By the way, Izzy, you have access to army and air force encyclopedias ; what are the most recent data on Zimbabwe's military arsenal ? I remember a few J7s and Hawks and a few T55s on the ground. If the situation turns into a nasty fight between the bulk of the armed forces and urban civilian population, it's interesting to know the updated data on this.
Jane's World Air Forces 2007 lists their current inventory as:
9 x
CAC F-7 IIN in the Air Defence/Ground Attack role.
3 x
Mig 23 in the Air Defence/Ground Attack role.
13 x
Reims Cessna FTB337G Lynx in the Counter-Insurgency role.
2 x
Cessna O-2A Skymaster in the Observation role.
11 x
EADS CASA C-212-200 in the Transport role.
5 x
BNG BN2A Islander in the Utility role.
8 x
Aermacchi SF-260TP Armed Trainers.
6 x
Aermacchi SF-260F Armed Trainers.
6 x
BAE Hawk Mk.60 Armed Trainers.
5 x
BAE Hawk Mk.60A Armed Trainers.
12 x
NAMC K-8 Armed Trainers.
12 x
Aermacchi SF-260M Trainers.
5 x
Aermacchi SF-260W Trainers.
2 x
GAIC FT-7BZ Trainers.
6 x
Mil Mi-24/35 in the Attack Helicopter role.
7 x
Agusta Bell AB412SP in the Utility Transport role.
11 x
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar in the Utility Transport role.
23 x
Aerospatiale SA316 Alouette III in the Light Utility role.
However - serviceability is judged to be extremely low, with 2007 reports indicating that only one C-212, one Alouette III, two Agusta-Bell 412s and two Cougars in airworthy condition, along with a handful of F-7s and maybe one Hawk.
EU and US sanctions have forced the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) to cannabilise spares and thus reduce numbers (the Hawks and Cougars being heavily affected). Zimbabwe's general economic collapse has also forced chronic shortages of aviation fuel, drastically reducing flight hours and pilot profficiency. Losses judged to be due to pilot error have been high since 2001.
Janes also states that in 1999, the pilot-corps of the AFZ being whole-sale 'promoted' and shifted to desk jobs before their replacements had worked through the training system. Thus by 2004, the AFZ had virtually collapsed as an effective military formation. Long delays in the Air Force's bureaucratic system and a lack of long-term planning are also cited as issues.
Its combat losses by mid-2002 during operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are known to have included three Hawk Mk.60, two Mil Mi-24/35 Hinds, two Alouette IIIs, one FTB 337G Lynx and one 'macchi SF-260.
In the event of civil war, I think it is safe to say the Air Force could at best muster a handful of aircraft. How effective they would be must also be brought into question given an apparent lack of training, poor pilot profficiency and clear logistical issues.
I will have a look at what Janes says about the Army soon.
