Senegal operates a small number of F-5E/F Tiger II light fighters, among the oldest jet combat aircraft in service in West Africa. Originally supplied as part of American security assistance programmes, the Senegalese F-5 fleet provides a nominal supersonic air defense capability though operational readiness is increasingly constrained by age and parts availability. Most active employment is symbolic air sovereignty patrol rather than combat missions. The aircraft are being effectively superseded in Senegalese inventory by the M-346FA armed jet trainer/light attacker and potentially the proposed F-16 procurement.
![Northrop Grumman logo](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="200" height="60" viewBox="0 0 200 60"><rect width="200" height="60" fill="%23111"/><text x="100" y="38" font-family="Arial" font-weight="bold" font-size="12" fill="%23c8a84b" text-anchor="middle">NORTHROP GRUMMAN</text></svg>)
- Simple and reliable aircraft well-suited to Senegalese maintenance capabilities
- AIM-9 Sidewinder integration provides basic beyond-visual-range intercept capability
- Cost-effective operation compared to more complex jet fighters
- Regional prestige as sole jet fighter in Senegalese inventory for decades
- Training familiarity with French and American advisors reduces transition costs
- Obsolete 1960s design with no meaningful air combat capability against modern fighters
- Aging airframes require intensive maintenance with parts scarce globally
- No radar — limited to visual range engagements only
- Limited range for Sahel monitoring missions
- Increasingly non-operational due to spare parts and maintenance constraints
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