Mali Hava Kuvvetleri

Mali Hava Kuvvetleri

Armée de l’Air du Mali

The Malian Air Force (Armée de l’Air du Mali) grew from two airliners borrowed in 1963 into a formal service in 1976, flew MiG-21s in a 1985 border war with Burkina Faso, all but collapsed with the north in 2012, and since the military government of 2021 has been rebuilt with Russian jets and helicopters and Turkish drones — while losing aircraft to insurgents almost as fast as they arrive.

0Savaş uçağı
7Aktif hava üsleri
1976Kurulan
11Emekli olan türler
Photo: Spc. Kimberly Trumbull / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
ÜlkeMaliKurulan1976DurumAktifMerkez OfisBamakoKomutanAlou Boï Diarra
Hikaye

The Malian Air Force story: borrowed airliners in 1963, MiG-21s over the Agacher Strip and a rebuild with Russian aircraft and Turkish drones

1961–1976: borrowed airliners, Soviet MiGs and a formal air force

Mali’s military flying began with French aid and borrowed aircraft. Wikipedia dates the first aircraft, Broussards and C-47s, to 1961, the year after independence; the armed forces’ own history starts in 1963, when a Tuareg rebellion in the north led the army to requisition two An-2s and an L-200A Morava from the airline Air Mali. The Soviet Union soon became the main supplier, with An-2s and Mi-4 helicopters from 1962 and, in the mid-1960s, five MiG-17F fighters and a MiG-15UTI trainer. Military aviation was formally created on 1 March 1966, a tactical air grouping followed in November 1968, and the air force itself was created by Ordonnance 76-99 of 6 February 1976. It was always small, and the dates matter less than the pattern: a poor country whose aircraft came as aid, from whichever patron was offering.

1976–2011: the Agacher war and a long decline

MiG-21s replaced the MiG-17s, and in December 1985 they flew Mali’s only interstate air war. In the dispute over the Agacher Strip, Malian MiG-21s and helicopters began patrolling on 20 December and on Christmas morning bombed Djibo, Ouahigouya and Nassoumbo in Burkina Faso, then other towns on 28 December; Burkina Faso’s lone MiG-17 hit Sikasso. There was no air combat, and the International Court of Justice divided the strip a year later. Six L-29 trainers came in 1983; the 1999 texts gave the service its present shape of air regions, bases and detachments. After the Cold War the money and the spares dried up. Second-hand MiG-21s from the Czech Republic in 2005 and Mi-24Ds from Bulgaria between 2007 and 2012 kept a few aircraft flying, but by January 2012 only two MiG-21s were airworthy.

2012–2020: collapse in the north and the French years

Then the north fell. The MNLA took Tessalit and its airport on 11 March 2012; on 22 March soldiers led by Captain Amadou Sanogo overthrew President Amadou Toumani Touré; and by 1 April Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu were lost, with the bases there. The air force’s contribution was a handful of Mi-24s, some flown by Ukrainian contract crews, and English Wikipedia records the MiG-21s grounded. When jihadist groups pushed south in January 2013, it was France’s Operation Serval, with Mirage 2000Ds and helicopters, that stopped them. The years that followed brought Western-backed rebuilding: a C-295W, two Y-12Es and a Super Puma in October 2017, Mi-17s and Mi-35s from Russia in 2017–2018, four Embraer Super Tucanos in July 2018 and an EU-donated Cessna in 2019. One Super Tucano crashed near Sévaré in 2020.

2021–2023: the military government rebuilds with Russia and Turkey

The coups of 18 August 2020 and 24 May 2021 brought Colonel Assimi Goïta to power and turned Mali towards Russia and Turkey. Mi-8/Mi-17s ordered in 2020 for $61 million began arriving in 2021, two Mi-24Ps in March 2022, and on 9 August 2022 Goïta commissioned a Su-25, L-39Cs, a Mi-24P, a Mi-8 and a C295 at Bamako-Sénou. By March 2023 Military Africa counted 13 L-39Cs and five TB2 drones. Losses came as fast: both Su-25s crashed near Gao, in October 2022 and on 9 September 2023. The new force’s record is contested. The UN human rights office found that more than 500 people were killed at Moura from 27 March 2022, with a helicopter firing on people and foreign personnel operating alongside Malian troops; the government counted 203 ‘terrorists’ and denies wrongdoing.

