14, 16 and 18. After both sides
suffered casualties – notably a
Malian MiG-17 which crashed
in late November, killing the
pilot – the two countries agreed
to a ceasefire, negotiated
under the guidance of several
other African states.
After a break in diplomatic
relations following more border
clashes in 1975, Upper Volta and
Mali began talks in 1977, with
mediation by West African states
grouped within the so-called
Accord de Non-Agression et
d’Assistance en Matière de
Défense (ANAD, Non-Aggression
and Defence Aid Agreement).
Both countries later responded
to the early clashes by reinforcing
their aircraft fleets. The FAHV
became autonomous in 1977
and introduced at least three
Cessna 172s, and towards the
end of the decade reinforced
its helicopter squadron with
two Aérospatiale SA356Ns for
transport, utility and search-
and-rescue (SAR) missions.
In 1984, the FAHV tried to
acquire MiG-21s, without
success. But, as he had done
for other countries in Africa,
Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi provided
military assistance, including
eight MiG-21bis fighters and
two MiG-21UMs for training, as
well as pilots. Crews and aircraft
withdrew from Burkina Faso in
1985 without having seen combat.
After President Thomas
Sankara renamed Upper Volta,
the FAHV officially became
the Force Aérienne de Burkina
Faso (FABF) in October 1985.
The same year, the state
acquired a single MiG-17F – serial
BF-8401 – from an unknown
source, probably Algeria. Two
pilots had qualified to fly the
Fresco, but only with basic
flying training in the Soviet
Union and no combat tuition.
The FABF also took on a pair
of ex-Soviet Mi-4 transport
helicopters from an unknown
source, followed later by
two more. A single Mi-8P
transport also joined the unit.Second confl ict
The two FABF air bases – BA
511 Ouagadougou and BA 201
Bobo-Dioulasso – are more than
124 miles (200km) away from
the Burkinabé/Malian border.
The distance compromised
the MiG-17’s reaction time
and restricted its payload.
In December 1985, Malian forces
launched ground offensives
against Burkinabé border posts
and police stations, provoking
counter-attacks. Forces Armées
Maliennes (FAMa, Malian Armed
Forces) MiG-21s then flew air
strikes that led to the scrambleof the FABF MiG-17 – but, with
limited airspace surveillance,
no engagements occurred.
After several successful
Burkinabé counter-attacks,
the war culminated in a strike
by FAMa MiG-21s against the
marketplace in Ouahigouya (124
miles from the nearest FAMa
air base, at Mopti) in which a
number of civilians were killed.
The raid came as a complete
surprise to Burkinabé forces, which
suffered heavy losses that day.
This short conflict, known as the
‘Christmas War’ by the Burkinabé,
ended after five days of fighting.Inventory: Armée de
l’Air Burkinabé, 2018
Aircraft type Serial Comments
DA42M-NG XT-MEH
A-29B BF-1101 Code ‘1101’,
ex XT-MEA?
A-29B BF-1102 Code ‘1102’,
ex XT-MEB?
A-29B BF-1103 Code ‘1103’,
ex XT-MEC?
King Air 200 XT-MBA c/n BB698,
ex N440CF
King Air 200 XT-MBD c/n BB1311
King Air 200 XT-MBF c/n BB1487,
ex XT-IGB
CN235M-220 XT-MBE
Tétras CSL XT-MED
Tétras CSL XT-MEE
Tétras CSL XT-MEF
Xenon 2 RST XT-MFA
Xenon 2 RST XT-MFB
Xenon 2 RST XT-MFC
Xenon 2 RST XT-MFD
Mi-17 BF-9001 Code ‘01’
Mi-17 BF-9202 Code ‘02’
Mi-24V BF-0504 Code ‘04’,
converted
from Mi-24K
UH-1H BF-1605 Code ‘05’
UH-1H BF-1606 Code ‘06’
AS350B XT-MAW Also XT-MAV,
in storage
AW139 XT-MBGAbove: King Air 200 XT-MBD (c/n BB1311) carries unidentifi ed stores
underwing, possibly related to anti-locust operations. Three King Air 200s are
currently active. Paul Morley Left: Three A-29Bs spearhead the air force’s close
support fl eet. This example is seen in Brazil prior to delivery, still wearing the
temporary civilian registration XT-MEC. Paulo César PinheiroAbove: Hawker Siddeley 748 Series 2A XT-MAL in January 2002. Now retired,
this aircraft resides at Ouagadougou alongside cannibalised Beech 200 XT-
MAX and a derelict SOCATA Rallye. Paul Morley Below: CN235M-220 XT-MBE is
the sole example of this turboprop transport in Burkinabé service. The aircraft
was built by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) as a civilian-standard CN235,
before upgrade to CN235M confi guration. Paul Morleyhttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #369 DECEMBER 2018 // 31