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Roundel of Malawi air force
Air Forceยท ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ Malawi

Malawian Air Force

The Malawian Air Force operates 11 military aircraft in 2026 โ€” 8 helicopters, 3 transport aircraft. It ranks #133 of 162 air forces worldwide.

Active aircraft
112026
Helicopters
8
AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength)
1.6/ 100
The score reflects a fleet of 0 combat aircraft, 8 helicopters and 3 transports out of 11 active airframes, weighted by combat effectiveness.
Fleet Composition โ€” 2026
  • Helicopter 8
  • Transport 3
Fleet Evolution
2020 โ€” 11 11 2020 2021 โ€” 7 7 2021 2022 โ€” 11 11 2022 2023 โ€” 12 12 2023 2024 โ€” 12 12 2024 2025 โ€” 10 10 2025 2026 โ€” 11 11 2026
Origin of Aircraft

Full inventory in 2026

6 aircraft types

Malawi Defence Force Air Wing

Aircraft Origin Model year Active ฮ” YoY Ordered
Helicopter
H125M/AS350/550 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 1990 2 โ€” โ€”
SA330 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 1968 2 โ€” โ€”
SA341 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 1971 2 โ€” โ€”
AS355 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 1990 1 โ€” โ€”
AS532 ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France
1978 1 +1 โ€”
Transport
MA600 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1969 2 +1 โ€”
Dornier 228 ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany 1982 1 -1 โ€”
ActiveOn order

Overview

The Malawi Air Force (MAF) is the air warfare branch of the Malawian Defense Force. It was established in 1976 and is responsible for carrying out air operations in support of national defense strategies. The MAF's fleet consists of various aircraft, including transport planes and helicopters, primarily used for logistics, air transport, and search and rescue operations. The force has also deployed aerial assets for humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. The MAF has worked on improving its capabilities through training programs and international cooperation agreements. It has collaborated with other regional air forces and undergone joint exercises to enhance its operational readiness. The MAF has a small number of aircraft and limited resources, and its main focus is on defending national airspace, supporting ground forces, and contributing to regional security efforts.

Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), official air force and government publications and dated press reports; the update journal below lists the sources of each pass. Last updated on 8 September 2026. Suggest a change

Frequently Asked Questions

How many aircraft does Malawi have?
Malawi Air Force operates 11 active military aircraft as of the current year. Additionally, 0 aircraft are currently on order.
How does Malawi's air force rank globally?
Malawi Air Force ranks #133 out of 162 air forces worldwide based on the AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength), which measures overall air power capability considering fleet size and combat effectiveness.
How many military helicopters does Malawi have?
Malawi Air Force operates 8 military helicopters, including attack, transport, and utility rotorcraft used for various combat and support missions.
What is the AIRS Index score of Malawi?
Malawi has an AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) score of 1.6 out of 100. This composite score weights every active airframe by category and by generation tier (strategic bombers highest, then combat aircraft, helicopters and transports), scales the combat fleet by its enablers โ€” tankers and airborne early warning โ€” and its stand-off armament, and applies a budget-based availability proxy to the whole force.
Where does Malawi get its military aircraft from?
Malawi sources its military aircraft primarily from France, Germany, and Ex-USSR. The fleet composition reflects both domestic production capabilities and international defense partnerships.
Compare this Air Force
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ Malawi vs
Latest Data Updates
  1. SEP 82026 Updated Logged 1 crash from 2024
  2. JUL 242026 Updated SA330 fleet entry linked to its aircraft page
  3. MAR 142026 Updated 7 aircraft types added