Senegalese Air Force

It was formed on 1 April 1961 with Douglas C-47s, MH.1521 Broussards, plus Sud Alouette II and Agusta-Bell 47G helicopters. Close ties to France have been maintained with France through training and base facilities agreements.^[1]

The early 1970s saw further French deliveries, with the first jet aircraft entering service. The Fouga Magister jet trainer/ground attack aircraft as well as an SA 341H Gazelle and SA 330F Puma helicopters were delivered.^[1] During the 1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt one of the SA 330Fs was shot down attempting to recapture the Radio Syd transmitter outside Banjul, killing all 18 onboard.^[3]

Later expansion saw the delivery of six Fokker F27 transports to replace the C-47s from 1977, when also four SOCATA Rallye light planes were acquired. Four armed Rallye 235A Guerrier version followed in 1984.^[1]

Senegal ordered 4 Aero L-39NGs for both light attack / COIN and training duties in April 2018.^[4] By March 2022 it was reported that Senegal had cancelled the order.^[5][6][7]

The Air Force's headquarters are currently located at Ouakam, near the capital of Dakar, on the opposite side of the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.^[1] The air force has the role of defending Senegalese airspace, protecting airport areas, supporting other Senegalese forces, medevac and maritime patrol.^[1]

Funding remains a constant problem for the Senegalese Air Force and the increasing cost of aviation fuel restricts the number of available flying hours.^[1]

• General Pape Souleymane Sarr
• General Birame Diop
• General Ousmane Kane
• General Alain JC Pereira
• Captain Mamadou Mansour Seck
• Commander Amadou Lam
• Colonel Mamadou Diop
• Colonel Sidy Ndiaye Bouya
• Colonel Raoul Dacosta
• Colonel Amadou Fall
• Colonel Tamba Meissa
• Colonel Mouhamadou Diawara