Tunisian Air Force
Tunisian Air Force | |
---|---|
جيش الطيران | |
Founded | 1959 |
Country | Tunisia |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 4,500 personnel |
Part of | Tunisian Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Bizerte |
Anniversaries | 24 July |
Equipment | 159 aircraft |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | President Kais Saied |
Commander of the Air Force | General Taïeb Lajimi |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Aermacchi MB-326 |
Fighter | Northrop F-5 |
Patrol | SIAI-Marchetti S.208 |
Trainer | Aero L-59 Super Albatros, Aermacchi SF.260 |
Transport | G-222, Let L-410 Turbolet, Lockheed C-130B/H/J-30 Hercules/Super Hercules |
The Tunisian Air Force (Arabic: اجيش الطيران, French: Armée de l'Air[1]) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
History[]
The Tunisian Air Force was established in 1959, three years after Tunisia regained its independence from France. It took deliveries of its first aircraft, eight Saab 91 Safirs, in 1960, later to be complemented by further Saab 91 Safirs. The Tunisian Air Force entered the jet age in 1965 with the purchase of 8 MB326-B's and then 5 MB326-LT's. In 1969, the country received 15 ex-USAF F-86F Sabre. Between 1974 and 1978 12 SF.260 Warriors and 9 SF.260C were delivered for basic training. In 1977–78 8 MB.326KT's were supplied for light attack duties. In 1981 Tunisia ordered 12 F-5's (8 F-5E and 4 F-5F), deliveries taking place in 1984–85. Then adding 5 ex-USAF F-5E's from the Alconbury Aggressor Squadron (in 1989). In 1985 Tunisia ordered 2 C130-H's Hercules. In 1995 a major Czech order was placed with 12 Aero L-59 armed trainers and 3 Let L-410UVP transports ordered. In 1997 five surplus C-130B's were delivered from the USA. Tunisia has two C-130J-30s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.
Purchase of 12 UH-60M[2]
Highly possible purchase of F-16 Viper for renewal of the fighter jets by the end of 2023.
There are four main bases: Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/ and Sfax.
Organization[]
The order of battle of the Tunisian Air force is as below:[3]
Tunis-Laouina[]
36°50′57″N 010°14′51″E / 36.84917°N 10.24750°E
- No. 12 Squadron
- Transport squadron, Let L-410 Turbolet
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed[]
37°14′58″N 009°46′48″E / 37.24944°N 9.78000°E
- No. 11 Squadron
- Jet trainer squadron, Aermacchi MB-326
- No. 15 Squadron
- Fighter squadron, Northrop F-5 Tiger
- No. 21 Squadron
- Transport squadron, C-130 Hercules, G-222
Bizerte-La Karouba[]
37°15′10″N 009°47′40″E / 37.25278°N 9.79444°E
- No. 31 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron, Bell 205, UH-1 Iroquois
- No. 32 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron, Alouette II, Ecureuil
- No. 33 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron
- No. 36 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron
Sfax-Thyna[]
34°42′55″N 010°41′47″E / 34.71528°N 10.69639°E
- No. 13 Squadron
- Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
- No. 14 Squadron
- Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
- No. ? Squadron
- Helicopter squadron
Gafsa[]
34°25′04″N 008°48′45″E / 34.41778°N 8.81250°E
- No. 16 Squadron
- Jet trainer squadron, flying L-59s
- No. 34 Squadron
Aircraft[]
Current inventory[]
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
Northrop F-5 | United States | fighter | F-5E | 12[4] | ||
Transport | ||||||
Let L-410 | Czech Republic | utility | 5[4] | |||
C-130 Hercules | United States | transport / SAR | C-130B/H | 7[4] | ||
C-130J Super Hercules | United States | tactical airlifter | 2[4] | |||
Helicopters | ||||||
Bell 412 | United States | utility | 2[4] | |||
Bell 205 | United States | utility | 36[4] | of which 16 are UH-1H’s | ||
Bell OH-58 | United States | armed scout | OH-58D | 18[4] | ||
Alouette II | France | liaison / light utility | 8[4] | |||
Alouette III | France | liaison / utility | 8[4] | |||
Sikorsky HH-3 | United States | SAR / transport | 15[4] | |||
Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | utility | UH-60M | 8[4] | ||
Eurocopter AS350 | France | utility / liaison | 6[4] | |||
Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
Northrop F-5 | United States | conversion trainer | F-5F | 3[4] | ||
Aero L-39 | Czech Republic | jet trainer | 9[4] | |||
Aermacchi MB-326 | Italy | jet trainer | 10[5] | |||
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 | Italy | trainer | 17[4] | |||
UAV | ||||||
TAI Anka | Turkey | surveillance | 3 on order[6] |
References[]
- ^ "Présentation au profil de l'armée de l'air" (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ "Tunisia – UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ "Tunisian Air Force OrBat". Scramble. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ Lake, Jon (15 October 2019). "T-6C Texan II Sale Possible for Tunisia". ainonline.
- ^ "Tunisia Signs $80 Million Deal for Three Turkish Anka-S Combat Drones – The Defense Post". Retrieved 3 May 2021.
Sources[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Tunisia. |
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03
- Air forces by country
- Military of Tunisia
- Military units and formations established in 1959
- 1959 establishments in Tunisia
- Military aviation in Africa