The top 10 best Air Force in Africa in 2019 can be said to be that which has the most capabilities in all spectrum of aerial warfare. The Air Force is the Aerial Branch of a country’s military. Its role is to conduct air warfare, wrestle control of the skies and achieve air supremacy in a bid to win a military engagement. The Air Force conducts aerial operations which includes air interception, bombing raids, aerial interdiction, patrolling the borders, attacking enemy air and ground troops e.t.c.

Furthermore, the bulk of the Air Forces duties involves mostly “un-glamorous” but highly essential duties like Transportation of troops and materials, aerial refueling, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, Drones) operations, Spying on the enemy, rescuing downed airmen and crews, artillery observations, early warning flights and many more…

The term “Air Force” may refer to a combination of various aircrafts and rotorcrafts like bombers, fighter jets, helicopters, Trainers, Transport aircraft and others.

Although, some African Air Forces possess their own Surface to Air (SAM) missile defence or Anti-Ballistic missiles and Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) such as Egypt. However, those are not considered a factor in ranking since accurate data on such assets are usually difficult to access.

Role of the Air Force

The primary role of the Air Force is to protect and defend the a nations territorial integrity against threats both ‘FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC’. Unlike few African countries like Egypt, Algeria, South Africa e.t.c the Air Force is usually relegated to support roles: assisting the Army and Navy. The general role of most African Air Force are listed below:

• Ground support operations 
• Close Air Support
• Reconnaissance
• Intelligence and Surveillance (ISR) flights
• Maritime & Border Patrol
• Training and Indoctrination
• Air Defense
• Military Transport
• Civil support
• Search and Rescue

AIR TO AIR BATTLES

Air to Air battles also known as Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM or Dogfighting) is the process of moving and turning tactically in the air to achieve a decisive advantage over an opponent. There have been few air to air battle incidents in Africa. Most African countries lack the combat experience in Dog-fighting.

Few actual air battles that has taken place in Africa includes:

• Itallian Invasion of Egypt (Egypt vs Italy)
• Second Battle of El Alamein (South Africa Vs Germany)
• Operation Ironclad in Madagasca (SAAF VS Germany)
• Border War (South Africa Vs Angola)
• Toyota War (Libya vs Chad)
• Boko Haram War (Nigeria Vs Chad)
• Ethiopian-Somali War
• Ethiopian-Eritrean War

South African Air Force has the notable distinction of dropping the first and last bomb in Africa during World War II.

Manpower

The personnel involved in the smooth running of an Air Force are not just pilots and airmen, there are also a significant number of people involved which supports the Air Force and are relied upon. Such personnel include Maintenance, weapons loaders, base defense, security, logistics, intelligence, Special Operations, Cyber Space support, medicals and others.

What makes a good Air Force? There are necessary factors that an Air Force must possess to enable it fulfill its role, this factors would be used to rank the contenders. The criteria used for ranking this list the of top 10 best Air Force in African 2019 includes:

1. Combat experience
2. Equipment
3. Training

Please note that all other aerial branches of the military which posses aerial platforms such as Army Air Corps, Naval Aviation, Civil Aviation, Coast Guard Air Search and Rescue, Health Service, Fire Service are not listed UNLESS THEY PARTAKE IN ACTUAL COMBAT.

Combat Experience: This is the amount of time the Air Force has undertaking aerial actions against other enemy air units. Combat experience is highly important for any military branch since military dexterity is usually measured through previous battle achievements. Most professional airmen would tell you that real combat breeds confidence. Combat experience which some call ‘baptism of fire’ builds trust among airmen.

Equipment: As the saying goes, ‘you are only as good as your weapon’. The primary equipment of an Air Force is its fighter jets, bombers, UAVs and Helicopters. Although, having superior fighter jets does not necessarily means superior Air Force rating, since other factors determine victory in aerial warfare such as:

• Presence of ground support systems like (Radar, Air Defence systems -ADS).
• Electronic Warfare
• Airbourne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)

Training: If you train hard, you fight Easy. — Nigerian Army 72nd Army Special force Infantry.

Training: is very important in a military. You cannot really fight  without training properly. Training enhances synergy between various units of Air Force. It helps build troops moral and confidence. There are various type of training such as Ab Initio, Basic, Advanced and Fast Jet training.