2024–2025: drones, Tinzaouaten and the quarrel with Algeria

Drones became the air force’s main weapon: at least 17 TB2s by January 2024 and two Akincis presented in December 2024. Human Rights Watch documented strikes that killed civilians at Konokassi in February 2024 and at Tinzaouaten on 25 August 2024, after the separatists and JNIM defeated a FAMa and Wagner column there in July and a Mi-24 was lost; the army said it hit fighters. On 17 September 2024 JNIM attacked the military airport at Bamako and filmed C295s and the presidential jet being destroyed. One Akinci crashed in training in January 2025, and Algeria shot down the other near Tinzaouaten on the night of 31 March. Algeria says it came 2 km into its airspace; Mali says it fell about 10 km inside Mali and took Algeria to the International Court of Justice. In June 2025 Wagner handed over to Russia’s Africa Corps, whose Su-24s now fly alongside the FAMa.

2026: the April offensive and an air force under strain

On 25 April 2026 JNIM and the FLA attacked Kati, Bamako, Sénou, Gao, Sévaré and Kidal at once. The defence minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed at Kati, Kidal was lost and Russian troops withdrew from the far north; General Goïta became his own defence minister on 4 May. In July JNIM shot down Mi-24s near Anefis and Kouakourou, and Military Africa now counts at least 13 modern aircraft and drones destroyed since 2023. The relationship with Algeria thawed, with airspace reopened on 11 July 2026. Under Brigadier General Alou Boï Diarra the air force is better equipped than at any time since independence, yet it has lost aircraft faster than it receives them, still depends on Russian aircraft for heavy strikes, and faces credible, unanswered findings that its strikes have killed civilians.

MiG-21s replaced the MiG-17s, and in December 1985 they flew Mali’s only interstate air war.Malian Air Force · verified 2026-10-01

Bir bakışta

The Malian Air Force in numbers

Hizmet

Yerli isim
Armée de l’Air du MaliThe armed forces’ site fama.ml calls the service the Armée de l’Air and its staff the État-Major de l’Armée de l’Air. French is the language of the armed forces
Kurulan
6 February 1976 (as an air force)Ordonnance 76-99 CML of 6 February 1976 created the air force. The official history dates military aviation to 1 March 1966 and a tactical air grouping to November 1968; English Wikipedia gives 1961, when French aid brought the first aircraft
Bir parçası
Malian Armed Forces (FAMa)Under the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Élisée Jean Dao (September 2026)
Merkez Ofis
BamakoThe air force general staff is in Bamako; Air Base 100 there received a new command post in September 2026
Genelkurmay Başkanı
Brig. Gen. Alou Boï DiarraIn post by 9 August 2022 and still in post in September 2026; the date of his appointment was not found
Savunma Bakanı
Gen. Assimi Goïta (also transitional president)Took the portfolio on 4 May 2026 after the defence minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed at Kati on 25 April 2026

Kuvvet

Personel
No official or IISS figure could be checked for this page
Savaş uçağı
  • Aero L-39C Albatros — 13 delivered 2022–2023, at least three lost; three flew in the September 2025 parade
  • EMB-314 Super Tucano — 3 (reported grounded for want of spares in 2024)

Both Su-25s delivered in 2022–2023 have crashed; the MiG-21s have been unserviceable since about 2012. Su-24s seen over Mali are presumed to be the Russian Africa Corps’s, not Malian

Silahlı insansız hava araçları
  • Bayraktar TB2 — at least 17 by January 2024, about 20 per Wikipedia
  • Bayraktar Akinci — two delivered late 2024, both lost in 2025

Numbers are media and Wikipedia estimates; Mali does not publish them

Helikopterler
  • Mi-24P/Mi-35M — 7–8 listed before the 2024–2026 losses
  • Mi-8MT/Mi-17 — about 5 (2024)
  • Super Puma/H215 — 1–2

Military Africa counts four Mi-24P and more than four transport helicopters destroyed since 2023, and further Mi-24s were shot down in July 2026

