The collapse and revival of the Albanian VVS

The fastest fighter of the Albanian military aviation was the two-mass Chinese F-7A fighter, a copy of the Russian MiG-21F-13 (12 such machines were purchased).

The once relatively large Albanian Air Force has undergone a major modernization over the past decade, coupled with a significant reduction. The era of jet combat aviation, equipped mainly with Chinese copies of Soviet aircraft, is over. Today, the Albanian Air Force operates only helicopters.

The Albanian Air Force was established on 24 April 1951 and their first airbase was established at Tirana Airport. The USSR delivered 12 Yak-9 fighters (including 11 single-seat combatant Yak-9P and 1 two-seat combat training Yak-9V) and 4 communications aircraft Po-2. Personnel training was carried out in Yugoslavia. In 1952, 4 Yak-18 trainers and 4 Yak-11 trainers were put into service. In 1953, 6 Yak-18A training aircraft with a front-wheel drive chassis were added to them. In 1959, 12 more machines of this type were adopted for service.

The first fighters were delivered to Albania in January-April 1955 from the USSR and had 26 MiG-15 bis combat aircraft and 4 UTI MiG-15 combat training aircraft. Eight more UTI MiG-15 aircraft in 1956 were received from the Central Soviet Socialist Republic (4 US-102) and the PRC (4 FT-2).

In 1962, the Albanian Air Force received eight F-8 fighters from China, which were a licensed copy of the Soviet MiG-5F fighters. They were distinguished by an engine equipped with an afterburner.

In 1957, the Il-14M transport aircraft, two or three Mi-1 light multi-purpose helicopters and four Mi-4 medium transport helicopters were delivered from the USSR, which formed the core of transport aviation. They were also the first helicopters in the Albanian Air Force. In the same year, the Il-28 jet bomber was delivered, which was used as a tug for air targets.

In 1971, three more Il-3 transport aircraft were commissioned (including Il-14M and Il-14P from the GDR and Il-14T from Egypt). All machines of this type were concentrated at the Rinas airfield. There was also a target bomber and an Il-14 tugboat.

In 1959, Albania received 12 MiG-19PM supersonic interceptors equipped with the RP-2U radar sight and armed with four RS-2US air-to-air guided missiles. These were the last aircraft delivered from the USSR, as shortly thereafter the Albanian leader Enver Hoxha broke off cooperation between the two countries for ideological reasons.

After breaking off contacts with the USSR, Albania strengthened cooperation with the PRC, within the framework of which the purchase of weapons and military equipment began in this country. In 1962, 20 Nanchang PT-6 training aircraft were received from Chinese industry, which were Chinese copies of the Soviet Yak-18A aircraft. In the same year, China delivered 12 Shenyang F-5 fighters, i.e. MiG-17F fighters manufactured under a Soviet license. Together with them, 8 more FT-2 combat training aircraft were received.

In 1962, the Air Force Academy was established, which was equipped with 20 PT-6 basic training aircraft, 12 UTI MiG-15 combat trainer aircraft withdrawn from forward units, and 12 MiG-15bis combat aircraft obtained in the same way. . In their place in the first line, 12 F-5 fighters and 8 FT-2 combat training aircraft, imported at the same time from the PRC, were put into service. They were divided into two air squadrons, which were stationed at the Valona airfield (a squadron of piston aircraft - PT-6 and a squadron of jet aircraft - MiG-15 bis and UTI MiG-15).

Another Chinese air delivery was carried out in 13-5 for 2 Harbin Y-1963 multi-purpose light aircraft, a licensed copy of the Soviet An-1964 aircraft. The new machines have been deployed at Tirana Airport.

In 1965, twelve MiG-19PM interceptors were transferred to the PRC. In exchange, it was possible to purchase a large number of Shenyang F-6 fighters, which in turn were a Chinese copy of the Soviet MiG-19S fighter, but without a radar sight and guided air-to-air missiles. In 1966-1971, 66 F-6 fighters were purchased, including four copies adapted for photographic reconnaissance, with which six squadrons of combat jet aircraft were equipped. Then another such fighter was received as compensation for a sample lost for technical reasons in 1972, due to the fault of a manufacturer of defective cannon ammunition. Together with them, 6 FT-5 combat training aircraft were purchased (delivery was made in 1972), which was a combination of the F-5 fighter with a two-seat cockpit of the FT-2 combat training aircraft. At the same time, one Harbin H-5 bomber, which was a copy of the Il-28 bomber, was also purchased to replace a machine of this type, acquired fifteen years earlier.

The expansion of combat jet aviation of the Albanian Air Force was completed in the mid-12s. The last to be purchased were 7 Chengdu F-1972A supersonic fighters (delivered in 21), created on the basis of the Soviet MiG-13F-2 fighter and armed with two PL-3 air-to-air guided missiles. They were a copy of the Soviet infrared homing missile RS-9S, which in turn was modeled after the American AIM-XNUMXB Sidewinder missile.

