The Tunisian Air Force (, ) is one of the branches of the Tunisian Armed Forces.
History 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-Bs and then 5 MB326-LTs. In 1969, the country received 15 ex-USAF F-86F Sabres. Between 1974 and 1978 12 SF.260 Warriors and 9 SF.260Cs were delivered for basic training. In 1977–78, eight MB.326KTs were supplied for light attack duties. In 1981, Tunisia ordered 12 F-5s (8 F-5E and 4 F-5F); deliveries took place in 1984–85. Tunisia added 5 ex-USAF F-5Es from the Alconbury Aggressor Squadron in 1989. In 1985 Tunisia ordered two C130-H Herculeses. 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. Tunisia had two C-130J-30s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014. Tunisia purchased a 8 UH-60M.
Tunisia's four main bases are Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba, and Sfax.
Organization The order of battle of the Tunisian Air force is as below:
Tunis-Laouina No. 12 Squadron Transport squadron, Let L-410 Turbolet
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed No. 15 Squadron Fighter squadron, Northrop F-5 Tiger No. 21 Squadron Transport squadron, C-130 Hercules
Bizerte-La Karouba No. 31 Squadron Helicopter squadron, Bell 205, UH-1 Iroquois No. 32 Squadron Helicopter squadron, Alouette II, Ecureuil No. 33 Squadron Helicopter squadron No. 36 Squadron Helicopter squadron
Sfax-Thyna
No. 31 Squadron Helicopter squadron
Gafsa
No. 34 Squadron Helicopter squadron, OH-58D No. 51 Squadron UAV squadron,MQ-27 No. 42 Squadron Light Transport ISR squadron Cessna 208ex
Aircraft
Current inventory AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Combat aircraft Northrop F-5 United States Light fighter F-5E 10 Beechcraft T-6 Texan IIUnited StatesLight attack aircraftAT-64 on order. Reconnaissance Maule MX-7 United States ISR MX-7 12 For border surveillance Cessna 208 United States ISTAR 4 Transport Let L-410 Czech Republic Utility 5 C-130 Hercules United States Transport / SAR C-130B/H 44 units were delivered between 2021 and January 2026 C-130J Super Hercules United StatesTactical airlifter 2 Helicopters Bell 412 United States Utility 2 Bell 412 EPX United States Utility Bell 412 EPX (12 on order) During Paris 2025 air show Tunisia has signed a deal with Bell to acquire 12 Bell 412 EPX Bell 205 United States Utility 21 UH-1N Iroquois United StatesUtility 16Aérospatiale GazelleFranceArmed scout15Armed with HOT MBDA missiles, seen in use during African Lion 2025 Bell OH-58 United States Armed scout OH-58D18Ex US army Alouette II FranceLiaison / Light utility 8Alouette III FranceLiaison / Utility7Sikorsky HH-3 United States SAR / Transport15Sikorsky UH-60 United States Utility UH-60M8Eurocopter AS350 FranceUtility / Liaison 6 Trainer aircraft Northrop F-5 United States Conversion trainer F-5F 3 Aero L-59 Czechoslovakia Jet trainer L-59T 6-9 SF.260 Italy Trainer 17 Textron T-6 Texan II United States Trainer T-6C 84 on order. UAVTAI AnkaTurkey ISTAR / UCAVAnka S6
References
Sources
World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03