Ulaşım
  • Airbus C295 — 1–2
  • An-26 — 2
  • Harbin Y-12E — 2
  • Basler BT-67 — 1

JNIM videos of 17 September 2024 showed two C295s destroyed at Bamako; how many remain is not confirmed

Altyapı

Hava üsleri
  • Base 100 — Bamako
  • Base 101 — Sénou (Bamako airport)
  • Base 102 — Kayes
  • Base 103 — Sikasso
  • Base 200 — Sévaré (Mopti)
  • Base 201 — Timbuktu
  • Base 300 — Gao
  • Base 301 — Tessalit

French Wikipedia’s list by air region; Tessalit was lost in March 2012 and again to JNIM on 1 May 2026, per Wikipedia. The decree of 19 November 1999 organises the service in air regions, bases and detachments

Air detachments
About eightSégou, Nioro du Sahel, Nara, Kolokani, Douentza, Hombori, Ménaka and Kidal per French Wikipedia; Kidal has been held by the FLA since April 2026
Foreign air power in Mali
Rus Afrika KolordusuTook over from Wagner after 6 June 2025; flies Su-24s and helicopters in support of the FAMa.

Yapı

How the Malian Air Force is organised

One service of the Malian Armed Forces, commanded from Bamako and organised since 1999 in three air regions with eight numbered bases and about eight air detachments. Its strike power is L-39C jets, Mi-24P and Mi-35M gunships and Bayraktar TB2 drones, all delivered since 2017; both Su-25s have crashed, and the MiG-21s have not flown since about 2012. Russia’s Africa Corps, which took over from Wagner in June 2025, flies its own Su-24s in support of the FAMa.

AB

Brigadier General (général de brigade)Alou Boï DiarraChief of Staff of the Air Force (chef d’état-major de l’Armée de l’Air) · in office since 2022
Mali Hava KuvvetleriArmée de l’Air du Mali
Merkez Ofis

Mali Hava Kuvvetleri

Armée de l’Air du Mali
Bamako (Air Base 100)

One of the services of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), created by Ordonnance 76-99 of 6 February 1976 and organised since 1999 in air regions, bases and detachments. Brigadier General Alou Boï Diarra was Chief of Staff by 9 August 2022 and still in post in September 2026; his appointment date was not found. The transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, has also been defence minister since 4 May 2026, after General Sadio Camara was killed at Kati on 25 April.

Ön cephe

Jets and light attack aircraft

Thirteen L-39C jet trainers delivered from Russia in 2022–2023, at least three since lost, fly the counter-insurgency role with rocket pods; three Super Tucanos remain of four delivered in 2018, reported grounded for want of spares in 2024. Both Su-25s delivered in 2022–2023 crashed in the Gao region. Su-24s seen over Mali are presumed to be the Russian Africa Corps’s, not Malian.

Silahlı insansız hava araçları

Drone force

At least 17 Bayraktar TB2s by January 2024 according to Military Africa, about 20 per Wikipedia; the first two reached an air base in Mopti on 20 December 2022. Two Akincis delivered in late 2024 were both lost in 2025, one in training and one shot down by Algeria, which says it entered Algerian airspace; Mali says it fell inside Mali. Human Rights Watch documented drone strikes that killed civilians at Konokassi and Tinzaouaten in 2024; the army said it had struck armed fighters.

Helikopterler

Saldırı ve nakliye helikopterleri

Seven or eight Mi-24P and Mi-35M gunships were listed before the latest losses, among them Mi-24s shot down near Anefis on 5 July and near Kouakourou on 19 July 2026; about five Mi-8MT/Mi-17s in 2024 and one or two Super Pumas. Military Africa counts four Mi-24Ps and more than four transport helicopters destroyed since 2023.

Ulaşım

Ulaşım filosu

One or two C295s, after JNIM videos of the attack on the Bamako military airport on 17 September 2024 showed two destroyed; two An-26s, two Y-12Es, a BT-67 and an EU-donated Cessna. The Boeing 737 BBJ presidential jet, stored since acquisition according to French Wikipedia, was set alight in the same attack.

