The Republic of the Congo, Niger, and Ivory Coast have the fewest attack helicopters on the continent, with each possessing just one. Mozambique has only two.
Lately, military aviation has become a big deal across Africa, with more countries pouring resources into aircraft to boost their defence game. One of the most critical assets for modern militaries is the attack helicopter, providing ground forces with essential close air support, reconnaissance, and rapid-strike capabilities.
According to a report by Global Firepower, attack helicopters are specialized military assets typically used by the army or air force to provide firepower and close air support (CAS) for ground troops.
These helicopters are designed to destroy armoured vehicles and engage enemy positions, making them critical tools in battlefield operations. The most well-known models include the Boeing AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger, and Kamov Ka-52 Alligator/Mi-28 Havoc.
Notably, when it comes to attack helicopter fleets, there’s a big gap in what different African countries can field. Some have invested heavily, while others are barely scraping by.
In Africa, Egypt leads the pack with 100 attack helicopters, ranking 7th globally. Following Egypt, Algeria comes in with 75 helicopters, placing it 9th globally. Sudan also has a noteworthy presence, with 35 helicopters, putting it at 19th globally.
On the flip side, the Republic of the Congo, Niger, and Ivory Coast have the fewest attack helicopters on the continent, with each possessing just one. They rank 79th, 78th, and 77th globally, respectively.
Below are the the top 10 African countries with the fewest attack helicopter fleets:
| Rank | Country | Attack helicopter fleet | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic of the Congo | 1 | 79th |
| 2 | Niger | 1 | 78th |
| 3 | Ivory Coast | 1 | 77th |
| 4 | Sierra Leone | 2 | 76th |
| 5 | Namibia | 2 | 74th |
| 6 | Mozambique | 2 | 73rd |
| 7 | Kenya | 2 | 71st |
| 8 | Burkina Faso | 2 | 70th |
| 9 | Chad | 3 | 67th |
| 10 | Senegal | 5 | 62nd |
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