Tunisian_Air_Force
Tunisian Air Force
Air warfare branch of Tunisia's military
The Tunisian Air Force (Arabic: جيش الطيران, French: Armée de l'Air[1]) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
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| Tunisian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| جيش الطيران (Arabic) Armée de l'Air (French) | |
 Badge of the Tunisian Air Force | |
| Founded | 1959; 65 years ago (1959) |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 4,500 personnel |
| Part of | Tunisian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Bizerte |
| Anniversaries | 24 July |
| Equipment | 159 aircraft |
| Engagements | War on Terror |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Kais Saied |
| Commander of the Air Force | General Mohamed El Hajjam |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Aermacchi MB-326 |
| Fighter | Northrop F-5 |
| 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 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-Bs and then 5 MB326-LTs. In 1969, the country received 15 ex-USAF F-86F Sabres. Between 1974 and 1978 12 SF.260 Warriors and 9 SF.260Cs were delivered for basic training. In 1977–78, eight MB.326KTs were supplied for light attack duties. In 1981, Tunisia ordered 12 F-5s (8 F-5E and 4 F-5F); deliveries took place in 1984–85. Tunisia added 5 ex-USAF F-5Es from the Alconbury Aggressor Squadron in 1989. In 1985 Tunisia ordered two C130-H Herculeses. 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. Tunisia had two C-130J-30s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014. Tunisia purchased a 12 UH-60M.[2]
Tunisia's four main bases are Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba, and Sfax.
The order of battle of the Tunisian Air force is as below:[3]
Tunis-Laouina
- No. 12 Squadron
- Transport squadron, Let L-410 Turbolet
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed
- 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
- 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
- No. 13 Squadron
- Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
- No. 14 Squadron
- Light utility and liaison squadron, flying SF-260s
- No. 31 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron
Gafsa
- No. 16 Squadron
- Jet trainer squadron, flying L-59s
- No. 34 Squadron
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Current inventory
- "Présentation au profil de l'armée de l'air" (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- "Tunisia – UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- "Tunisian Air Force OrBat". Scramble. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
- "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- Warnes, Alan (14 February 2017). "Tunisian Maule ISR Package Revealed".
- Martin, Guy (3 November 2021). "Tunisia getting Cessna Caravans for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance". Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- McNeil, Harry (16 August 2023). "Beechcraft T-6C Texan II training system delivered to Tunisian Air Force". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- Lake, Jon (15 October 2019). "T-6C Texan II Sale Possible for Tunisia". ainonline.
- "TUSAŞ hangi ülkelere kaç adet hava aracı teslim etti?" (in Turkish). 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03