| Unit name | Senegalese Air Force |
|---|---|
| Native name | Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise |
| Start date | 1 April 1961 (age 65) |
| Country | Senegal |
| Role | Aerial warfare Airlift Combat search and rescue Counterinsurgency Force protection Forward air control Maritime patrol |
| Size |
|
| Command structure | Senegalese Armed Forces |
| Garrison | Ouakam[1] |
| Garrison label | Headquarters |
| Commander 1 | Général Pape Souleymane Sarr[2] |
| Identification symbol label | Roundel |
| Aircraft attack | KAI KT-1 Woongbi |
| Aircraft helicopter | Mil Mi-2, Mi-17, Eurocopter AS355, Bell 206, Aérospatiale Alouette III |
| Aircraft helicopter attack | Mil Mi-35 |
| Aircraft patrol | CASA/IPTN CN-235 |
| Aircraft trainer | Aerospatiale Epsilon, KAI KT-1 Woongbi |
| Aircraft 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 Alouette II and Agusta-Bell 47G helicopters. Close ties to France have been maintained with France through training and base facilities agreements.[1]
The early 1970s saw further French deliveries, with the first jet aircraft entering service. The Fouga Magister jet trainer/ground attack aircraft 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 330Fs 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 transports 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 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
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime patrol | |||||
| IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | Maritime patrol | 1[8] | ||
| Transport | |||||
| IPTN CN-235 | Indonesia | Transport | 2[8] | ||
| EADS CASA C-295 | Spain | Transport | 1[8] | ||
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | Transport | King Air 200 | 2[8] | |
| Helicopters | |||||
| Bell 206 | United States | Utility | 1[8] | ||
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia | Utility | 4[8] | ||
| Mil Mi-24 | Russia | Attack | Mi-35 | 5[8] | |
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | Liaison / Utility | 1[8] | ||
| Bell 505 | United States / Canada | Utility | 3[8] | ||
| Trainer aircraft | |||||
| Socata TB 30 | France | Basic trainer | 6[8] | ||
| KAI KT-1 Woongbi | South Korea | Primary trainer | 4[8] | ||
| Hughes 269 | United States | Trainer helicopter | 6[8] | ||
References
- ^ 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 5 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "General Sarr cancels Aero Vodochody attack aircraft order". africaintelligence.com. 4 March 2022.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved 26 February 2025.