Tunisian Air Force - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Tunisian Air Force is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.

Air Force

The Tunisian Air Force was established in 1959, three years after Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

regained its independence from France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. It took deliveries of its first aircraft, eight Saab 91 Safir

Saab 91 Safir

|-See also:-References:*Smith, Maurice A. . Flight, 23 October 1947, pp. 459–462.-External links:* * * *...

s, in 1960, later to be complemented by further Saab 91 Safir

Saab 91 Safir

|-See also:-References:*Smith, Maurice A. . Flight, 23 October 1947, pp. 459–462.-External links:* * * *...

s. The Tunisian Air Force entered the jet age in 1965 with the purchase of MB326s. Between 1974 and 1978 12 SF.260 Warriors were delivered for basic training. In 1977–78 12 MB.326KT's were supplied for light attack duties. In 1985 Tunisia ordered 2 C-130's and 24 F-5E/F's. 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-130's were delivered from the USA.

There are four main bases: Bizerte

Bizerte

Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...

/Sidi Ahmed

Sidi Ahmed

Sidi Ahmed is a town in Safi Province, Doukkala-Abda, Morocco. According to the 2004 census it has a population of 7751....

, Gafsa

Gafsa

Gafsa is the capital of Gafsa Governorate of Tunisia. Its name was appropriated by archaeologists for the Mesolithic Capsian culture. With a population of 84,676, it is the 9th Tunisian city.-Overview:...

, Bizerte

Bizerte

Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...

/La Karouba and Sfax

Sfax

Sfax is a city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate , and a Mediterranean port. Sfax has population of 340,000...

Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed

No. 11 Squadron: Jet trainer squadron, Aermacchi MB-326

Aermacchi MB-326

The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...

No. 15 Squadron: Fighter squadron, Northrop F-5 Tiger
No. 21 Squadron: Transport squadron, C-130 Hercules

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

, G-222

Bizerte-La Karouba

No. 31 Squadron: Helicopter squadron, Bell 205, UH-1 Iroquois

UH-1 Iroquois

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...

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. ? Squadron: Helicopter squadron

Current air force equipment

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
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| Aero L-59 Super Albatros

Aero L-59 Super Albatros

-See also:-References:* Lake, Jon. "Aero L-39 Albatross family: Variant Briefing". World Air Power Journal, Volume 43, Winter 2000. London:Aerospace Publishing. pp. 116–131. ISBN 1-86184-055-1....

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| Advanced trainer
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| 12
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|-----
| Aermacchi MB-326

Aermacchi MB-326

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| ground attack
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| 6
| 3 MB-326KT and 3 MB-326LT
|-----
| Northrop F-5E Tiger II
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| Fighter
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| 12
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| Northrop F-5F Tiger II
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|
| Trainer
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| 3
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|-----
| Aeritalia G.222
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| Transport
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| 5
|
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 20

Dassault Falcon 20

The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:...

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| transport
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| 1
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|-----
| Let L-410 Turbolet
|

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| transport
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| 5
|
|-----
| Lockheed C-130E Hercules

C-130 Hercules

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| transport
| also operates two C130H
| 5
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|-----
| Aermacchi SF.260
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| utility
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| 18
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|-----
| SIAI-Marchetti S.208
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|
| utility
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| 2
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|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle

Aérospatiale Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...

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| trainer helicopter
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|15
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|-----
|Bell 212 Twin Huey
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| Utility helicopter
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|4
|
|-----
|Bell 412

Bell 412

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...

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| Utility helicopter
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|4
|
|-----
|Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin

Eurocopter Dauphin

The Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter .-Design and development:...

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| Utility helicopter
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|1
|
|-----
|Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil
|

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| Utility helicopter
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|6
|
|-----
|Eurocopter AS 355 Twin Ecureuil

Eurocopter AS355

The Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale...

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| Utility helicopter
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|1
|
|-----
|Hughes 500
|

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| Utility helicopter
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|1
|
|-----
|Sikorsky S-76 Spirit

Sikorsky S-76

The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...

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|
| Utility helicopter
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|1
|
|-----
|Sikorsky S-61

Sikorsky S-61

The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the successful SH-3 Sea King helicopter. They are two of the most widely used airliner and oil rig support helicopters built.-Design and development:...

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|
| Utility helicopter
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|11
|
|-----
|HH-3E Pelican

Sikorsky S-61R

The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R...

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|
| Utility helicopter
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|1
|
|-----
|Bell UH-1H Iroquois
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| Utility helicopter
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|4
|
|-----

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