Senegalese Air Force
Senegalese Air Force | |
---|---|
Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise | |
Founded | 1 April 1961 |
Country | Senegal |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 1,000 personnel 28 aircraft (2017) |
Part of | Senegalese Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Ouakam[1] |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Général Pape Souleymane Sarr[2] |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | KAI KT-1 Woongbi, Aero L-39NG |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-2, Mi-17, Eurocopter AS355, Bell 206, Aérospatiale Alouette III |
Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-35 |
Patrol | CASA/IPTN CN-235 |
Trainer | Aerospatiale Epsilon, KAI KT-1 Woongbi |
Transport | Fokker 27, CASA/IPTN CN-235, BN-2 Islander |
The Senegalese Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise) is the air force branch of the Senegalese Armed Forces.
History[]
It was formed on 1 April 1961 with Douglas C-47s, MH.1521 Broussards, plus Sud Aloutte II and Agusta-Bell 47G helicopters. Close ties to France have been maintained with France through training and base facilities agreements.[1]
From the early 1970s saw further French deliveries, the first jet aircraft enter service. The Fouga Magister jet trainer/ground attack as well as an SA 341H Gazelle and SA 330F Puma helicopters were delivered.[1]
Later expansion saw the delivery of six Fokker F27 transport to replace the C-47s from 1977, when also four SOCATA Rallye light planes were acquired. Four armed Rallye 235A Guerrier version followed in 1984.[1]
Organization[]
The Air Force's headquarters are currently located at Ouakam, near the capital of Dakar, on the opposite side of the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.[1] The air force has the role of defending Senegalese airspace, protecting airport areas, supporting other Senegalese forces, medevac and maritime patrol.[1]
Funding remains a constant problem for the Senegalese Air Force and the increasing cost of aviation fuel restricts the number of available flying hours.[1]
Air Force Chiefs of Staff[]
- General Pape Souleymane Sarr
- General Birame Diop
- General Ousmane Kane
- General Alain JC Pereira
- Captain Mamadou Mansour Seck
- Commander Amadou Lam
- Colonel Mamadou Diop
- Colonel Sidy Ndiaye Bouya
- Colonel Raoul Dacosta
- Colonel Amadou Fall
- Colonel Tamba Meissa
- Colonel Mouhamadou Diawara
- General Alain Pereira
Aircraft[]
Current inventory[]
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | |||||
Aero L-39NG | Czech Republic | light attack / COIN | 4 on order[3] | ||
Transport | |||||
Fokker 27 | Netherlands | VIP transport | 1[3] | ||
CASA/IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | transport / MPA | 2 | 1 on order[3] | |
Helicopters | |||||
Bell 206 | United States | utility | 2[3] | ||
Mil Mi-2 | Soviet Union | liaison | 2[3] | ||
Mil Mi-17 | Russia | utility | 2[3] | ||
Mil Mi-24 | Russia | attack | Mi-35 | 5[3] | |
Eurocopter AS355 | France | utility | 1[3] | ||
Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | liaison / utility | 1[3] | ||
Trainer Aircraft | |||||
Socata TB 30 | France | basic trainer | 6[3] | ||
KAI KT-1 Woongbi | Republic of Korea | primary trainer | 2 | 2 on order[3] |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Force Report: Senegalese Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, November 2008 issue, pp. 48–50.
- ^ "Formation des jeunes civils aux métiers de l'aviation : L'armée de l'air sénégalaise et Air Sénégal signe un accord de partenariat". Dakaractu. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/first-senegalese-kt-1s-arrive/
- Air forces by country
- Military of Senegal
- Military units and formations established in 1961
- Military aviation in Africa