Üsler

Hava bölgeleri

Régions aériennes
Bamako, Sévaré and Gao

French Wikipedia lists three air regions: Region 1 with Bases 100 (Bamako), 101 (Sénou), 102 (Kayes) and 103 (Sikasso); Region 2 with Bases 200 (Sévaré) and 201 (Timbuktu); and Region 3 with Bases 300 (Gao) and 301 (Tessalit), plus about eight air detachments. Russian forces withdrew from Tessalit after the offensive of April 2026, and the FLA has held Kidal since 26 April 2026. Which flying units are at which base has not been published.


Hizmette

What the Malian Air Force flies today

Ücretli olan her tür, varsa ilgili Canavarlar Kitabı sayfasına bağlanmıştır. Sayılar, belirli bir günde müsait olan uçak sayısını değil, kayıtlarda yer alan uçak sayısını ifade eder.

Türü Rol Hizmette O zamandan beri Birimler Notlar
Aero L-39C AlbatrosHizmette Jet eğitim uçağı ve hafif saldırı uçağı 2022 13 delivered from Russia in 2022–2023 per Military Africa (5 in August 2022 per Military Africa, 4 per defenceWeb; 4 in January and 4 in March 2023).

Daha

English Wikipedia lists 12, with two lost in 2023 and one shot down in 2024; three flew in the September 2025 parade.

Embraer EMB-314 Super TucanoHizmette Hafif saldırı ve eğitmen 3 2018 Four delivered in July 2018; one crashed near Sévaré in 2020.
Baykar Bayraktar TB2Hizmette Silahlı insansız hava aracı 2022 At least 17 by January 2024 (Military Africa); about 20 (French Wikipedia); 20+ (English Wikipedia).
Baykar Bayraktar AkıncıHizmette Silahlı insansız hava aracı 2024 Two delivered in late 2024; one lost in training in January 2025 and one shot down by Algeria on 31 March/1 April 2025. English Wikipedia reports two more in 2026; not confirmed elsewhere.
Mil Mi-24P / Mi-35MHizmette Saldırı helikopteri 2017 7–8 listed before the latest losses (French and English Wikipedia).

Daha

Losses include one at Tinzaouaten in July 2024 and Mi-24s shot down near Anefis on 5 July 2026 and Kouakourou on 19 July 2026.

Mil Mi-8MT / Mi-17 / Mi-171Hizmette Nakliye helikopteri 2017 About five in 2024 per French Wikipedia; English Wikipedia lists the Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-171 among former types.

Daha

Military Africa counts more than four transport helicopters destroyed since 2023.

Airbus Helicopters AS332 Super Puma / H215Hizmette Çok amaçlı helikopter 2017 1–2: defenceWeb reports one Super Puma in October 2017; English Wikipedia lists two H215.
Airbus C295Hizmette Taktiksel ulaşım 2017 1–2. A C-295W arrived in October 2017 and another C295 was commissioned on 9 August 2022.

Daha

JNIM videos of the 17 September 2024 attack showed two C295s destroyed; Wikipedia lists still differ (one or two).

Antonov An-26Hizmette Ulaşım 2 Two per English Wikipedia; one flew in the September 2025 parade.
Harbin Y-12EHizmette Hafif ulaşım 2 2017 Two delivered in October 2017.
Basler BT-67Hizmette Ulaşım 1 Bir.
Cessna 208 CaravanHizmette Gözetim 1 2019 One, donated by the European Union in April 2019 per defenceWeb; French Wikipedia describes the EU-donated aircraft as a Cessna 206.
Antonov An-28Hizmette Hafif ulaşım 1 One, per English Wikipedia only; not corroborated.
Air Création Tétras 912Hizmette Light reconnaissance (microlight) 4 Four per French Wikipedia, which records several Tétras accidents between 2008 and 2012.
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260Hizmette Eğitmen 1 One, per English Wikipedia only; not corroborated.
Boeing 737-700 BBJHizmette Başkanlık ulaşımı 1 One; French Wikipedia says it has been stored since acquisition. JNIM video of 17 September 2024 showed a fighter setting fire to an engine of the presidential jet.
Tétras4
Süper Tucano3
An-262
Y-122
BT-671
C2081
An-281
SF.2601

Daha önce işletiliyordu

Every type the Malian Air Force has retired

11 types, from the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard to the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot. Zirve rakamları, herhangi bir tarihteki filo gücünü değil, tüm hizmet ömrü boyunca teslim alınan uçak gövdelerini ifade eder.

