Ghanaian Air Force
Key facts
| Official Name | Ghanaian Air Force |
| Local Name | Ghana Air Force |
| Country | ๐ฌ๐ญ Ghana |
| World rank | #155 |
| Active aircraft | 2 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 2 |
| Roundel |
|
Global Air Force Index
| ๐ฅ Strategic Bombers | 0 | Nuclear-capable strike aircraft (highest weight) |
| โ๏ธ Combat Aircraft | 0 | Fighters, multirole & attack aircraft |
| ๐ Helicopters | 1 | Attack, transport & utility rotorcraft |
| ๐ซ Transport | 0 | Strategic & tactical airlift |
| ๐ Total Active | 1 | All aircraft types |
Methodology: Square root scaled index weighted by aircraft combat capability. Strategic bombers score highest due to nuclear strike capability.
Aircraft by type in 2026
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Helicopter
|
2 | |
Evolution of Ghanaian Air Force fleet
2 recent updates applied to this inventory
| Date | Aircraft | Active ฮ | Ordered ฮ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar 2026 | H175 | +1 | โ |
| First Airbus H175 helicopter delivered from France, received at Air Force Base in Accra with water cannon salute. Details → | |||
| 6 Aug 2025 | Z-9 | -1 | โ |
| A Z-9 helicopter crashed in Ghana, killing eight, including two ministers. Details → | |||
Overview
The Ghana Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. Established on July 24, 1959, it has emerged as one of the West African country's key defense units. As of 2021, the Air Force operates under the command of the Chief of the Air Staff. The primary mission of the Ghana Air Force is to defend Ghana's airspace and provide aerial support to the ground forces. The Air Force operates a modest fleet of aircraft, consisting mainly of transport, utility, and training aircraft. These include aircraft models such as the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, Casa C-295, and Diamond DA40 trainer aircraft. The Ghana Air Force also has a small number of helicopters, including the Kamov Ka-32 and the Mil Mi-17. In addition to its defense responsibilities, the Ghana Air Force occasionally participates in peacekeeping missions under the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supporting regional security efforts.
Full inventory in 2026
Ghana Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | ๐ซ YoY | Ordered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter |
H175 |  |
๐ซ๐ท | 2014 | 2 | +2 |
2 |
|
| Helicopter |
Z-9 |  |
๐จ๐ณ | 1994 | 0 | -4 |
0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many aircraft does Ghana have?
How does Ghana's air force rank globally?
How many military helicopters does Ghana have?
What is the Air Force Index of Ghana?
Where does Ghana get its military aircraft from?
Last updated on 5 March 2026. Suggest a change