No 10) Ethiopian Air Force

The 1998 war with Eritrea provided enough combat experience to learn from for many years. However, Equipment serviceability is questionable and it’s troops loyalty is usually in doubt. However, the Ethiopian Air Force makes the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

Gugsa Wale’s Rebellion
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Ethiopian Civil War
Ethiopian-Somali War
Ethiopian-Eritrean War

Aircraft: 80 aircraft

Fighter/Attack 48 units:
Su-25 FrogFoot, MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-27

Helicopter(s) 33 units:
Mil Mi-24 Hind, Mil Mi-8, Mil-Mi-6

Transport Aircraft: 34 units
Trainer aircraft: 14 units
Personnel: 3,000
Defense Budget (2012): $340,000,000 (0.8% GDP)

No 9) Tunisian Air Force

A very proud force but quite small force in North African standard. However, it’s aircraft fleet is focused more on air-defense. The Tunisian Air Force 148 aircraft fleet puts it in the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

Engagements:
War on Terror

Aircraft: 148 aircraft

Fighter/Attack- 30 units:
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II, Aero L-59T Super Albatros

Helicopter(s) 83 units:
– SA-341 10
– HH-3 10
– Agusta-Bell AB-205A 15
– AS-350B 6
– AS-365 1
– SA-313 6
– SA-316 3
– UH-1H 29
– UH-1N 2
– Agusta-Bell AB-412 4

Transport Aircraft: 89 units
Trainer aircraft: 40 units
Personnel: 3,000
Defense Budget (2012): $746,000,000 (3.% GDP)
SIPRI.org

No 8) Nigerian Air Force (NAF)

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is at its lowest posture in terms of air combat capability. Although, it does possesses certain critical skills in other tactical areas like drone operations and airmen welfare. The Dassault Alpha jet trainers configured for combat are currently it’s workhorse. Some new aircraft are expected to arrive soon.

The NAFs focus on various non-combat aspect makes the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

STRENGTHS

• High troops moral
• Excellent ground attack experience
• Airmen welfare

WEAKNESSES

• Lack of capable modern fighters
• Little or no sound policy making
• Insufficient attack helicopter fleet

Engagements:
Nigerian Civil War
Liberian Civil War
Sierra Leone Civil War
Niger Delta conflict
Invasion of the Gambia
Northern Mali War
Boko Haram War

Total Aircraft: 110 aircraft

Fighter/Attack 31 units:
Dassault Alpha Jet, Aero L-39, CH-3 UCAV, Chengdu F-7

Helicopter(s) 39 units:
Mil Mi-24/35 Hind, Mil Mi-17sh, Agusta Westland AS 332, AW 101, AW 139, AW 109
Transport Aircraft: 53 units
Trainer aircraft: 40 units
Personnel: 25,000
Defense Budget (2012): $2,100,000,000 (1% GDP)
SIPRI.org

No 7) Ugandan Air Force

It’s ambitious aircraft acquisitions in recent years has engraved it’s name as one of the most powerful Air Force in Africa. However, Aircraft availability and sufficiency remains a problem. However, the Ugandan Air Force still makes the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

Engagements:
South Sudan War I & II
Various Peace-Keeping operations (e.g AMISOM)
Somalian Civil War
Operation Desert Storm
Ugandan-Tanzania War
Operation Entebbe (Israeli attack)
Ugandan Bush War
Six-Day War (Uganda Vs Rwanda)

Total Aircraft: 53 units

Fighter/Attack 23 units:
MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-30

Helicopter(s) 21 units:
Bell 206, Huey II, Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-17
Transport Aircraft: 52 units
Trainer Aircraft: 10 units
Personnel: 50,000
Defense Budget (2012): $250,600,000 (1.3% GDP)

No 6) Angolan Air Force (FANA)

With Soviet and Cuban help, this Air Force has gone through brutal war which has hardened it’s stance. It’s aircraft fleets is currently the envy of many countries in Africa. It is a direct competitor to South African Air Force and constantly challenges its dominance.

Engagements:
Angolan Civil War
Congo Crises

Total Aircraft: 285-348 units:

Fighter/Attack 138 units:
Sukhoi Su-30k, Su-27, Su-22, Mikoyan MiG-23, MiG-21

Helicopter(s) 118 units:
Agusta Westland AW 139, AW 109, Aerospatiale Gazelle, Mil Mi-24 Hind, Mi-8, Bell 212, Aloutte III
Transport Aircraft: 128 units
Trainer Aircraft: 48 units
Personnel: –
Defense Budget (2012): $3,827,000,000 (3.5% GDP)

No 5) Sudanese Air Force

Linked to several high-profile defence acquisition deals, the Sudanese Air Force is truly a force to reckon with in Africa. It possesses modern fighter jets. Although, its quite secretive in it’s aerial operations despite that, the Sudanese Air Force still makes the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

Engagements:
Darfar War
War in Yemen
Sudanese Civil War (First and Second)
Heglig Crises

Total Aircraft: 246 units

Fighter/Attack 138 units:
Mikoyan MiG-23, MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-35, Su-25, Su-24, Nanchang Q-5, Chengdu J-7, Shenyang J-5, Hongdu JL-9

Helicopter(s) 108 units:
Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-8, IAR 330, PZL MI-2, Bell 212,Bell UH-1
Transport Aircraft: 52 units
Trainer Aircraft: 12 units
Personnel: –
Defense Budget: –

