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Senegalese Air Force

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Senegalese Air Force
Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise
Senegalese Air Force badge
Founded1 April 1961; 63 years ago (1961-04-01)
Country Senegal
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size
  • 1,000 personnel
  • 40 aircraft (2022)
Part ofSenegalese Armed Forces
HeadquartersOuakam[1]
Commanders
Current
commander
Général Pape Souleymane Sarr[2]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackKAI KT-1 Woongbi
HelicopterMil Mi-2, Mi-17, Eurocopter AS355, Bell 206, Aérospatiale Alouette III
Attack helicopterMil Mi-35
PatrolCASA/IPTN CN-235
TrainerAerospatiale Epsilon, KAI KT-1 Woongbi
TransportFokker 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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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Current inventory

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A Senegalese Fokker 27
A Senegalese Bell 206
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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Force Report: Senegalese Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, November 2008 issue, pp. 48–50.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Sailu, Yunus. "Recollection of 30th July 1981 offensive by Kukoi". The Print (Gambia).
  4. ^ "Senegal orders L-39NG attack jets". janes.com. Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. ^ "General Sarr cancels Aero Vodochody attack aircraft order". africaintelligence.com. 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. ^ Martin, Guy (2023-04-03). "Senegal takes delivery of second C295". Retrieved 2023-08-12.