Nigerien Air Force

The Nigerien Air Force, a component of the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN), is a small but evolving service primarily structured for counter-insurgency and border surveillance. Its main operational hubs are Air Base 101 in the capital, Niamey, and Air Base 201 near Agadez. These bases provide logistical support and launch points for missions across the country’s vast territory, which is central to regional counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel. The force is structured to support ground forces, with its core capabilities centered on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), light attack, and transport.

Operational capability is shaped by a limited but increasingly diverse inventory. For ground attack and close air support, the air force operates two Su-25 jets acquired in 2013. Its ISR and light strike capacity has been augmented by Cessna 208 aircraft, configured for surveillance, and more recently through the acquisition of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). The TB2s, delivered in 2022, provide a persistent surveillance and precision strike capability against insurgent groups. The helicopter fleet, including Mi-17 and Mi-24/35 types, provides mobility and fire support for army operations.

Following the July 2023 coup, Niger’s strategic doctrine has undergone a significant realignment. The junta has terminated longstanding military cooperation agreements with France and the United States, which previously included extensive training, intelligence sharing, and operational support. The new national defense strategy emphasizes self-reliance and the development of a "collaborative military strategy" that integrates the armed forces with the local population. This doctrinal shift involves diversifying foreign partnerships, with Niger actively engaging with Russia and Turkey for military equipment and training.