Türü Rol Doruğa ulaşmak Servis edildi Yerine şu geçti: Notlar
Sukhoi Su-25 Kurbağa Ayağı Yakın hava desteği 2 2022–2023 One delivered on 9 August 2022 and one in January 2023; both crashed.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF / UM Savaşçı English Wikipedia lists nine non-operational; French Wikipedia records three MiG-21MF/UM supplied by the Czech Republic in 2005.
Mil Mi-24D (ex-Bulgarian) Saldırı helikopteri 2007– Mi-24P / Mi-35M At least seven per Military Africa; six per French Wikipedia, partly cannibalised.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Savaşçı 5 MiG-21 Five, from the Soviet Union in the mid-1960s.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI Jet eğitim uçağı 1 One, delivered with the MiG-17Fs.
Aero L-29 Delfín Jet eğitim uçağı 6 1983– L-39C Six delivered in 1983 per French Wikipedia.
Antonov An-2 Hizmet taşımacılığı 1963– Two An-2s of the airline Air Mali were requisitioned in 1963; the Soviet Union then supplied An-2s from 1962 onwards per Wikipedia.
Mil Mi-4 Helikopter 1962–
Ilyushin Il-14 and Antonov An-24 Ulaşım
Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard Ulaşım ve irtibat 1961–
Britten-Norman BN-2B Islander Hafif ulaşım

Hava üsleri

Where the Malian Air Force flies from

Black pins are active bases, hollow pins those out of government hands. Air Base 101 at Sénou, beside Bamako’s international airport, is the main operating base and the place where the Russian-supplied aircraft were handed over; JNIM attacked it on 17 September 2024 and again on 25 April 2026. The base list is French Wikipedia’s, and which units fly from which base has not been published. Tessalit and the Kidal detachment have been out of government hands since the offensive of April 2026. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.

Aktif hava üssü Kapalı veya rezerve edilmişAna sayfayı açmak için bir iğneye tıklayın.
Temel ICAO Durum Pist Birimler ve uçaklar
Air Base 100 BamakoBamako Bölgesi Aktif
  • Air Force Staff (État-major de l’Armée de l’Air)
Air Base 101 SénouBamakoBamako Bölgesi GABS Aktif 06/243.200 masfalt beton
  • Base aérienne 101 (Air Base 101)
Air Base 102 KayesKayes Region GAKD Aktif 09/272.700 mbitümlü beton
Air Base 103 SikassoSikasso Region Aktif
Air Base 200 SévaréMoptiMopti Region GAMB Aktif 05/232.540 masfalt beton
  • MINUSMA presence at Sévaré-Mopti
Air Base 201 TimbuktuTombouctou Region GATB Aktif 07/252.170 masfalt beton
Air Base 300 GaoGao Region GAGO Aktif 06L/24R2.500 mbitümlü beton06R/24L1.800 mlaterite
  • French Operation Barkhane base, Gao (earlier Operation Serval)
  • Royal Air Force Chinook detachment: CH-47 Chinook
  • Camp Castor (German contingent, MINUSMA)
Air Base 301 TessalitAmachachKidal Region GATS Kapalı 05/232.500 m15/331.200 msand
  • French forces at Tessalit (Operation Serval, then Barkhane)
  • MINUSMA camp, Tessalit

Arama sonucunda bu kriterlere uyan bir hava üssü bulunamadı.


Savaş düzeni

Who is stationed where in the Malian Air Force

Birimler baz alınarak, önce mevcut birimler. The Malian government publishes no squadron-to-base dispositions, so the bases are listed by their number in the air regions, and only the air force staff at Base 100 is tied to a site. The French, British and German detachments at Gao and Tessalit and the UN camps of MINUSMA are listed and marked as not Malian.

