Military aircraft have been a fundamental part of military power since the mid-20th century. In Africa, these aircraft have become indispensable assets for the continent’s security architecture, providing essential capabilities for defence, peacekeeping, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance missions.
- Business Insider Africa presents 10 African countries with the largest military aircraft fleet.
- In Africa, Egypt is renowned for having one of the most formidable air forces on the continent.
- The list is courtesy of Global Firepower.
However, military assessment extends beyond just strength. We also covered each country’s annual defence spending and how important the budget is in the maintenance and procurement of military equipment including tanks, ammunitions, and aircraft.
Notably, within the military aviation space, some African nations stand out for their impressive fleet of aircraft, ranging from fighters and bombers to transport planes and helicopters.
Egypt is renowned for having one of the most formidable air forces on the continent, boasting a stock of 1080 aircraft according to a report by the Global Firepower. Algeria and Angola follow with 605 and 297 aircraft stock respectively.
According to the report, fixed wing and rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft types are factored in from all branches of service (Air Force, Army Aviation, Navy, Marine). Various aircraft types also taken into account are fighters (multirole, interceptors), trainers (basic, advanced), transports (fixed-wing and helicopters), dedicated bombers and ground attackers, special-mission platforms, and more.
However, aircraft currently under development or on order heading into the upcoming year are not included in the evaluation.
Below are 10 African countries with the largest military aircraft fleet:
| Rank | Country | Aircraft stock | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 1080 | 8 |
| 2 | Algeria | 605 | 20 |
| 3 | Angola | 297 | 34 |
| 4 | Morocco | 255 | 39 |
| 5 | South Africa | 194 | 49 |
| 6 | Sudan | 170 | 53 |
| 7 | Kenya | 158 | 55 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 155 | 56 |
| 9 | Nigeria | 147 | 57 |
| 10 | Libya | 132 | 62 |