Algerian Air Force

Key facts

Official Name Algerian Air Force
Local Name القوات الجوية الجزائرية (Al Quwwāt al Jawwiya al Jazāʾriya)
Country🇩🇿 Algeria
World rank#18
Active aircrafts602 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order15
Roundel

Roundel of Algeria air force

Overview

The Algerian Air Force is designed to safeguard the country's airspace, contribute to internal and regional stability, and deter potential aggressors. Equipped with a mix of Russian, Chinese, and Western aircraft, its capabilities are considerably more advanced compared to many other African nations. The force primarily consists of fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and transport planes, among other assets.

One of its strong suits is its fleet of Russian-made fighter jets, like the Sukhoi Su-30 and MiG-29, which serve as the backbone of its air defense. These aircraft are potent in air-to-air combat and can also deliver precision-guided munitions for ground attacks. The air force also has a considerable number of transport aircraft, useful for troop movement, logistical support, and humanitarian missions.

However, the Algerian Air Force suffers from a reliance on foreign suppliers for hardware and maintenance, that exposes it to geopolitical vulnerabilities. For instance, an over-dependence on Russian equipment could limit its operational capabilities in case of strained diplomatic relations. Additionally, the force has been historically less invested in compared to the country's ground forces, which could hamper its effectiveness in integrated military operations.

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
🇨🇳 Ex-USSR 414
🇨🇿 Czech Republic 54
🇺🇸 United States 51
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 37
🇮🇹 Italy 27
🇷🇺 Russia 16
🇫🇷 France 14
🇵🇱 Poland 8
🇪🇸 Spain 5
🇮🇩 Indonesia 5
🇨🇭 Switzerland 3

Evolution of Algerian Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Helicopter Helicopter 315
Combat Combat 145
Training Training 70
Transport Transport 43
Other missions Other missions 29

Full inventory in 2025

Algerian Air Force

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat Su-30 🇨🇳 1996 63
0
10
CombatCombat Su-24 🇨🇳 1973 42
0
0
CombatCombat MiG-29 🇨🇳 2009 40
0
5
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-8/17/171 🇨🇳 1967 140
+2
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-28 🇨🇳 2006 42
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-24 🇨🇳 1972 32
-1
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-2 🇨🇳 1965 22
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AS355 🇫🇷 1990 14
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-26 🇨🇳 1983 14
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AW139 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 2003 11
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AW119 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 2000 8
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter W-3 🇵🇱 1986 8
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 412 🇺🇸 1959 3
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Ka-32 🇨🇳 1982 3
0
0
TransportTransport C-130H 🇺🇸 1956 14
0
0
TransportTransport Il-76 🇨🇳 1974 11
0
0
TransportTransport Beech 1900 🇺🇸 1984 6
0
0
TransportTransport C295 🇪🇸 🇮🇩 2001 5
0
0
TransportTransport C-130J/LM-100J 🇺🇸 1956 4
+4
0
TransportTransport PC-6 🇨🇭 1960 3
+1
0
TrainingTraining L-39 🇨🇿 1972 54
0
0
TrainingTraining Yak-130 🇷🇺 2010 16
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 90/200/350 🇺🇸 1964 20
0
0
Other missionsOther missions Il-78 🇨🇳 1984 5
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 200/350 🇺🇸 1964 3
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 200 🇺🇸 1964 1
0
0

Algerian Navy

Various public data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.