50th Anniversary of the National People's Army
During the war of national liberation, the ALN had small land-air response units armed with small-caliber anti-aircraft guns.
After independence, these units were structured into combat formations (DCA groups) for the protection of the battle corps. The foundation of the radar detection chain necessary for air defense dates back to the 1960s.
The acquisition in the 1970s of the first Surface-to-Air missiles and the creation, within the Air Directorate, of the Air Defense Sub-Directorate which only had the aircraft vector as means of response, laid the foundations of Air Defense as a full-fledged component of the People's National Army.
This is how in 1981 the Territorial Air Defense Directorate (DDAT) was created, structured at the central level into Sub-Directorates and at the regional level into Air Defense Zones.
In 1986, the Directorate of Territorial Air Defense was attached to the Air Force Command in the form of an arms division.
In 1988, as part of the reorganization of the National People's Army, the DDAT was no longer part of the air forces but a force command in its own right: the Territorial Air Defense Forces Command.
To accomplish its missions, the Air Defense Forces have:
- A command at the central level, and regional commands.
- A radar detection and control system.
- Means of response capable of countering aerial threats.
After independence, these units were structured into combat formations (DCA groups) for the protection of the battle corps. The foundation of the radar detection chain necessary for air defense dates back to the 1960s.
The acquisition in the 1970s of the first Surface-to-Air missiles and the creation, within the Air Directorate, of the Air Defense Sub-Directorate which only had the aircraft vector as means of response, laid the foundations of Air Defense as a full-fledged component of the People's National Army.
This is how in 1981 the Territorial Air Defense Directorate (DDAT) was created, structured at the central level into Sub-Directorates and at the regional level into Air Defense Zones.
In 1986, the Directorate of Territorial Air Defense was attached to the Air Force Command in the form of an arms division.
In 1988, as part of the reorganization of the National People's Army, the DDAT was no longer part of the air forces but a force command in its own right: the Territorial Air Defense Forces Command.
To accomplish its missions, the Air Defense Forces have:
- A command at the central level, and regional commands.
- A radar detection and control system.
- Means of response capable of countering aerial threats.