Tanzania Air Force Command
The Tanzania Air Force (TAF) is the aerial branch of the Tanzanian Armed Forces. Established in 1964, it operates under the Ministry of Defence and National Service and plays a crucial role in safeguarding Tanzania's airspace and national security. The TAF operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and trainers. Notably, it has a fleet of Chengdu F-7 and Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft for air defense purposes. The transport fleet consists of aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, Y-12, and CN-235, enabling the TAF to support various missions, including troop deployments, evacuation efforts, and humanitarian aid. The Air Force also maintains a fleet of helicopters for reconnaissance, troop transport, and search and rescue operations. Additionally, the TAF prioritizes training its personnel through collaboration with international partners and maintains a specialized unit for special operations. Overall, the Tanzania Air Force plays a vital role in securing the nation's airspace and supporting the country's military objectives.
Key facts
| Official Name | Tanzania Air Force Command |
| Local Name | Jeshi la Anga la Wananchi wa Tanzania |
| Country | 🇹🇿 Tanzania |
| World rank | #98 |
| Active aircrafts | 40 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 1 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | 14 | |
| Helicopters | 12 | |
| Training | 8 | |
| Transport | 6 | |
Aircrafts most used by Tanzanian air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| J-7 Fishcan | 11 | Chinese jet fighter, notable for usage in the late Cold War era, widely deployed in the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. | |
| JL-8 | 5 | Chinese jet trainer, developed in the late 20th century, regularly deployed for pilot training and light attack roles. | |
| H215M / AS532 Cougar | 4 | French utility helicopter, notable for search and rescue missions, extensively utilized in military and civilian sectors since the 1970s. | |
| MiG-19 Farmer | 4 | Soviet fighter jet, operational during the Cold War, notably used in various conflicts like the Vietnam and Indo-Pakistan Wars. | |
| An-12 Cub | 2 | Soviet cargo aircraft, significantly deployed during the Cold War, primarily used for military transport. | |
| H125M / AS550 Fennec | 2 | French military variant helicopter, notable for service in Desert Storm and Afghanistan, widely employed for scouting and light attack roles. | |
| H155 / EC155 Dauphin 2 | 2 | French multi-role helicopter, modern variant known for its use in offshore transportation and emergency medical services globally. | |
| H225M / EC725 Caracal | 2 | European long-range tactical transport military helicopter, featuring advanced avionics and systems, used for roles including troop transport and special operations. | |
| MiG-21 Fishbed | 2 | Soviet supersonic jet fighter, renowned for extensive service during the Cold War, prevalent in various international conflicts. | |
| UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" | 2 | American utility helicopter, essential in the Vietnam War, extensively employed for medevac, transport, and combat operations. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Tanzanian Peoples Defence Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | F-6 | ||
| F-7 | |||
| Helicopters | H215M/AS532 | ||
| H125M/AS350 | |||
| H155M | |||
| H225M | |||
| Bell 412 | |||
| Training | K-8 | ||
| FT-7 | |||
| FT-6 | |||
| Transport | Y-8 | ||
| Y-12 | |||
| An-28 | |||
| Cessna 402 |