Air Base 100 Bamako · Hava Kuvvetleri Personeli
Air Force Staff (État-major de l’Armée de l’Air)Merkez Ofis · aktif
101 Sénou Hava Üssü (Bamako) · GABSHava Kuvvetleri Personeli
Base aérienne 101 (Air Base 101)Hava üssü · aktif
Air Base 200 Sévaré (Mopti) · GAMBAir Region 2
MINUSMA presence at Sévaré-Mopti2013–2023
Air Base 300 Gao · GAGOAir Region 3
French Operation Barkhane base, Gao (earlier Operation Serval)2013–2022
Royal Air Force Chinook detachment
CH-47 Chinook
Camp Castor (German contingent, MINUSMA)

Bu aramaya uyan bir birim bulunamadı.


Zaman çizelgesi

Malian Air Force milestones, 1914 to today

1961

French military aid brings the first aircraft, including MH.1521 Broussards and C-47s; English Wikipedia dates the air force from this year.

1963

A rebellion in the north: the army requisitions two An-2s and an L-200A Morava from Air Mali, the start of Malian military flying in the official history.

1966

1 March: military aviation is formally created, attached to engineering units.

1968

November: the tactical air grouping (Groupement aérien tactique) is formed.

1976

6 February: Ordonnance 76-99 CML creates the Armée de l’Air.

1985

25 December: Malian MiG-21s bomb Djibo, Ouahigouya and Nassoumbo in the Agacher Strip war with Burkina Faso; the ICJ divides the strip on 22 December 1986.

1999

Ordonnance of 1 October and the decree of 19 November 1999 set the present organisation in air regions, bases and detachments.

2012

Tessalit falls on 11 March; the coup of 22 March follows; Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu are lost by 1 April, and with them the northern air bases.

2013

January: France’s Operation Serval begins; French Mirage 2000Ds and Gazelles carry the air war.

2018

July: four Embraer Super Tucanos arrive from Brazil.

2021

24 May: the second coup in nine months; Colonel Assimi Goïta becomes transitional president on 28 May. Russian Mi-8/Mi-17 deliveries begin.

2022

9 August: Goïta commissions a Su-25, L-39s, a Mi-24P, a Mi-8 and a C295 at Bamako-Sénou. 20 December: the first two TB2 drones reach Sévaré.

2023

More L-39s, a Su-25, Mi-17s, a Mi-35M and TB2s arrive; the second Su-25 crashes near Gao on 9 September.

2024

Tinzaouaten battle in July; JNIM attacks the military airport at Bamako on 17 September; Akinci drones presented in December.

2025

Algeria shoots down a Malian Akinci near Tinzaouaten on the night of 31 March/1 April; Wagner hands over to Russia’s Africa Corps in June; Mali takes Algeria to the ICJ in September.

2026

25 April: coordinated JNIM and FLA attacks; the defence minister is killed at Kati and Kidal is lost. July: Mi-24s shot down near Anefis and Kouakourou. 11 July: Algeria and Mali reopen their airspace to each other.


Savaş kaydı

Every war the Malian Air Force has fought

Kayıtlarda belirtilen yerlerde sorti ve kayıplar, belirtilmeyen yerlerde ise boş bırakılmıştır.

6çatışmalar
1963Birinci
1Uçak kayboldu
0Öldürüldü
  • The first Tuareg rebellion 1963–1964 Borrowed civil aircraft flew liaison and support for the army; this is where the official history starts Malian military flying
  • The Agacher Strip war 1985 Border patrols from 20 December, then bombing raids on Burkinabé towns from 25 December
  • The 2012 rebellion and the loss of the north 2012–2013 A handful of helicopters, partly crewed by Ukrainian contract pilots, supported garrisons until the northern bases fell
  • The counter-insurgency with Russian support 2021–present Close air support, helicopter assault and armed-drone strikes against JNIM, Islamic State Sahel and the northern separatist coalition
  • The battle of Tinzaouaten 2024 Helicopter support to a FAMa and Wagner column, then drone and air strikes on the town on 31 July and 25 August

Tüm savaş kaydını açın.


üreticiler

Who built the Malian Air Force fleet

Bu sayfadaki uçakların arkasındaki her şirketin kendi sayfası var: hikayeleri, ürettikleri her tip, rakamlar ve onları kullanan diğer hava kuvvetleri.


