Senegalese Air Force

Air warfare branch of Senegal's military

Senegalese Air Force

Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise

Senegalese Air Force badge

Founded| 1 April 1961; 63 years ago (1961-04-01)
Country|  Senegal
Type| Air force
Role| Aerial warfare
Size|

* 1,000 personnel
* 40 aircraft (2022)

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

Military unit

The Senegalese Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise) is the air force branch of the Senegalese Armed Forces.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

### Current inventory

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.

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