Senegalese Air Force

The Senegal Air Force (SAF) is the military aviation branch of the Senegalese Armed Forces. Established in 1961 after gaining independence from France, the SAF operates under the command of the Senegalese Ministry of Defense. The primary mission of the SAF is to defend Senegal's airspace, safeguard national security, and support ground forces. The air force is equipped with a diverse fleet of aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and reconnaissance aircraft. Notable aircraft in its inventory include the Alpha Jet, which is utilized for close air support and training, and the Mi-24 attack helicopter. The SAF has participated in international peacekeeping missions, such as the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). It also conducts humanitarian and search-and-rescue operations within Senegal's territorial boundaries. The SAF places a strong emphasis on training and modernization to enhance its operational capabilities. It maintains partnerships with various countries for military cooperation and technical assistance.

Key facts

Official Name Senegalese Air Force
Local Name Armรฉe de l'Air du Sรฉnรฉgal
Country๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ณ Senegal
World rank#96 over 160
Active aircrafts40 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order3
Roundel

Roundel of Senegal air force

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States 12
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ Ex-USSR 9
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 7
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain 4
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia 4
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria 4
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea 4

Evolution of Senegalese Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Helicopter Helicopter 20
Training Training 14
Transport Transport 4
Other missions Other missions 2

Full inventory in 2025

Senegal Air Force

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active ๐šซ YoY Ordered
HelicopterHelicopter Hughes 269 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1961 6
+1
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-24/35 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1972 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-17 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1977 4
+2
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 505 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 2017 3
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 206 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1967 1
-1
0
HelicopterHelicopter SA319 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1961 1
+1
0
TransportTransport C295/CN235 ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ 2001 3
0
0
TransportTransport CN235 ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ 1988 1
0
1
TransportTransport NC212 ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ 1974 0
0
2
TrainingTraining TB30 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1984 6
0
0
TrainingTraining DA42 ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น 2004 4
0
0
TrainingTraining KT-1 ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท 2000 4
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 200 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1964 2
+2
0

Sources: various open source data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.