Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force

Air warfare branch of Cuba's military

Revolutionary Anti-Air Defence and Air Force

Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria

Cuban Armed Forces emblem

Founded| 1959; 66 years ago (1959)
Country|  Cuba
Type| Air force
Role| Aerial defence
Aerial warfare
Size| 8,000 personnel
Part of| Revolutionary Armed Forces
Nickname(s)| DAAFAR
Commanders
Notable
commanders| Major General Pedro Mendiondo Gómez[1][2]
Insignia
Roundel|
Fin flash|
Roundel (1959–1962)|
Roundel (1955–1959)|
Aircraft flown
Fighter| MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29
Attack helicopter| Mil Mi-24
Trainer| Aero L-39
Transport| An-24, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17

Military unit

The Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (Spanish: Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) commonly abbreviated to DAAFAR in both Spanish and English, is the air force of Cuba.

## History

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

The Cuban Army Air Force was the air force of Cuba that existed prior to 1959. The aircraft were mainly made up of fighter, bomber, and trainer aircraft operated by the US military, and before the revolution the country was relatively peaceful and had no combat experience.

### Early years under Castro

[edit]

Main article: Bay of Pigs Invasion

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2017)

|

When the Cuban Revolution overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista at the end of 1958, the new government led by Fidel Castro inherited most of the aircraft and equipment of the old regime, which was supplemented by the aircraft of the revolutionaries own Fueza Aérea Rebelde,[a] to form the new Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria (FAR). Arrests of many of the personnel (including 40 pilots) of the old air force meant that the FAR was short of manpower to operate its aircraft, while lack of spare parts further reduced operational efficiency and a US-inspired arms embargo restricted efforts to acquire replacement aircraft.[4]

In April 1961, CIA-backed Cuban exiles attempted an invasion of Cuba with the aim of overthrowing Castro's government. The invasion was preceded on 17 April by air attacks on Cuban airfields in an attempt to destroy the FAR prior to the invasion, with several FAR aircraft being destroyed.[5] The remaining operational aircraft were deployed against the Cuban exiles landings on 19 April, sinking one transport, the Rio Escondido and badly damaging another, the Houston, which was beached, resulting in the loss of most of the invaders' supplies.[6]

The Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis caused American aircraft to become worn out and fall into disuse, but the Soviet Union came to the rescue and sent the first jet fighters, the MiG-15bis, MiG-15R and MiG-15UTI, as well as transport aircraft such as the An-2 and Il-14.

In 1969, the inadequacy of the radar coverage to the south of the United States were dramatically illustrated when a Cuban Air Force MiG-17 went undetected before it landed at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida[7] and two years later, an Antonov An-24 similarly arrived unannounced at New Orleans International Airport.[7]

### Later years

[edit]

Cuban MiG-21MF from the 1970s

In the 1980s, Cuba with the help of the Soviet Union was able to project power abroad, using its air force, especially in Africa. During that time Cuba sent jet fighters and transports for deployment in conflict zones such as Angola and Ethiopia.

In the late 1980s, Cuba implemented a plan to acquire 45 MiG-29 Fulcrum, including trainer versions, from the Soviet Union. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, this plan came to an end with only twelve MiG-29 (9.12B) fighter aircraft and two MiG-29UB (9.51) trainer aircraft being delivered.[8]

In 1990, Cuba's Air Force was the best equipped in Latin America. During this time, the Cuban Air Force imported approximately 230 fixed-wing aircraft. Although there is no exact figure available, Western analysts estimate that at least 130 (with only 25 operational)[9] of these planes are still in service spread out among the thirteen military airbases on the island.

In 1996, fighters from the DAAFAR shot down two Cessna aircraft based in Florida which were accused of dropping leaflets into Cuban airspace. The Air Force was criticized for not giving the pilots of the aircraft options other than being shot down. One aircraft escaped.[10]

In 1998, according to the same DIA report mentioned above, the air force had "fewer than 24 operational MIG fighters; pilot training barely adequate to maintain proficiency; a declining number of fighter sorties, surface-to-air missiles and air-defense artillery to respond to attacking air forces."[11]

## Organization

[edit]

By 2007 the International Institute for Strategic Studies assessed the force as 8,000 strong with 41 combat capable aircraft and a further 189 stored. DAAFAR is divided into three territorial commands known as air zones, in each of which there is a Brigade with several independent Regiments and Squadrons. Each regiment has about 30 aircraft, and squadrons can vary in number, but are usually 12-14 aircraft. DAAFAR's air force, which it maintained until the 1980s, has now declined and its fighting power is now very limited. The fighter aircraft confirmed to be in operation are mainly the MiG-29 and MiG-21, and although the country once operated more than 50 MiG-23s, 3 of which were confirmed to be operational in 2011, they are not currently in operation. [2][3][4]. It is also assessed to have 12 operational transport and training aircraft, including the L-39C and helicopters, mainly Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 Hind. Raul Castro ordered in 2010 that all MiG-29 pilots undergo full training, and they now fly between 200 and 250 hours per year, in addition to actual dogfight training and exercises. Due to this limited training time, MiG-21 units spend more time in simulators and maintain their flying skills in the Air Force's civilian brand Aerogaviota. Up to 20 MiG-23 units, said to exist, also undergo this type of training, but it has not been revealed whether any of the aircraft are already operational, if a unit exists, or how many remain.

