Yemeni Air Force

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Member for

16 years 9 months

Posts: 158

I've been hearing about the current conflict in Yemen and the use of the air force against the the rebel forces. Checked Wikipedia and it appears that the article about the air force there is a total disaster stating 40+ of each type of MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29, F-5, Su-22. But judging from the TV footages and equipment the army is using, I doubt that the Yemeni army affords to maintain this number of jets.

Any ideas what's in service or what's not? Are the F-5s are still airworthy? In one of the TV footages I thought I saw a MiG-21 flying over a target.

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Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

I think you are wrong here. Last time I checked, Yemeni F-5s, Su-22s and MiG-29s appeared in very good--> excellent condition and they seemed quite numerous to me.. Their MiG-21s also underwent a major refurb at OARB plant in Ukraine. At the same time, a dozen of freshly overhauled ex-UAF and L-39s was supplied, as well. At the moment, you will hardly find a YAF plane that is not freshly painted.

I think YAF has a quite potent force with high airworthiness rate.. They don't operate any MiG-23s, though.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 519

hi,yes Vatche the Yemeni aircraft have good maintenance,the F-5s are used for training purpose only,some video footages from training courses in Ma'arab desert
SPECIAL SOURCE:some Iraqi military engineers are working to maintenance MiG-29s fleet (9-18 varaint) in Al-Dailamy AB inside Sana'a Intl airport,and some Iraqi pilots they are fly and fight on MiG-29

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/Yemen_045.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/YemeniMiG-29s2008.jpg

I think these two pics say much about current state of the YAF

Member for

18 years 9 months

Posts: 697

Great pictures Flex, anymore pictures especially of the Fulcrums.Thanks

Member for

16 years

Posts: 920

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/Yemen_045.jpg

That rather "unortodox" cammo theme seems to work suprisingly well against the background! I, at least found it pretty hard to tell individual aircaft trom the others, or from the backgroud at first glance. :eek:

In a low and fast WWR dogfight it just maight give their Fulcrum jockeys one or two crusial seconds advantage.

Great pix Flex. As allways. Keep em komming, mate!

Member for

16 years 9 months

Posts: 573

From the above pictures, I recognize Sanaa airport.

I have been in Yemen many times during the 90's.

Yemen used to be divided (North and South).

Before unification, I have counted at Sanaa international airport, about 20 Su-22 (Fitter K models) and a half dozen F-5s. Taiz and Hodeidah airports had each a dozen MiG-21s. I have also seen at Hodeidah about 10 Il-28 light bombers which were unservicable.

All the above airports are in the North.

When I visited Sanaa late in 1997 for the last time, there were 4 MiG-29s in addition to the Su-22s and F-5 (not all of the Sukhois and F-5s seemed to be servicable). There was also a Ka-25 antisub helicopter there.

Sanaa airport always had a couple of dozen helicopters (Mi-24 and Mi-8).

I have never been at any of the Southern airports. I have never seen MiG-23s in that country.

Training ( during the nineties) was extensive. The Su-22s were the most active, the F-5s sortie rate was low. The civilian traffic was often interrupted (Sanaa airport is anyways not that busy) and flights were delayed because there was a squadron of Fitters taking off!!! They lined up in pairs at the end of the runway and took off in pairs. Great sight and noise!!!!!

As you can see on some of the above photos, there are many earth shelters for the parked aircraft but not enough for all of them.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1866/yemen036.jpg

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-05Sanaa.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-31MiG-29UB2008.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-31Sanaa.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-32MiG-29A2008.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-16Shafaq-1.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-16YARAF1.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-31MiG-29UBYemen.jpg

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 196

During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 196

During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.

- some F-5
- frequent activities by Fitter of different variants : Fitter G, J and K
- Il-76 wearing the colours pf Yemenia
- C-130 idem
a lot of wreks of Hips of all the variants
- Two Mi-14 Haze being overhauled
- Mi-8 & Mi-17 operationas

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 432

Taiz and Hodeidah airports had each a dozen MiG-21s.
Do you know what is the current status of the Yemeni MiG-21s ?
There are public photos of their Ukrainian rebuilt of Yemeni MiG-21bis, but any operational shots ???

Al Hudaydah:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=hu&q=Al+Hudaydah,+Jemen&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.534108,79.013672&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FWJr4QAdJ5OPAg&split=0&ll=14.743566,42.975608&spn=0.002573,0.004823&t=h&z=18

Taiz(older shot, with MiG-17 wrecks and helos only):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=hu&geocode=&q=taiz+airport&sll=13.626302,44.127274&sspn=0.020687,0.038581&ie=UTF8&ll=13.670424,44.135106&spn=0.002585,0.004823&t=h&z=18

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.
Must have been the Moldovan examples. Most of them were never really operated since they were brought in in a very poor condition. Pics are very sparse, anyone got something?

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 927

Here's the only one I've got, you might have it already.
The yellow insignia on the nose, a hawk with a sword, was typical for Moldovan Fulcrums

Member for

16 years

Posts: 920

I thought Moldavia sold all its Fulcrums to the US?
Well, obviously not..

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

I thought Moldavia sold all its Fulcrums to the US?
Well, obviously not..
By far not all. Some went to Yemen, few to Eritrea (I think), a dozen went to the US, the remaining six are still stored at Marculesti AFB.

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 927

There were no Moldovan Fulcrums sent to Eritrea.
Moldova had only 6 Fulcrum C before Eritrea received its planes, and those 6 are still in Moldova as we speak; IIRC Eritrea operates Fulcrum A.
Confirmed deliveries are 1 Fulcrum C to Romania in 1992, 21 Fulcrums (14 C, 6 A and one UB) to the US in 1997.
What is still unknown is the exact number delivered to Yemen in 1994 - usually said to be 4-6, and if any Moldovan MiG-29 was lost during the war with Transnistria in 1992, there is a claim by a SAM battery.

Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 77

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/flex297/22-05Sanaa.jpg
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Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher. It seems to have a refueling probe. Anywone knows what Yemen uses as tanker aircraft?

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 312

Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher.

The enlarged spine for the SMT is optional like most upgrades for the MiG-29. Yemen AF didn't see it as necessary.

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 10,217

Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher. It seems to have a refueling probe. Anywone knows what Yemen uses as tanker aircraft?
Must be more than 6-8. Just on the photo posted here at least a dozen of those can be seen.

Most websites claim a $1.3 billion order from the Yemen Defense Ministry for delivery of 32 MiG-29SMT fighters was placed. Other websites like www.air-attack.com claim 44 SMT/UBTs being in service with YAF in total.

Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 77

Must be more than 6-8. Just on the photo posted here at least a dozen of those can be seen.

Most websites claim a $1.3 billion order from the Yemen Defense Ministry for delivery of 32 MiG-29SMT fighters was placed. Other websites like www.air-attack.com claim 44 SMT/UBTs being in service with YAF in total.

The pictures show two different types, mostly older ones. I can only identify 1 SMT. But many of the others are in such positions that the it will be difficult to spot which version they are.

It seems Yemen wanted to buy more SMTs and upgrade some of the older ones. But it seems that many plans did not (yet?) go through.