Sorular ve Cevaplar

Everything people ask about the Malian Air Force

What is the Malian Air Force called in French?
Armée de l’Air du Mali; the armed forces’ website fama.ml calls it the Armée de l’Air and its headquarters the État-Major de l’Armée de l’Air. The English name follows the English Wikipedia article title, Malian Air Force. It is one of the services of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa).
When was the Malian Air Force founded?
It depends which date you count. Wikipedia gives 1961, when French aid brought the first aircraft; the official history starts with civil aircraft requisitioned in 1963, dates military aviation from 1 March 1966, and the air force itself from Ordonnance 76-99 of 6 February 1976.
What aircraft does the Malian Air Force fly in 2026?
Its strike aircraft are Russian-supplied L-39C Albatros jets, three grounded Super Tucanos and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones (at least 17 by 2024). Helicopters are Mi-24P/Mi-35M gunships and Mi-8/Mi-17 transports; transports include the C295, An-26 and Y-12. Mali does not publish numbers, and losses since 2023 have been heavy.
Does Mali have fighter jets?
Not in working order. The MiG-21'ler have been unserviceable since about 2012, and both Su-25'ler delivered in 2022–2023 crashed near Gao. The Su-24s seen over Mali are, according to defenceWeb and Human Rights Watch, operated by Russia’s Africa Corps; HRW found no public record of their transfer to Mali.
Who commands the Malian Air Force?
Brigadier General Alou Boï Diarra, Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He was in post when the Russian-supplied aircraft were commissioned on 9 August 2022 and was still in post in September 2026; his appointment date was not found.
Did Algeria shoot down a Malian drone?
Yes, on the night of 31 March to 1 April 2025 near Tinzaouaten. Algeria’s defence ministry said the Akinci had come 2 km into Algerian airspace; Mali said it fell about 10 km inside Mali and, with Burkina Faso and Niger, called it a hostile act. Both sides recalled ambassadors and closed their airspace; Mali filed an application at the International Court of Justice in September 2025. The ambassadors returned and airspace reopened in July 2026.
Have Malian drone strikes killed civilians?
Human Rights Watch says so: it documented strikes that killed seven civilians at Konokassi in February 2024 and seven, including five children, at Tinzaouaten on 25 August 2024. Separatists put the Tinzaouaten toll at 21. The Malian armed forces said they targeted armed fighters and did not reply to HRW.
What happened to the Malian Air Force in 2012?
It nearly ceased to exist as a fighting force. Its MiG-21s were grounded, a few Mi-24s with Ukrainian contract crews were all that flew, and the northern bases at Tessalit, Gao and Timbuktu were lost between March and April 2012 after the coup of 22 March. French aircraft of Operation Serval did the air fighting from January 2013.
Who supplies the Malian Air Force?
Since the military government took power in 2020–2021, mainly Russia (L-39C, Su-25, Mi-24P, Mi-35M, Mi-8/Mi-17) and Turkey (TB2 and Akinci drones). Earlier suppliers were France, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Brazil (Super Tucano) and Airbus (C295, Super Puma).
Did the Malian Air Force fight a war with Burkina Faso?
Yes, in December 1985. Malian MiG-21s bombed Djibo, Ouahigouya and Nassoumbo on Christmas Day and other towns on 28 December; Burkina Faso’s single MiG-17 struck Sikasso. There was no air combat. The International Court of Justice divided the disputed Agacher Strip in December 1986.



Kaynaklar ve Daha Fazla Okuma

Her bilgi kontrol edildi.

Rakamlar 2026-10-01 tarihinde doğrulanmıştır. Savaş Düzeni sayfaları tek bir veri kümesinden yeniden oluşturulmuştur; buradaki bir sayı Canavarlar Kitabı sayfasındaki bir sayıyla uyuşmuyorsa, bu sayfa ikisinden daha yeni olanıdır.

Photographs: Photo: Spc. Kimberly Trumbull / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Bayhaluk / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: SGT. Kimberly Yearyean / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Ank kumar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Kentaro Iemoto from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Mary Karpach / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Sir James / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Noah Wulf / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Landolso / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · Photo: SDASM Archives / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Photographer: Mosbatho / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)