Tunisian Air Force
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The Tunisian Air Force (Template:Langx, Template:Langx[1]) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
History
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 8 UH-60M.[2]
Tunisia's four main bases are Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba, and Sfax.
Organization
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. 15 Squadron
- Fighter squadron, Northrop F-5 Tiger
- No. 21 Squadron
- Transport squadron, C-130 Hercules
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. 31 Squadron
- Helicopter squadron
Gafsa
- No. 34 Squadron
Aircraft
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Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| Northrop F-5 | United States | Light fighter | F-5E | 10[4] | ||
| Reconnaissance | ||||||
| Maule MX-7 | United States | Reconnaissance | MX-7 | 12[5] | For border surveillance | |
| Cessna 208 | United States | ISTAR | 100[6] | |||
| Transport | ||||||
| Let L-410 | Czech Republic | Utility | 5[4] | |||
| C-130 Hercules | United States | Transport / SAR | C-130B/H | 3[4] | ||
| C-130J Super Hercules | United States | Tactical airlifter | 3[4] | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Bell 412 | United States | Utility | 2[4] | |||
| Bell 412 EPX | United States | Utility | Bell 412 EPX | 12 | During Paris 2025 air show Tunisia has signed a deal with Bell to acquire 12 Bell 412 EPX [7] | |
| Bell 205 | United States | Utility | 201[4] | |||
| UH-1N Iroquois | United States | Utility | 16[4] | |||
| Bell OH-58 | United States | Armed scout | OH-58D | 18[4] | Ex US army | |
| Alouette II | France | Liaison / Light utility | 8[4] | |||
| Alouette III | France | Liaison / Utility | 7[4] | |||
| Sikorsky HH-3 | United States | SAR / Transport | 15[4] | |||
| Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | Utility | UH-60M | 8[4] | ||
| Eurocopter AS350 | France | Utility / Liaison | 6[4] | |||
| Trainer aircraft | ||||||
| Northrop F-5 | United States | Conversion trainer | F-5F | 3[4] | ||
| Textron T-6 Texan II | United States | Jet trainer | T-6C | 8[4][8] | ||
| UAV | ||||||
| TAI Anka | Turkey | ISTAR / UCAV | Anka S | 6[9] | ||
References
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Sources
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03
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