Senegalese Air Force

Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise
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. 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. From the early 1970's 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. 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. 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]

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[2] Notes
Aérospatiale AS 355 Ecureuil  France trainer helicopter AS 355F1 2
Casa C-212 MPA[3]  Spain Maritime Patrol Aircraft C-212-200MPA 1
Mil Mi-24  Russia attack helicopter Mi-35 Hind 2
Mil Mi-17  Russia transport helicopter Mi-17 Hip 2
Mil Mi-2  Soviet Union utility helicopter Mi-2 2
Bell 206  United States utility helicopter 1
Fokker F-27 Friendship  Netherlands transport F-27-400M 6
Boeing 727  United States VIP 727-2M1 1
Casa/IPTN CN-235  Indonesia VIP and transport 235-220 2
Britten-Norman Islander  United Kingdom utility BN-2T 2
Aérospatiale Epsilon  France trainer TB30 Epsilon 2
Air Tractor AT-802  United States misc AT-802 2

References

  1. ^ a b c d Force Report: Senegalese Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, November 2008 issue, pp. 48–50.
  2. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  3. ^ "infodefensa.com (in Spanish)". http://infodefensa.com/esp/noticias/noticias.asp?cod=335&n=Defensa-cede-aviones-C-212/200-SAR-a-Cabo-Verde,-Senegal-y-Mauritania-e-intensifica-relaciones-militares-para-la-vigilancia-de-espacios-mar%EDtimos. 

World aircraft information files Brightstar publishing File 338 sheet 4