Senegalese Air Force

Senegalese Air Force
Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise
Senegalese Air Force roundel
Founded 1961
Country Senegal
Size 23 aircraft
Garrison/HQ Ouakam[1]
Aircraft flown
Attack Mil Mi-35
Helicopter Mil Mi-2/Mi-17/Mi-35/Eurocopter AS355/Bell 206
Trainer Aerospatiale Epsilon

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 C47's from 1977, when also four SOCATA Rallye light planes were acquired. Four armed Rallye 235A Guerrier version followed in 1984.[1]

Organisation

The Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise 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

Le chef d'état major de l'armée de l'air au Sénégal.

Aircraft

Current inventory

A Senegalese Fokker 27
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
EMB 314 Brazil light attack / COIN 3 on order[2]
Reconnaissance
King Air United States surveillance 200 2[2]
Transport
Fokker 27 Netherlands VIP 3[2]
CASA CN-235 Spain transport / VIP 1[2]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-2 Soviet Union liaison 2[2]
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility 2[2]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-35 2[2]
AW139 Italy utility / SAR 1[2]
Bell 206 United States utility 2[2]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 1[2]
Eurocopter AS355 France utility 1[2]
Trainer Aircraft
Socata TB 30 France basic trainer 2[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Force Report: Senegalese Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, November 2008 issue, pp. 48–50.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 28". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

World aircraft information files Brightstar publishing File 338 sheet 4

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