At San Antonio de los Baños military air field, south west of Havana, several aircraft are visible using Google Earth.[12]

### Air bases

[edit]

A Cuban Naval Vought OS2U-3

* San Julián Air Base
* San Antonio de los Baños Airfield
* La Coloma Airport
* Santa Clara Air Base
* Cienfuegos Air Base
* Holguín Air Base
* Santiago de Cuba Base
* Playa Baracoa Airbase

### Units

[edit]

* Western Air Zone - 2nd Guards Aviation Brigade "Battle of Girón Beach" (San Antonio de los Baños Airfield)[13]
* 21st Fighter Regiment, San Antonio (interception and air support)
* 211st Fighter Squadron
* 212th Fighter Squadron
* 22nd Fighter Regiment, Baracoa (interception and air support)
* 221st Fighter Squadron
* 222nd Fighter Squadron
* 223rd Fighter Squadron
* 23rd Fighter Regiment, San Antonio and San Julián (interception and air support)
* 231st San Antonio de los Baños Fighter Squadron
* 232nd San Julián Fighter Squadron
* 24th Tactical Support Regiment, Guines
* 241st Fighter Squadron
* 26th Helicopter Regiment, Ciudad Libertad
* 261st General Purpose Helicopter Squadron
* 262nd General Purpose Helicopter Squadron
* 25th Transport Regiment, San Antonio and José Martí
* 251st Transport Squadron, Jose Martí Airport
* 252nd Transportation Squadron, San Antonio de los Baños
* "Comandante Che Guevara" Air Force Academy, San Julián
* Central Air Zone - 1st Guards Brigade "Battle of Santa Clara"
* 11th Fighter Regiment, Santa Clara (interception and air support)
* 111th Fighter Squadron
* 112th Fighter Squadron
* 12th Fighter Regiment, Sancti Spiritus (interception and air support)
* 121st Fighter Squadron
* 122nd Fighter Squadron
* 14th Tactical Support Regiment, Santa Clara (fighter-bombers)
* 141st Fighter Squadron
* 16th Helicopter Regiment, Cienfuegos
* 162nd Helicopter Squadron
* 163rd Helicopter Squadron
* Naval Aviation of the Revolutionary Navy, Cienfuegos
* 161st Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron
* 15th Transportation Regiment, Cienfuegos
* 151st Transport Squadron
* Eastern Air Zone - 3rd Guards Aviation Brigade "Moncada Barracks"
* 31st Fighter Regiment, Camagüey (interception and air support)
* 311st Fighter Squadron
* 312th Fighter Squadron
* 34th Tactical Support Regiment, Holguín (fighter-bombers)
* 341st Fighter Squadron
* 36th Helicopter Regiment, Santiago de Cuba
* 361st Combat Helicopter Squadron
* 362nd Helicopter Squadron
* 363rd Helicopter Squadron
* 35th Transport Regiment, Santiago de Cuba
* 351st Transport Squadron

Source:[14]

#### 2nd Guards Aviation Brigade "Girón Beach"

[edit]

The 2nd Guards "Playa Girón" Aviation Brigade, based in San Antonio de los Baños, is an elite unit of the DAAFAR. The San Antonio de los Baños air base was built at the end of World War II. In 1976, the unit stationed that received the current name of the Playa Girón Guards Aviation Brigade. In April 1961, was responsible for the defense of Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.[15] Among its notable members was Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez. It is a recipient of the Antonio Maceo Order, which was awarded to it in 2014 on its 55th anniversary.[16] In October 2019, the regiment called for the immediate release of former Brazilian President and leader of the Workers Party, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.[17]

## Aircraft

[edit]

Cuban MiG-21 fighter aircraft inside VF-45 hangar. A Cuban MiG-23BN

### Current inventory

[edit]

Due the aircraft age, much equipment is unserviceable, while a large portion of the fleet is reportedly in storage.[18]

Aircraft  | Origin  | Type  | Variant  | In service  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Combat aircraft
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | Multirole |  | 5[19] | Includes 3 MiG-29UB trainers. All are possibly non-operational.[19]
MiG-21 | Soviet Union  | Interceptor | Bis/UM[19] | 11[20] |
Reconnaissance
Antonov An-30 | Soviet Union  | Reconnaissance |  | 1[19] | Possibly non-operational.[19]
Transport
Antonov An-24 | Soviet Union  | Transport |  | 1[19] | Operated by Aerogaviota.[19]
Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union  | Transport  |  | 3[19] | Operated by Aerogaviota.[19]
Ilyushin Il-76 | Soviet Union  | Transport  |  | 2[19] |
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union  | Utility | P  | 2[19] |
Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union  | Utility  |  | 7[19] | 12 in storage.[19]
Mil Mi-24 | Russia | Attack | Mi-35 | 4[20] | 8 in storage. Possibly non-operational.[19]
Trainer aircraft
Aero L-39 | Czechoslovakia | Jet trainer | C[21] | 3[20] |
Zlín Z 42 | Czechoslovakia  | Trainer  | 142C  |  | [19]

