeb reports the AFL has no aerial capability whatsoever; 6–14 September: Morocco pledges help to establish and operationalise an Air Wing.
Who built the Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing fleet
كل شركة تقف وراء الطائرات الموجودة في هذه الصفحة لها صفحتها الخاصة: القصة، وكل نوع قامت ببنائه، والأرقام، والقوات الجوية الأخرى التي تستخدمها.
الأسطول السابق
Everything people ask about the Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing
Does Liberia have an air force?
What aircraft did the Liberian Air Force have?
What happened to Liberia’s military aircraft?
Is Liberia rebuilding its Air Wing?
Why is the page called Armed Forces of Liberia Air Wing?
Who flies military aircraft in Liberia today?
Who leads the Armed Forces of Liberia?
Did the Liberian Air Force fight in the civil wars?
كل حقيقة، تم التحقق منها
- defenceWeb: Liberia (country profile, published 6 August 2026, updated 7 August 2026)The Air Wing "having been disbanded"; despite efforts to re-establish it dating back to at least 2017 it remains non-existent, the AFL having no aerial capability whatsoever; Nigeria trained two Liberian service members in 2018; no serious prospect of re-establishment without more significant external support. AFL about 2,000: 23rd Infantry Brigade about 1,940 and Coast Guard about 60. Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Davidson F. Forleh since 2024.
- FrontPage Africa: Nigeria’s Air Force Helping the Armed Forces of Liberia Reactivate Its Air Wings (Mae Azango, 24 November 2022)Nigerian Air Force assessment team under Air Vice Marshal F.O. Edosa visits James Spriggs Payne and Roberts International airports; Nigeria approves further training of two officers; AFL Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson; history: 1970 three Cessna U-17C, Air Wing established by Act of Legislature 12 August 1987, dissolved 2005.
- FrontPage Africa: Liberia, Morocco Deepen Military Ties as AFL Secures Commando Training, Vehicles and Air Wing Support (Gerald C. Koinyeneh, 14 September 2026)Visit of AFL Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Davidson F. Forleh to Morocco, 6–14 September 2026; Morocco to support efforts to "establish and operationalize an Air Wing, including the training and development of qualified personnel"; cooperation agreement signed 21 October 2025; no aircraft named.
تم التحقق من الأرقام بتاريخ 2026-10-01. يتم إعادة إنشاء صفحات ترتيب المعركة من مجموعة بيانات واحدة؛ إذا كان هناك رقم هنا يختلف عن صفحة كتاب الوحوش، فإن هذه الصفحة هي الأحدث من بين الصفحتين.
Photographs: Photo: Md Shaifuzzaman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Arpingstone / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Robbie Klinkenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo: Balon Greyjoy / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)