| Senegalese Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise | |
 Senegalese Air Force badge | |
| Founded | 1 April 1961; 64 years ago (1961-04-01) |
| Country |  Senegal |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare Airlift Combat search and rescue Counterinsurgency Force protection Forward air control Maritime patrol |
| Size |
|
| 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 |
TheSenegalese Air Force (French:Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise) is theair force branch of theSenegalese Armed Forces.
It was formed on 1 April 1961 withDouglas C-47s,MH.1521 Broussards, plusSud Alouette II andAgusta-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. TheFouga Magister jet trainer/ground attack aircraft as well as anSA 341H Gazelle andSA 330F Puma helicopters were delivered.[1] During the1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt one of the SA 330Fs was shot down attempting to recapture theRadio Syd transmitter outside Banjul, killing all 18 onboard.[3]
Later expansion saw the delivery of sixFokker F27 transports to replace the C-47s from 1977, when also fourSOCATA Rallye light planes were acquired. Four armed Rallye 235A Guerrier version followed in 1984.[1]
Senegal ordered 4Aero 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]
The Air Force's headquarters are currently located atOuakam, near the capital ofDakar, on the opposite side of theLéopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.[1] The air force has the role of defending Senegalese airspace, protecting airport areas, supporting other Senegalese forces,medevac andmaritime 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]
.jpg)
| 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] | ||
| DA42 | Austria | Basic trainer | 4[8] | ||
| Hughes 269 | United States | Trainer helicopter | 6[8] | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
