Tunisian Air Force
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The Tunisian Air Force (El Quwat ej-Jawiya et'Tunsia) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
Contents
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.
Possible purchase of 12 UH-60M[1]
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:[2]
Tunis-Laouina
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- No. 12 Squadron
- Transport squadron, Let L-410 Turbolet
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- No. 16 Squadron
- Jet trainer squadron, flying L-59s
- No. ? Squadron
Aircraft
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Aircraft | ||||||
| F-5 | United States | fighter | F-5E | 12[3] | +48 (ex KSA) | |
| Transport | ||||||
| C-130J | United States | utility transport | C-130J-30 | 2[3] | ||
| C-130 | United States | transport / SAR | C-130B/H | 7[3] | ||
| L-410 | Czech Republic | utility | 3[3] | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| AS350 | France | utility / liaison | 6[3] | |||
| Bell UH-1 | United States | utility | UH-1H | 31[3] | ||
| Bell 412 | United States | utility | 3[3] | |||
| Sikorsky HH-3 | United States | SAR / transport | 19[3] | |||
| Alouette II | France | liaison /light utility | 8[3] | |||
| Alouette III | France | liaison / utility | 8[3] | |||
| UH-60 | United States | utility | UH-60M | 12 on order[3] | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| F-5 | United States | conversion trainer | F-5F | 3[3] | ||
| Aero L-59 | Czech Republic | jet trainer | 9[3] | |||
| MB-326 | Italy | jet trainer | 10[3] | |||
| SF.260 | Italy | trainer | 18[3] | |||
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Tunisia. |
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- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03
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| State Police | ||
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