Senegalese Air Force
| Senegalese Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise | |
 Senegalese Air Force badge | |
| Founded | 1 April 1961 |
| Country |  Senegal |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size |
|
| 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 |
| 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 |
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] During the 1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt one of the SA 330F was shot down attempting to recapture the Radio Syd transmitter outside Banjul, killing all 18 onboard.[3]
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]
Senegal ordered 4 Aero L-39NGs for both light attack / COIN and training duties in April 2018.[4] By March 2022 it was reported that the Senegal had cancelled the order.[5][6][7]
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
Aircraft
Current inventory
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| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Patrol | |||||
| IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | maritime patrol | 1[6] | ||
| Transport | |||||
| Fokker 27 | Netherlands | VIP transport | 1[6] | ||
| IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | transport | 2 | 1 on order[6] | |
| Casa C-295 | Spain | transport | 2[8] | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| Bell 206 | United States | utility | 2[6] | ||
| Mil Mi-2 | Soviet Union | liaison | 2[6] | ||
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia | utility | 2[6] | ||
| Mil Mi-24 | Russia | attack | Mi-35 | 5[6] | |
| Eurocopter AS355 | France | utility | 1[6] | ||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | liaison / utility | 1[6] | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | |||||
| Socata TB 30 | France | basic trainer | 6[6] | ||
| KAI KT-1 Woongbi | Republic of Korea | primary trainer | 4[6] | ||
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sailu, Yunus. "Recollection of 30th July 1981 offensive by Kukoi". The Print (Gambia).
- ^ "Senegal orders L-39NG attack jets". janes.com. Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "General Sarr cancels Aero Vodochody attack aircraft order". africaintelligence.com. 4 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Martin, Guy (2023-04-03). "Senegal takes delivery of second C295". Retrieved 2023-08-12.