Air Force of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Air Force (ZAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces. It was established in 1980, following the country's independence from British rule. The ZAF operates a fleet of various aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and trainer aircraft. Its primary mission is the defense of Zimbabwe's airspace, as well as supporting ground forces during military operations. The ZAF has participated in several peacekeeping missions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. It also provides assistance in disaster relief efforts and has been involved in search and rescue operations. In recent years, the ZAF has faced challenges due to financial constraints, which have affected its ability to maintain and upgrade its aircraft fleet. However, the force continues to ensure the country's national security by conducting regular training exercises and maintaining readiness to respond to any threats to the nation's sovereignty.

Key facts

Official Name Air Force of Zimbabwe
Country🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
World rank#69 over 160
Active aircrafts104 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order0
Roundel

Roundel of Zimbabwe air force

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
🇮🇹 Italy 28
🇨🇳 China 17
🇫🇷 France 13
🇸🇪 Sweden 12
🇨🇳 Ex-USSR 12
🇵🇰 Pakistan 10
🇪🇸 Spain 9
🇺🇸 United States 8
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 5

Evolution of Zimbabwean Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Training Training 40
Helicopter Helicopter 28
Combat Combat 22
Transport Transport 14

Full inventory in 2025

Air Force of Zimbabwe

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat K-8 🇨🇳 🇵🇰 1994 10
0
0
CombatCombat F-7 🇨🇳 1966 7
0
0
CombatCombat MiG-23 🇨🇳 1970 3
0
0
CombatCombat FT-7 🇨🇳 1958 2
+2
0
HelicopterHelicopter SA316 🇫🇷 1961 13
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 412 🇺🇸 1959 8
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-24/35 🇨🇳 1972 6
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-172 🇨🇳 1977 1
0
0
TransportTransport C212 🇪🇸 1974 9
0
0
TransportTransport BN-2 🇬🇧 1965 5
0
0
TrainingTraining SF-260 🇮🇹 1966 28
0
0
TrainingTraining MFI-395 🇸🇪 1972 12
+12
0

Sources: various open source data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.