Air power remains a major component of military capability across Africa, with several countries maintaining significant fleets of fighter and interceptor aircraft.
According to the 2026 fighter/interceptor fleet ranking by Global Firepower, Egypt has the largest fleet in Africa, followed by Algeria and Morocco.
The ranking measures fighter/interceptor aircraft and includes platforms such as the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, Su-27/35, MiG-29, Rafale and Gripen.
The figures refer specifically to fighter and interceptor aircraft and should not be confused with a country’s total military aircraft inventory, which may also include attack aircraft, transport planes, trainers and helicopters.
Here are the 10 African countries with the largest fighter/interceptor fleets in 2026.
1. Egypt — 242 Fighter/Interceptor Aircraft
Egypt has the largest fighter/interceptor fleet in Africa, with 242 aircraft, according to Global Firepower’s 2026 data.
The country ranks 10th globally in the category.
Egypt’s fighter fleet includes platforms such as the F-16, Rafale and MiG-29.
Global Firepower separately lists Egypt with 90 dedicated attack aircraft. Those aircraft are not included in the 242 fighter/interceptor figure.
2. Algeria — 111
Algeria ranks second in Africa with 111 fighter/interceptor aircraft.
The country ranks 20th globally in the category.
Its overall military aviation inventory is substantially larger when other aircraft categories, including attack aircraft, transport aircraft, trainers and helicopters, are taken into account.
3. Morocco — 84
Morocco has 84 fighter/interceptor aircraft, giving it the third-largest fleet in Africa.
The country ranks 25th globally in the category.
Morocco’s broader military aviation fleet also includes 31 transport aircraft, 77 trainers and 73 helicopters.
4. Angola — 67
Angola ranks fourth in Africa with 67 fighter/interceptor aircraft.
The country maintains a sizeable military aviation capability that extends beyond fighter aircraft to include trainers, transport aircraft and helicopters.
The 67-aircraft figure therefore represents only one component of Angola’s overall military aviation inventory.
5. Sudan — 37
Sudan has 37 fighter/interceptor aircraft, according to the 2026 Global Firepower data.
That places Sudan fifth among African countries in the ranking.
Its military aviation inventory includes other aircraft categories in addition to fighter and interceptor aircraft.
6. Ethiopia — 25
Ethiopia ranks sixth in Africa with 25 fighter/interceptor aircraft.
The country also operates training aircraft and helicopters, meaning the fighter figure does not represent the total size of its military aircraft fleet.
7. Kenya — 17
Kenya has 17 fighter/interceptor aircraft, placing it seventh among African countries in the 2026 Global Firepower ranking.
The figure specifically covers fighter and interceptor aircraft rather than Kenya’s entire military aviation inventory.
8. Nigeria — 14
Nigeria ranks eighth in Africa with 14 fighter/interceptor aircraft in the 2026 Global Firepower dataset.
The figure represents the country’s fighter/interceptor category and does not include other types of military aircraft operated by the Nigerian armed forces.
9. Namibia — 11
Namibia is tied for ninth in Africa with 11 fighter/interceptor aircraft.
The country shares the position with Tanzania, which has the same number of aircraft in the Global Firepower dataset.
10. Tanzania — 11
Tanzania also has 11 fighter/interceptor aircraft, placing it joint ninth with Namibia and completing the African top 10.
Like the other countries in the ranking, the figure covers fighter/interceptor aircraft specifically and should not be interpreted as the total number of military aircraft in the country’s inventory.
Africa’s Top 10 Fighter Fleets in 2026
| Rank | Country | Fighter/Interceptor Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 242 |
| 2 | Algeria | 111 |
| 3 | Morocco | 84 |
| 4 | Angola | 67 |
| 5 | Sudan | 37 |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 25 |
| 7 | Kenya | 17 |
| 8 | Nigeria | 14 |
| 9 | Namibia | 11 |
| 10 | Tanzania | 11 |
Egypt Dominates Africa’s Fighter Fleet Ranking
The figures show a significant gap between Egypt and the other African countries in the ranking.
Egypt’s 242 fighter/interceptor aircraft are more than twice the combined figures of Algeria and Morocco, the second- and third-ranked countries.
Algeria’s 111 aircraft place it firmly in second position, while Morocco follows with 84.
Angola, with 67 aircraft, completes the group of African countries with more than 50 fighter/interceptor aircraft in the 2026 ranking.
The remaining countries in the top 10 have considerably smaller fighter fleets, although their overall military aviation capabilities cannot be assessed from fighter numbers alone.
The ranking also highlights the importance of distinguishing between fighter aircraft and total military aircraft inventories when comparing air forces.
A country may have fewer fighter/interceptor aircraft but still operate a substantial fleet of attack aircraft, helicopters, transports and other military platforms.