Togolese Air Force

Togolese Air Wing
Active 1964[1]
Country Togo
Part of Togolese Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ Lomé
Nickname(s) TAF
Aircraft flown
Attack Alpha Jet, MB-326
Helicopter Aérospatiale Alouette III
Transport Super King Air

The Togolese Air Wing is the air force of Togo.

History

The Togolese Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air Togolaise) was established in 1964, and a French influence remains on the choice of aircraft used. Since 2005, the air force's chief of staff is Colonel Bouraïma Bonfoh.[2]

The C-47 Skytrain was the first aircraft used; it was part of the force from 1960 to 1976. Replacing the C-47s were two DHC-5D Buffalo STOL transports in 1976. Also in the same year Togo acquired five ex-German Air Force Fouga Magister armed jet trainers and seven EMB.326GBs from Brazil to form the Escadrille de Chasse. Togo's armed jet trainer fleet was upgraded in 1981 by the deliveries of five Alpha jets and by three piston engine Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilons in 1986. The Fouga Magisters were returned to France in 1985.

During its existence the official name changed from Section Air der Forces armées Togolais in 1964 to Escadrille Nationale Togolaise in 1973, to Groupement Aerienne Togolaise (GAT) in 1980, and finally to Armée de l'Air Togolaise in 1997.[3]

At present its operations are concentrated to the Base Transport de Lomé (Lomé Transport Base) at Lomé Tokoin Airport, where the transport aircraft are based, and the Base Chasse Niamtougou (Niamtougou Fighter Base) at Niamtougou International Airport, where the combat units are located.[4][5]

Inventory

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Fighters
Alpha Jet  France light attack 4[6]
MB-326  Italy light attack 4[6]
Transport
Super King Air  United States Utility/transport 200 2[7]
Helicopters
Alouette III  France Utility 1[7]
AS 332 Super Puma  France transport AS-332 L 4[8][9]

Previously operated aircraft: Fouga Magister, De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilon, Aermacchi MB-339

References

  1. ↑ Although some aircraft were obtained after independence in 1960 and further aircraft were supplied by France in 1963, the air force was not formally established until 1964.
  2. ↑ "Le Chef d'Etat Major de l'Armée de l'Air". www.forcesarmees.tg. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  3. ↑ "Historique de l'Armée de l'Air". www.forcesarmees.tg. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Les bases de l'Armée de l'Air". www.forcesarmees.tg. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  5. ↑ "Organisation de l'Armée de l'Air". www.forcesarmees.tg. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 31". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. 1 2 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 31". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "World's Air Forces 2004", Flight International, 166 (4960), p. 90, retrieved 12 March 2013 – via Flightglobal Archive
  9. ↑ "5V-TAH G-BWZX LN-OLE aerospatiale AS332L Super Puma C/N 2120". Helis.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
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