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Roundel of North Macedonia air force
Air Forceยท ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฐ North Macedonia

Air Force of North Macedonia

The Air Force of North Macedonia operates 20 military aircraft in 2026 โ€” 14 helicopters, 6 trainers. It ranks #145 of 162 air forces worldwide, with 8 more aircraft on order.

Active aircraft
202026
On order
+8
Helicopters
14
AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength)
1.2/ 100
The score reflects a fleet of 0 combat aircraft, 14 helicopters and 0 transports out of 20 active airframes, weighted by combat effectiveness.
Fleet Composition โ€” 2026
  • Helicopter 14 +4
  • Training 6 +4
ActiveOn order
Fleet Evolution
2020 โ€” 20 20 2020 2021 โ€” 20 20 2021 2022 โ€” 20 20 2022 2023 โ€” 20 20 2023 2024 โ€” 20 20 2024 2025 โ€” 20 20 2025 2026 โ€” 20 20 2026
Origin of Aircraft

Full inventory in 2026

5 aircraft types

Army of the Republic of North Macedonia

Aircraft Origin Model year Active ฮ” YoY Ordered
Helicopter
Mi-8/17 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1967 6 โ€” โ€”
Bell 206 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States 1967 4 โ€” โ€”
Mi-24 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1972 4 โ€” โ€”
AW149 ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy
2014 โ€” โ€” +4
Training
Zlin 242 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ Czechia 1970 5 โ€” โ€”
Zlin 143 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ Czechia 1972 1 โ€” โ€”
AW169M ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy
2015 โ€” โ€” +4
ActiveOn order

Overview

The North Macedonia Air Force, officially known as the Macedonian Air Force, is the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of North Macedonia. It was established in 1992, following the declaration of independence of the Republic of Macedonia. The primary objective of the Air Force is to protect the country's airspace and contribute to the overall defense of North Macedonia. The Air Force operates a small fleet of military aircraft, including transport, utility, and training aircraft. The backbone of its fleet consists of helicopters, which play a crucial role in various missions, such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, and transportation. The Air Force also maintains a limited number of fixed-wing aircraft for surveillance and training purposes. Over the years, the North Macedonia Air Force has gone through modernization efforts to upgrade its capabilities and enhance interoperability with NATO partners. In addition to its defense responsibilities, the Air Force occasionally participates in international exercises and contributes to international peacekeeping missions.

Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), official air force and government publications and dated press reports; the update journal below lists the sources of each pass. Last updated on 14 March 2026. Suggest a change

Frequently Asked Questions

How many aircraft does North Macedonia have?
Air Force of North Macedonia operates 20 active military aircraft as of the current year. Additionally, 8 aircraft are currently on order.
How does North Macedonia's air force rank globally?
Air Force of North Macedonia ranks #145 out of 162 air forces worldwide based on the AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength), which measures overall air power capability considering fleet size and combat effectiveness.
How many military helicopters does North Macedonia have?
Air Force of North Macedonia operates 14 military helicopters, including attack, transport, and utility rotorcraft used for various combat and support missions.
What is the AIRS Index score of North Macedonia?
North Macedonia has an AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) score of 1.2 out of 100. This composite score weights every active airframe by category and by generation tier (strategic bombers highest, then combat aircraft, helicopters and transports), scales the combat fleet by its enablers โ€” tankers and airborne early warning โ€” and its stand-off armament, and applies a budget-based availability proxy to the whole force.
Where does North Macedonia get its military aircraft from?
North Macedonia sources its military aircraft primarily from Ex-USSR, Czechia, and United States. The fleet composition reflects both domestic production capabilities and international defense partnerships.
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Latest Data Updates
  1. MAR 142026 Updated 7 aircraft types added