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Revision as of 21:12, 17 November 2013

Tunisian Air Force
"القوات الجوية التونسية"
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At'Tunisia
أركان جيش الطيران، تونس
Seal of the Tunisian Air Force
Founded 1959
Country Flag of Tunisia 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
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 (Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At'Tunisia) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.

Air Force

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.

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

Organization

The order of battle of the Tunisian Air force is as below:[1]

Tunis-Laouina

36°50′57″N 010°14′51″E / 36.84917°N 10.2475°E / 36.84917; 10.2475

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

Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed

37°14′58″N 009°46′48″E / 37.24944°N 9.78°E / 37.24944; 9.78

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

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

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

34°25′04″N 008°48′45″E / 34.41778°N 8.8125°E / 34.41778; 8.8125

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

Current air force equipment

Aircraft Type Notes Number in service
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II+ Fighter In storage. 12
Aermacchi MB-326 COIN/advanced trainer 10
Aermacchi SF.260 Trainer 18
Let L-410 Turbolet transport 5[2]
C-130B/H Hercules Tactical airlifter/Transport 8
G-222 Tactical airlifter/Transport 5
C-130J-30 Super Hercules Tactical airlifter/Transport/Aerial refueling Tunisia received its first aircraft on April 4th, the second is scheduled for delivery later this year.[3] 2 (Ordered)
SIAI-Marchetti S.208 Utility 2
Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle attack helicopter 5/7[4]
Aérospatiale SA-318C Alouette trainer helicopter 6[5]
Bell 205 trainer helicopter 15
Bell 412 Utility helicopter 1[6]
Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin Utility helicopter 1
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil Utility helicopter 6
Sikorsky S-61 Utility helicopter Unknown; between 6 and 16 delivered[7]
Nasnas Mk1 Short range UAV ?
Jebel Assa Short range UAV ?

References

Commons-Logo Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Tunisia.
  1. ↑ "Tunisian Air Force OrBat". Scramble. http://www.scramble.nl/tn.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
  2. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Tunisia orders C-130J". Lockheed Martin Corporation©. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2010/march/TunisiaOrdersLockheedMart.html. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 
  4. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012. 
  7. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012. 

Sources

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

Template:Defence & Law Enforcement in Tunisia

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