The last loss took place in 1989 near Batroun during routine training, when the undercarriage failed to lower, causing the jet to crash. The Hunters were finally grounded in 1994 after a minor accident with one of the T.66 trainers during landing and the remaining 8 were stored in Rayak. Because the main airfield, Rayak Air Base, had been shelled by Syrian forces, the Hunters had to operate from an airfield in Byblos. Three F.Mk.70s were made airworthy, and resumed combat operations on September 15. This was at a time when the French and Americans were rebuilding the Lebanese Army. The Hawker Hunters have not flown any combat sorties since September 17, 1983. One Lebanese Hawker Hunter was shot down by an Israeli Air Force Mirage IIICJ. During the Six-Day War Two Hawker Hunter strafed Israeli positions in Galilee. A Lebanese Hawker Hunter shot down an Israeli jet over Kfirmishki in the early 1960s and its pilot was captured by the Lebanese Armed Forces. The Lebanese Air Forces have a long history operating Hawker Hunter jets since 1958. In October 2018, MD Helicopters confirm receipt delivery order of six MD 530F+ for Lebanese air force with estimated delivery schedule on fourth quarter of 2020. In the absence of advanced fighter aircraft, the air force currently relies on a helicopter force, a squadron of Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, and three Cessna AC 208s for the reconnaissance and ground attack roles. In 2018, the United States government delivered six Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano to the Lebanese Air Force. In 2000, the grounded Mirages were sold to Pakistan. In 1968, 12 Mirage IIIELs were delivered from France but were grounded in the late 1970s due to lack of funds. The first Hawker Hunters arrived in 1959 and were followed by additional fighters through 1977. In 1953, jet fighters were introduced when 16 de Havilland Vampire jets were received. Britain donated 4 Percival Prentices and 2 World War II-era Percival Proctors, while Italy donated 4 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers which were mainly used for transportation. Soon after its establishment, a number of aircraft were donated by the British, French, and Italian governments. The Lebanese Air Force were established in 1949 under the command of then- Lieutenant Colonel Emile Boustany, who later became commander of the army. The seal of the air force is a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanese Cedar tree, surrounded by two laurel leaves on a blue background. The Lebanese Air Force ( LAF) ( Arabic: القوات الجوية اللبنانية, romanized: Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya) is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
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