Egypt, Algeria, and Angola have retained their top three positions as the African countries with the largest military aircraft fleet in 2025, according to a report by Global Firepower. The rankings, presented by Business Insider Africa, highlight the significance of military aircraft in ensuring national security and addressing regional challenges.

The report reveals that Egypt has expanded its fleet by 13 aircraft, Algeria by 3, and Angola by 1, solidifying their positions as the continent's most formidable military air powers. The top 10 list also features Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, and Libya, showcasing the diverse range of military capabilities across Africa.

Military aircraft play a critical role in national defense and security strategies, serving as a cornerstone for maintaining sovereignty and responding to security threats. In Africa, where diverse security and developmental challenges persist, military aircraft have become indispensable tools for ensuring peace, protecting territorial integrity, and responding to emergencies.

Combat operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance are among the primary roles of military aircraft. Fighter jets and attack helicopters are essential in countering security threats, including terrorism, armed insurgencies, and cross-border conflicts. These aircraft also serve as deterrents, signaling a country's capability to defend itself and its interests.

In addition to combat, military aircraft are widely used for surveillance and reconnaissance, monitoring Africa's vast landmass, porous borders, and extensive coastlines to prevent illegal activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism. The report's evaluation includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft types from all branches of service, as well as various aircraft types, including fighters, trainers, transports, dedicated bombers, and special-mission platforms.

The rankings are based on the total number of aircraft in each country's fleet, with Egypt leading the pack with 1,093 aircraft, followed by Algeria with 608, and Angola with 298. Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, and Libya complete the top 10 list, showcasing the varying levels of military aviation capabilities across the continent.

The report's findings have significant implications for regional security and defense strategies, highlighting the need for African countries to invest in modernizing their military aircraft fleets to address emerging security challenges. As the continent continues to grapple with diverse security threats, the importance of military aircraft in ensuring national security and regional stability cannot be overstated.

In conclusion, the top 10 African countries with the largest military aircraft fleet in 2025, as revealed by Global Firepower and presented by Business Insider Africa, provide a comprehensive snapshot of the continent's military aviation capabilities. The rankings underscore the critical role of military aircraft in national defense and security strategies, while also highlighting the need for continued investment in modernizing these fleets to address emerging security challenges.