The Albanian military aviation has reached the status of nine squadrons of combat jet aircraft, consisting of three air regiments. The regiment stationed at the Lezha base had an F-7A squadron and two F-6 squadrons, the regiment based at the Kutsova airfield had two F-6 squadrons and an F-5 squadron, the Rinas regiment consisted of two F-6 squadrons and a MiG squadron -15 bis.

F-6 (MiG-19S) were the most numerous supersonic fighters in Albania, but before their commissioning in 1959, 12 MiG-19PM fighters were imported from the USSR, which in 1965 were transferred to the PRC for copying.

In 1967, in addition to the Mi-4 transport helicopters supplied from the USSR, Albania purchased 30 Harbin Z-5 helicopters from the PRC, which were a Chinese copy of the Mi-4 (they were in service with three Air Force squadrons). the regiment is stationed at the Fark base). The last flight of these machines took place on November 26, 2003, after which they were officially decommissioned the next day. Three of them were kept in airworthiness as a reserve for some time.

In the mid-seventies of the last century, the Albanian Air Force reached the maximum status of squadrons equipped with combat jet aircraft (1 x F-7A, 6 x F-6, 1 x F-5 and 1 x MiG-15 bis). ).

The end of the XNUMXs led to the deterioration of the Albanian-Chinese relations, and from that moment on, the Albanian Air Force began to struggle with increasing problems, trying to maintain the technical efficiency of its aircraft at the proper level. Due to the worsening economic situation in the country in the XNUMXs and the limited spending on armaments associated with it, the situation became even more complicated.

In 1992, a new democratic government was elected, ending the communist era in Albania. However, this did not improve the situation of the Air Force, which survived even more difficult times, especially when the Albanian banking system collapsed in 1997. During the ensuing uprising, much of the equipment and facilities of the Albanian Air Force was either destroyed or damaged. The future was bleak. For the Albanian military aviation to survive, it had to be greatly reduced and modernized.

In 2002, the Albanian Air Force launched the Forces Objective 2010 program (development directions until 2010), under which a deep reorganization of subordinate units was to be carried out. The number of personnel was supposed to be reduced from 3500 officers and soldiers to about 1600 people. The Air Force was to decommission all combat jets, which were now to be stored in Gyader, Kutsov and Rinas, in the hope of finding a buyer for them. The Albanian military aviation performed its last jet flight in December 2005, ending a 50-year era of combat jets.

153 aircraft were put up for sale, including: 11 MiG-15bis, 13 UTI MiG-15, 11 F-5, 65 F-6, 10 F-7A, 1 H-5, 31 Z-5, 3 Y- 5 and 8 PT-6. The exception was the conservation of 6 FT-5 training aircraft and 8 PT-6 piston training aircraft in mothballed condition. They were supposed to be used to restore jet combat aviation as soon as the country's financial situation improved. This was expected to happen after 2010. the acquisition of 26 Turkish F-5-2000 fighters, which was to be a prelude to the acquisition of future F-16 fighters. In the case of the F-7A fighters, the prospect of sales seemed very real, since these machines basically had a small flying time of up to 400 hours. Only four multi-purpose light Y-5s and four training PT-6s remained in service.

Even before the announcement of the restructuring program, Albania used a small number of relatively new helicopters. In 1991, a Bell 222UT helicopter was purchased from the United States, which was used to transport important personalities. Unfortunately, he died in a crash on July 16, 2006, which killed six people, all on board. Also in 1991, France donated three Aerospatiale AS.350B Ecureuil helicopters to Albania. Currently, they are used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to patrol the borders and transport special forces. In 1995, the Ministry of Health purchased four used Aerospatiale SA.319B Alouette III ambulance helicopters from Switzerland for its ambulance service (1995 - 1 and 1996 - 3). In 1999, a Mi-8 medium transport helicopter was delivered (probably received from Ukraine?), Now it is used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the same purposes as the AS.350B.

The modernization of the Albanian Air Force was seen as an important step towards bringing the Albanian armed forces up to NATO standards. In subsequent years, both Germany and Italy donated several modern helicopters to Albania to support an ambitious modernization program. The new machines are used for a variety of purposes, including for the transport of goods and people, search and rescue, disaster relief, terrain flight, education and training of helicopter crews.

Italy agreed to transfer free of charge fourteen helicopters previously used by the Italian army, including 7 Agusta-Bell AB.205A-1 medium transport helicopters and 7 AB.206C-1 light multi-role helicopters. The first of the last arrived in Albania in April 2002. The last three copies arrived in Albania in November 2003, which made it possible to write off the heavily worn Z-5 helicopters. In April 2004, the first three AB.205A-1s joined them. In April 2007, Italy also delivered an Agusta A.109C VIP helicopter (to replace the lost Bell 222UT).

