Gabon Air Force
L’Armee de l'air

Air Force personnel in 2011 numbered 1,000. There were 14 combat-capable aircraft in 2011 (including eight Mirage 5s) and seven helicopters. The air force equipment covers the selection, acquisition, implementation, operation, maintenance, modernization, management reform update of equipment and air materials, and infrastructure, buildings This action is implemented by the directorates, Services Techniques, Operations, and Communications, infrastructure and programming, with Administrative Services and financial, of computing and by the technical means of the Air and the ALA army bases.

On January 25, 1972, by Decree 205/PR/DN, the Air Force CRB reported directly to the President. On 06 January 1983, the creation of the EMA resulted in the loss of autonomy and reinstatement of the AHF structure. In January 1980, on the initiative of President El Hadj Omar Bongo , the Air Force gets a combat structure, through the acquisition of a fleet of fighter planes and marks its territoriality by creation of the air base Mvengue 02 of which with that of Libreville will cause the outbreak of the Gabonese air forces.

Missions in time of peace include preparation for wartime mission (operation & exercises, etc.); Logistical support to the security and defence forces (transport of units, etc...); and missions of general interest (transport, VIP, AE, etc.). War time missions are logistics, including Aero-transport, MEDEVAC, SAMAR, SÄTER, etc...; and those of a tactical character, such as Aero-drop, fire support, etc...

In 1986 the EMA became the EMGFA, with the withdrawal of the rtrary aricraft and the creation of the ALA helicopter component. The Army Light Aviation is the newest of the Gabonese armed forces, created by Presidential Decree n o 00905 / PR / DN 11 July 1986 following the conclusions of the Defence Board of Governors in its meeting on 29 June 1984. The light aircraft armed holds all the helicopters in service in the Gabonese armed forces. It inherited his creation of all structures and personnel of the former squadron Helicopters of the Air Force.

The Council agreed to the draft decree on the reorganization of the Air Force. Placed under supervision of the Minister of National Defence and under the authority of the Chief of General Staff of the Forces armies, the Air Force has a General Staff, the Air Military Regions and Areas of instructions and training. Two (2) new Military Regions Airlines were created. Military Aviation North Region whose seat command based in Libreville and comprising the provinces of the Estuary, Woleu-Ntem, Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Maritime and the Middle Ogooué. South Region Air Military command headquartered is based in Franceville and comprising the provinces of Upper Ogooué, Ogooué-Lolo, Ngounié and Nyanga.

At the end of the traditional weekly Council of Ministers works held at the palace of the President of the Republic August 11, 2011 and under the chairmanship of Head of State, Ali Bongo Ondimba, a final communiqué resulted. The Minister of National Defence, Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo hosted June 22, 2016 in Libreville the basic AMBRAER Brazilian aircraft manufacturer as part of the demonstration of the operational capabilities of the fighter Super TUCANO manufacturing Brazilian and whose performance has been widely praised during the year that brought together the elite of the air Force and the aviation Light of Hosts. During this demonstration, the Brazilian aircraft made several figures which were the most attractive of the rocket attack simulations, maneuverability in a very small space, a simulation of the attack to the bomb at low altitude and the appearance of the device to be able to deliver multiple types of weapons in a short time. After this demonstration, officials EMBRAER had a working session with the Minister of Defense in order to deepen exchanges for a possible purchase contract for the benefit of the Air Force.