No 4) Royal Moroccan Air Force

The Moroccan Air Force is focused on Aerial Defense and it’s F-16s are configured for long range attacks. It’s numerous Military Exercises (MilEx) with major countries like U.S.A, France and U.A.E provides valuable realistic combat training to imprint its name in the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

Engagements:
Sand War
Six-Day War
Yom Kippur War
Western Sahara War
Anti-ISIS war
War in Yemen

Total Aircraft: 278 units

Fighter/Attack 96 units:
Lockheed Martins F-16, Dassault Mirage F-1, Dassault Alpha Jet, F-5 Tiger

Electronic Warfare:
Dassault Falcon 20

Helicopter(s) 128 units:
Aerospatial SA 342 Gazelle, Aerospatial SA 330 Puma,Bell AB 205, Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Transport Aircraft: 158 units
Trainer Aircraft: 80 units
Personnel: 13,500
Defense Budget (2012): $3,582,000,000 (3.5% GDP)

No 3) South African Air Force

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is centered around it’s SAAB JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jets which is the workhorse of the fleet. South Africa has the unique distinction of being one of the oldest Air Force in Africa. The country produces most of it’s weapons. No doubt, the SAAF makes the list the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

STRENGTH

• Excellent fighter training
• Combat experience
• Electronic Warfare

WEAKNESSES

• Little Government support
• Pilot shortages
• Massive defense budget cuts

Engagements:
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Rhodesian Bush War
Mozambican Civil War
South African Border War
Operation Boleas
Battle of Bangui
M23 Rebellion
ADF Insurgency

Total Aircraft: 226 units

Fighter/Attack 47 units:
SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, BAE Hawk

Electronic Warfare:
Oryx EW, C-47TP ELINT

Helicopter(s) 95 units:
Rooivalk, Oryx, Agusta A109, Lynx 300

CLICK TO READ ABOUT: Rooivalk 

Transport Aircraft: 109 units
Trainer Aircraft: 88 units
Personnel: 11,000 Active Servicemen, 1,000 Reserve
Defense Budget (2012): $4,785,000,000 (1.1% GDP)

No 2) Algerian Air Force

The Algerian Air Force is modernizing it’s fleet at an aggressive pace. It has over the years acquired numerous capable fighters and Surface-to-Air Missiles systems to fully secure it’s skies, making it one of the  top 10 best Air Force in African 2019.

STRENGTHS
Modern aerial platforms
High defense budget
High aircraft maintenance ratio

WEAKNESSES
Low combat experience

Engagements:
Algerian War
FFS Rebellion
Sand War
October War
Western Sahara War
Algerian Civil War
Insurgency in the Maghreb

Total Aircraft: 502 units

Fighter/Attack 187 units:
Sukhoi Su-24, MiG-29, Su-30, Mikoyan MiG-25, Yak-130

Helicopter(s) 257 units:
Mil Mi-24 Hind, Mi-28 Havoc, Bell 412, PZL Mi-2, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-26, Kamov Ka-27, Eurocopter AS355, Agusta Westland AS355, AW139

Transport Aircraft: 266 units
Trainer Aircraft: 68 units
Personnel: 14,000
Defense Budget (2012): $9,104,000,000 (4.5% GDP)

No 1) Egypt Air Force

The Egyptian Air Force is  the best and most powerful Air Force in Africa. It is very large in African standard, having more aircraft than the next four (4) Air Forces combined. The EAF is undoubtably the best Air Force in African 2019.

STRENGTHS
Quality fighter jets
Sufficient numbers of aircraft
Combat experience

WEAKNESSES
Mismatched aircraft fleet
Outdated fighter jets in service

Engagements:
1948 Arab-Israeli War
Suez Crises
North Yemen Civil War
Six-Day War
Nigerian Civil War
War of Attrition
Yom Kippur War
Shaba I
Libyan-Egyptian War
Sinai Insurgency
Second Libyan Civil War
Yemen War

Total Aircraft: 1,200 units

Fighter/Attack 764 units:

Lockheed Martins F-16, Dassault Rafale, Alpha Jet, Aero L-59, Aero L-39, Mirage 2000, Mirage 5, Chengdu F-7, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21, F-4 Phantom, CAIG Wing Loong UCAV, CH-4B

Electronic Warfare & AEW&C:
E-2HE2K, Beechcraft 1900, C-130, Commando MK.2E, Mil Mi-8, CAIG Wing Loong, CH-4B

Helicopter(s) 257 units:
AH-64 Apache, Mil Mi-28 Havoc, Aerospatial Gazelle SA-342, Kamov Ka-50, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, SH-2G Super SeaSprite, Sikorsky UH-60, Westland SeaKing, AgustaWestland AW109, AW139

Transport Aircraft: 266 units
Trainer Aircraft: 384 units
Personnel: 50,000 (30,000 Active Servicemen, 20,000 Reserve)
Defense Budget (2014): $4.4 billion (3% GDP) plus $1.2 Billion US defence assistance