On April 12, 2006, the governments of Albania and Germany signed a contract worth 10 million euros for the supply of 12 Bo-105M light multipurpose helicopters previously used by the German army. Then all twelve were upgraded by the Eurocopter plant in Donauwörth and brought to the standard version of the Bo-105E4. The first upgraded Bo-105E4 was delivered to the Albanian Air Force in March 2007. In total, the Albanian Air Force received six Bo-105E4 helicopters, four more were sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the last two to the Ministry of Health. .

On December 18, 2009, a €78,6 million contract was signed with Eurocopter for the supply of five AS.532AL Cougar medium transport helicopters to increase the operational capabilities of the helicopter regiment. Two of them were intended for the transport of troops, one for combat rescue, one for medical evacuation and one for the transport of VIPs. The latter was supposed to be delivered first, but crashed on 25 July 2012, killing the six Eurocopter workers on board. The four remaining helicopters were delivered. The first of them, in a combat-rescue version, was handed over on December 3, 2012. The last, second vehicle for transporting troops was assembled on November 7, 2014.

Instead of purchasing another AS.532AL Cougar helicopter to replace the crashed copy for transporting VIPs, the Albanian Ministry of Defense ordered two multi-purpose light helicopters EU-145 from Eurocopter (earlier - on July 14, 2012 - the first machine of this type was purchased in the version for transporting VIPs) . They were configured for search and rescue and recovery missions and were inaugurated on October 31, 2015.

A big event in the history of Albanian aviation was the launch of AS.532AL Cougar helicopters (pictured is one of these machines during a delivery flight to the user). Photo Eurocopter

The Albanian Air Force Helicopter Regiment is stationed at Farka Base and currently has 22 helicopters, including: 4 AS.532AL, 3 AB.205A-1, 6 Bo-105E4, 3 EC-145, 5 AB.206C-1 and 1 A. 109. For some time, the creation of a combat helicopter squadron of 12 helicopters was an important part of the plans of the Albanian military aviation, but at present this task is not considered as a priority. In particular, the acquisition of MD.500 light helicopters armed with TOW anti-tank missiles is taken into account.

In 2002, with Turkish assistance, the modernization of the Kutsova air base began, as a result of which it received a new control tower, a repaired and reinforced runway and taxiways. It allows you to receive even such heavy transport aircraft as the C-17A Globemaster III and Il-76MD. At the same time, four Y-5 multi-purpose light aircraft were overhauled at aircraft repair facilities located on the territory of the Kutsov base, the first repaired Y-5 aircraft was delivered in 2006. They allowed the Albanian military aviation to serve the habits associated with the operation of aircraft, and in addition, these machines performed typical transport and communication tasks. In the future, this was supposed to ensure efficient handling of the purchased new transports, but in 2011 it was decided to keep the Y-5 aircraft, postponing the purchase of transports for a while. In the meantime, the acquisition of three Italian G.222 transport aircraft was under consideration.

Between 2002 and 2005, Italy transferred fourteen helicopters to the Albanian Air Force, including seven light multi-role AB.206C-1 (pictured) and seven medium transport AB.205A-2.

At present, the Albanian Air Force is only a shadow of the former Albanian military aviation. The Air Force, created with great help from the USSR, and then further developed in cooperation with the PRC, has become a significant fighting force. However, at present they have been significantly reduced, the entire fleet of decommissioned combat jets has been finally dismantled for scrap. It is unlikely that the Albanian Air Force will buy more combat aircraft in the foreseeable near future. The available budget allows only the maintenance of the helicopter part. On April 1, 2009, Albania became a member of NATO, fulfilling its strategic objective of increasing the sense of security.

Since joining NATO, Albanian air surveillance missions have been flown by Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons alternating with Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighters. Observation missions began on 16 July 2009.

Also, an Albanian ground-based air defense system should be created from scratch, which in the past was equipped with HQ-2 medium-range missile systems (a copy of the Soviet SA-75M Dina anti-aircraft system), HN-5 MANPADS (a copy of the Soviet Strela-2M anti-aircraft missile system) , adopted for service in the 37s) and 2-mm anti-aircraft guns. Initially, 75 original Soviet batteries SA-1959M "Dvina" were purchased, which were received from the USSR in 12, including a training battery and a combat battery. Another 2 HQ-XNUMX batteries were received from the PRC in the XNUMXs. They were organized into an anti-aircraft missile brigade.

It is also planned to replace obsolete Soviet and Chinese airspace control radars with more modern Western equipment. The acquisition of such radars was conducted, in particular, with Lockheed Martin.

Sean Wilson/Prime Images

Collaboration: Jerzy Gruschinsky

Translation: Michal Fischer