Tunisian Air Force

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Tunisian Air Force
"القوات الجوية التونسية"
El Quwat ej-Jawiya et'Tunsia
أركان جيش الطيران، تونس.svg
Seal of the Tunisian Air Force
Founded 1959
Country  Tunisia
Size 4,000 personnel
Part of Tunisian Armed Forces
HQ Bizerte
Nickname(s) TAF
Anniversaries 24 July
Equipment 119 aircraft
Engagements War on Terror
Commanders
Commander General Taïeb Lajimi
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of the Tunisian Air Force.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack Aermacchi MB-326
Fighter Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II+
Patrol SIAI-Marchetti S.208
Trainer Aero L-59 Super Albatros
Aermacchi SF.260
Transport G-222
Let L-410 Turbolet
Lockheed C-130B/H/J-30 Hercules/Super Hercules

The Tunisian Air Force (El Quwat ej-Jawiya et'Tunsia) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.

Air Force[edit]

The Tunisian Air Force was established in 1959, three years after Tunisia regained its independence from France. It took deliveries of its first aircraft, eight Saab 91 Safirs, in 1960, later to be complemented by further Saab 91 Safirs. The Tunisian Air Force entered the jet age in 1965 with the purchase of 8 MB326-B's and then 5 MB326-LT's. In 1969, the country received 15 ex-USAF F-86F Sabre. Between 1974 and 1978 12 SF.260 Warriors and 9 SF.260C were delivered for basic training. In 1977–78 8 MB.326KT's were supplied for light attack duties. In 1981 Tunisia ordered 12 F-5's (8 F-5E and 4 F-5F), deliveries taking place in 1984-85. Then adding 5 ex-USAF F-5E's from the Alconbury Aggressor Squadron (in 1989). In 1985 Tunisia ordered 2 C130-H's Hercules. In 1995 a major Czech order was placed with 12 Aero L-59 armed trainers and 3 Let L-410UVP transports ordered. In 1997 five surplus C-130B's were delivered from the USA. Tunisa has two C-130J-30s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

Possible purchase of 12 UH-60M[1]

There are four main bases: Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba and Sfax.

Organization[edit]

The order of battle of the Tunisian Air force is as below:[2]

Tunis-Laouina[edit]

36°50′57″N 010°14′51″E / 36.84917°N 10.24750°E / 36.84917; 10.24750

No. 12 Squadron
Transport squadron, Let L-410 Turbolet

Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed[edit]

37°14′58″N 009°46′48″E / 37.24944°N 9.78000°E / 37.24944; 9.78000

No. 11 Squadron
Jet trainer squadron, Aermacchi MB-326
No. 15 Squadron
Fighter squadron, Northrop F-5 Tiger
No. 21 Squadron
Transport squadron, C-130 Hercules, G-222

Bizerte-La Karouba[edit]

37°15′10″N 009°47′40″E / 37.25278°N 9.79444°E / 37.25278; 9.79444

No. 31 Squadron
Helicopter squadron, Bell 205, UH-1 Iroquois
No. 32 Squadron
Helicopter squadron, Alouette II, Ecureuil
No. 33 Squadron
Helicopter squadron
No. 36 Squadron
Helicopter squadron

Sfax-Thyna[edit]

34°42′55″N 010°41′47″E / 34.71528°N 10.69639°E / 34.71528; 10.69639

No. 13 Squadron
Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
No. 14 Squadron
Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
No. ? Squadron
Helicopter squadron

Gafsa[edit]

34°25′04″N 008°48′45″E / 34.41778°N 8.81250°E / 34.41778; 8.81250

No. 16 Squadron
Jet trainer squadron, flying L-59s
No. ? Squadron

Aircraft[edit]

A C-130 taxis down the runway at Lajes Field, Portugal
A Tunisian HH-3 helicopter participating in a rescue exercise in Bizerte
A SIAI-Marchetti SF.260

Current inventory[edit]

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E 12[3]
Transport
C-130 Hercules United States transport / SAR C-130B/H 7[3]
C-130J Super Hercules United States tactical airlifter C-130J-30 2[3]
Let L-410 Czech Republic utility 4[3]
Helicopters
Bell 412 United States utility 3[3]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H/N 32[3]
Bell OH-58 United States reconnaissance OH-58D 24 on order[4]
Alouette II France liaison / light utility 8[3]
Alouette III France liaison / utility 8[3]
Sikorsky HH-3 United States SAR / transport 19[3]
Sikorsky UH-60 United States utility UH-60M 16 on order[3]
Eurocopter AS350 France utility / liaison 6[3]
Trainer Aircraft
Northrop F-5 United States conversion trainer F-5F 3[3]
Aero L-59 Czech Republic jet trainer 9[3]
Aermacchi MB-326 Italy jet trainer 10[3]
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Italy trainer 18[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tunisia – UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". 
  2. ^ "Tunisian Air Force OrBat". Scramble. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2016 pg. 31". Flightglobal Insight. 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016. 
  4. ^ "Kiowa Warrior helicopter sale to Tunisia". janes.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016. 

Sources[edit]

  • World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03
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