Tunisian Air Force

The Tunisian Air Force ("Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia") is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.

History

The Tunisian Air Force was established in 1959, five 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 MB326s.

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: [cite web |url=http://www.scramble.nl/tn.htm |title=Tunisian Air Force OrBat |accessdate=2007-08-05 |format= |work= Scramble]

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, Let L-410 Turbolet

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

fax-Thyna

;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

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

Gabes

Equipment

;Jet fighters

: 12 Aero L-59 Super Albatros: 6 Aermacchi MB-326 - 3 MB-326KT and 3 MB-326LT: 12 Northrop F-5E Tiger II

;Jet trainers

: 3 Northrop F-5F Tiger II

;Transport aircraft

: 5 Aeritalia G.222: 1 Dassault Falcon 20: 2 Let L-410 Turbolet: 5~6 Lockheed C-130B Hercules: 1 Lockheed C-130E Hercules: 2 Lockheed C-130H Hercules

;Utility aircraft

: 18 Aermacchi SF.260 : 2 SIAI-Marchetti S.208

;Helicopters

: 5~7 Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle:Aérospatiale SA 319 Alouette - 3 and 8 National Guard: 6 Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette II: 15 Bell 205: 4 Bell 212 Twin Huey: 4 Bell 412: 1 Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin: 6 Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil: 1 Eurocopter AS 355 Twin Ecureuil: 1 Hughes 500: Sikorsky S-76 Spirit: 11 Sikorsky S-61: 1 HH-3E Pelican: 4 Bell UH-1H Iroquois

References

* "World Aircraft Information Files." Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 02