Senegal’s Air Force will next year take delivery of another three TB-30 Epsilon piston-engine trainers from France, while Togo is returning its two aircraft to service.
This is according to Air & Cosmos, which reported this emerged during the 13 November visit to Senegal by Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, General Philippe Lavigne. According to the French Ministry of Defence, Lavigne was in Dakar, Senegal, to preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new aircraft stopover facility for the French Elements in Senegal (EFS), located at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD). The facility assists France and the G5 Sahel nations in their fight against terrorist groups in the region, particularly through the French-led Operation Barkhane. It was built during the second half of 2019 by French engineers.
In May 2019 the Air Force School at Thies officially received two Epsilon trainers from France, for pilot training. France has donated other aircraft to Senegal in the past and in 2014 the West African nation received four Epsilon trainers. These aircraft were used to train around 15 pilots between 2014 and 2019 marking a major turning point in the history of the Air Force.