Yemeni Air Force
Key facts
Official Name | Yemeni Air Force |
Local Name | القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي اليمنية (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya wal Difa’a al Jawwi al Yamaniya) |
Country | 🇾🇪 Yemen |
World rank | #51 |
Active aircrafts | 168 as of 2025 |
Aircrafts on order | 0 |
Roundel |
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Overview
The Yemen Air Force, officially known as the Yemeni Air Defense Force, is the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Yemen. It was established in 1926 as part of the Yemeni Army, making it one of the oldest air forces in the Middle East region. Initially equipped with a mix of British, Soviet, and American aircraft, the Yemen Air Force has undergone several modernization efforts over the years. During the 1960s, it played a crucial role in the North Yemen Civil War, providing air support to ground forces. Throughout its history, the air force has participated in various conflicts, including the 1994 Yemeni Civil War and the ongoing Yemeni Crisis since 2015. The current inventory of the Yemen Air Force includes a diverse range of aircraft acquired from multiple countries, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, transport planes, and unmanned aerial vehicles. It has faced various operational challenges due to limited resources and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Origin countries of aircrafts
Country | Active Aircraft | |
---|---|---|
🇨🇳 Ex-USSR | 115 | |
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 28 | |
🇺🇸 United States | 22 | |
🇺🇦 Ukraine | 3 |
Evolution of Yemeni Air Force fleet
Aircrafts by type in 2025
Aircraft type | Active | |
---|---|---|
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78 | |
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59 | |
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28 | |
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3 |
Full inventory in 2025
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force
Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | 𝚫 YoY | Ordered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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MiG-29 | 🇨🇳 | 2009 | 23 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Su-22 | 🇨🇳 | 1971 | 23 | 0 |
0 |
|
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MiG-21 | 🇨🇳 | 1958 | 19 | 0 |
0 |
|
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F-5E | 🇺🇸 | 1976 | 11 | 0 |
0 |
|
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F-5B | 🇺🇸 | 1965 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Mi-8/17/171 | 🇨🇳 | 1967 | 34 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Mi-25/35 | 🇨🇳 | 1972 | 14 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Bell 212 | 🇺🇸 | 1959 | 4 | 0 |
0 |
|
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UH-1H | 🇺🇸 | 1959 | 4 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Mi-14 | 🇨🇳 | 1975 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Bell 206 | 🇺🇸 | 1967 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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An-24/26 | 🇺🇦 | 1962 | 3 | -5 |
0 |
|
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L-39 | 🇨🇿 | 1972 | 28 | 0 |
0 |