Air Forces comparison: Algeria vs South Africa
Overview
Algeria's air force fields 612 active aircraft — 3.2x South Africa's 192.
The breakdown includes 156 vs 25 combat aircraft, 315 vs 84 helicopters, 51 vs 22 transport aircraft, 61 vs 57 trainers (Algeria vs South Africa). Algeria has 49 aircraft on order vs 0 for South Africa.
Algerian Air Force 🇩🇿
| Official Name | Algerian Air Force |
| Local Name | القوات الجوية الجزائرية (Al Quwwāt al Jawwiya al Jazāʾriya) |
| Active aircraft | 612 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 49 |
| Roundel |
|
South African Air Force 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Air Force |
| Local Name | South African Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 192 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Algerian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
156 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
315 | |
Training
|
61 | |
Transport
|
51 | |
Other
|
29 | |
South African aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
25 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
84 | |
|
Training
|
57 | |
|
Transport
|
22 | |
|
Other
|
4 | |
Evolution of Algerian Air Force fleet
Evolution of South African Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Algeria or South Africa?
Algeria has more military aircraft with 612 active aircraft compared to South Africa's 192, a difference of 420 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Algeria or South Africa?
Algeria has more combat aircraft with 156 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Africa's 25.
Which country has more military helicopters, Algeria or South Africa?
Algeria operates more military helicopters with 315 compared to South Africa's 84.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Algeria or South Africa?
Algeria has more transport aircraft with 51 compared to South Africa's 22.
How do the Algeria and South Africa air forces compare in size?
Algeria's air force is 2.3 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total active aircraft (51 vs 22).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Algeria or South Africa?
Algeria has 49 aircraft on order compared to South Africa's 0.