### Retired

[edit]

Prior to the Cuban Revolution, aircraft operated by the Air Force included: Vought O2U Corsair, Airco DH.4B, Curtiss JN-4D, Waco D-7, Bellanca Aircruiser, Howard Aircraft Corporation transports, Boeing-Stearman A73, Curtiss-Wright 19R-2, Grumman G21, Grumman G-21 Goose, Aeronca L-3, Boeing-Stearman PT-13, Boeing-Stearman PT-17, North American T-6, North American P-51D Mustang, North American B-25J Mitchell, Douglas C-47, Lockheed T-33A, Hawker Sea Fury, de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver fixed-wing aircraft, and Westland Whirlwind (S-55) helicopters.[22]

Post-Cuban Revolution aircraft that was previously operated includes: MiG-15bis/R/UTI, MiG-17AS/F, MiG-19P, MiG-23MF/BN/ML/US/UM, Antonov An-2, An-32, Ilyushin Il-14, Il-62, Yakovlev Yak-40, Zlin 226 fixed-wing aircraft plus Mil Mi-1, Mi-4A and Mi-14 helicopters.[23][21]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The Fuerza Aérea Rebelde consisted mainly of transports and light aircraft, which were used to carry arms and personnel to the rebel fighters, but also included three P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft and a T-28 armed trainer.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Preguntas sin respuestas en muerte de jefe militar".
2. ^ "FALLECIÓ EL GENERAL DE BRIGADA PEDRO J. MENDIONDO GÓMEZ, JEFE DE LA DEFENSA ANTIAÉREA y FUERZA AÉREA REVOLUCIONARIA CUBANA". 27 August 2013.
3. ^ Hagedorn 1993, pp. 146–147
4. ^ Hagedorn 1993, pp. 26–27
5. ^ de Quesada 2009, pp. 20–21
6. ^ de Quesada 2009, pp. 27, 29
7. ^ a b Leonard, p. 172
8. ^ https://www.laahs.com/the-cuban-migs/
9. ^ Cuban Armed Forces Review: Air Force Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ Sections 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20 of the Resolution on the Cuban Government's Shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue Adopted by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the Twentieth Meeting of its 148th Session on 27 June 1996 [1] Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ Jane's Defence Weekly, 13 May 1998
12. ^ https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=22+52'28.40"+N+82+30'26.04"+W&ll=22.874643,-82.506809&spn=0.004557,0.006899&t=h&z=17 Google Earth imagery of San Antonio de los Banos airfield
13. ^ "Defensa antiaérea y revolucionaria Fuerza Aérea | Enciclopedia KripKit.com". kripkit.com. Retrieved 2021-03-15.[permanent dead link]
14. ^ "The Cuban Revolutionary Air Force Today. Equipment • Rubén Urribarres". Cuban Aviation • Rubén Urribarres. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
15. ^ Infodefensa.com (2014-09-08). "La unidad élite de la Fuerza Aérea de Cuba celebra su 55 aniversario - Noticias Infodefensa América". Infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-03-13.
16. ^ Ceremonia Militar por el aniversario de la brigada de Aviacion Playa Giron, retrieved 2021-03-13
17. ^ Ariguanabo, Radio. "Aviation Regiment demands Lula's freedom". Radio Artemisa Digital English Digital Edition. Retrieved 2021-03-13.[permanent dead link]
18. ^ IISS 2025, p. 411.
19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o IISS 2025, p. 413.
20. ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
21. ^ a b Hudson & Library of Congress 2002, p. 388.
22. ^ Wragg 2011, pp. 104−105.
23. ^ Wragg 2011, pp. 105−106.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.
* Hagedorn, Daniel P. (September–October 1996). "Talkback". Air Enthusiast (65): 80. ISSN 0143-5450.
* Hudson, Rex A; Library of Congress, Federal Research Division (2002). Cuba : a country study. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O, 2002. ISBN 0-8444-1045-4. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
* de Quesada, Alejandro (2009). The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961. Elite series. Vol. 166\. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84603-323-0.
* International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025). "Chapter Seven: Latin America and the Caribbean". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 380–439\. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445479. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
* Reinhard, Martin A. (January–February 2004). "Talkback". Air Enthusiast. No. 109\. p. 74\. ISSN 0143-5450.
* Wragg, David (2011). The World Air Power Guide. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84468-784-8.

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