Nickname(s) TAF Headquarters location Bizerte, Tunisia Founded 1959 Engagement War on Terror | Size 4,000 personnel HQ Bizerte Anniversaries 24 July Headquarters Bizerte | |
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Similar Tunisian Armed Forces, Cameroon Air Force, Sudanese Air Force, Libyan Air Force, Armenian Air Force | ||
Tunisian air force
The Tunisian Air Force (El Quwat ej-Jawiya et'Tunsia) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
Contents
Tunisian air force
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
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:
Tunis-Laouina
36°50′57″N 010°14′51″E
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed
37°14′58″N 009°46′48″E
Bizerte-La Karouba
37°15′10″N 009°47′40″E
Sfax-Thyna
34°42′55″N 010°41′47″E
Gafsa
34°25′04″N 008°48′45″E
