Military Africa posted on 26 August 2026 an article titled "Algeria Likely Buyer of Russia's New IL-78 Aerial Tanker" by Israel Chukwuma.
Algeria's Air Force may be the first buyer of Russia's IL-78MK-90A aerial refueling tanker, adding to its Russian-supplied fleet. Algeria devoted $25.4 billion to military spending in 2025, the highest amount for any country in Africa.
Defence Security Asia posted on 25 June 2026 an article titled "Algeria's J-10C and KJ-500 Deal Signals China's Biggest Air Power Breakthrough."
Algeria is apparently prepared to buy Chinese Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters and Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft beginning in 2027. This acquisition would make Algeria's air force one of the most advanced air powers in the region and challenge Russia as the traditional supplier of its air force.
Min.com posted on 25 June 2026 an article titled "China Won a Large Order in Algeria, 24 Pterosaur 2, Frigates and Anti-ship Missiles Are on the List."
Recent purchases of Chinese arms by Algeria include frigates, missile systems, and drones.
Strategic Horizons, a publication of the Air University, just published an edition that contains my article titled "China's Expanding Airpower in the Western Indian Ocean."
This is an in-depth analysis of China's evolving airpower posture across the Western Indian Ocean from Pakistan to the coast of Africa from Egypt to South Africa, including the island countries. It reflects research as of mid-2025
The Diplomat published on 20 May 2025 an analysis titled "What a China-Egypt Military Training Reveals About the PLA's Air Combat Readiness" by Ying Yu Lin, Tamkang University in Taipei.
The recently completed "Eagles of Civilization" air force exercise between China and Egypt demonstrated improved integration capabilities of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). It was also an opportunity for the PLAAF to showcase to potential international buyers its newest aircraft such as the KJ-500 early warning aircraft and the J-10C fighter jet.
Military Africa posted on 1 May 2025 an article titled "Nigeria Looks to China's Norinco to Bolster Fledging Air Defence Structure" by Ekene Lionel.
A high-level delegation from the Nigerian Air Force recently visited China to look at updating its radar coverage and air defense systems. Nigeria has an ongoing defense relationship with Norinco and has procured a wide variety of combat systems from China, which is looking to expand its military and economic influence in the country.
Business Insider Africa published on 7 May 2025 an article titled "Chinese Fighter Jets Soar over Egypt in First Ever Joint Military Drills" by Adekunle Agbetiloye.
Egypt and China have just completed a joint air force exercise over the Sahara Desert involving fighter jets, helicopters, and transport aircraft. This is a first for China and Egypt and sends a signal to the United States, as it dismantles foreign aid and pulls back from Africa that Egypt is seeking to expand its security relationships.
Newsweek published on 22 April 2025 an article titled "China Shows Off New Warplanes in Challenge to U.S." by Amira El-Fekki.
China's first joint air force exercise with Egypt highlighted Beijing's push to project power into the Middle East and North Africa. The PLA Air Force sent J-10c and J-10s fighters while Egypt fielded its MiG-29 aircraft for the exercise.
Pulselive.co.ke posted on 30 October 2024 an article titled "KDF Boosts Aviation Capabilities with Deadly Z-9 Helicopters" by Denis Mwangi.
The Kenya Army Corps of Aviation commissioned on 29 October refurbished Harbin Z-9 helicopters provided by the China Aviation Technology Import and Export Corporation. The report did not cite the number of helicopters that were commissioned.
Kenya's the Nation published on 3 July 2020 an article titled "Queries Raised over Military Choppers that Have Yet to Fly."
The article indicated that Kenya received 8 Chinese Z-9 helicopters in January 2020 that had not been airborne as of July 2020. There was no explanation why they remained on the ground without flying.
Comment: It is not clear if the undetermined number of recently commissioned, refurbished Z-9s are the same ones as the 8 delivered in January 2020,
Thedefensepost.com posted on 16 July 2024 an article titled "Kenya Receives Military Helicopters from US" by Joe Saballa.
Coincidentally, the United States delivered the first two of eight UH-1 Huey military helicopters in July 2024 to the Kenya Defence Forces. They were promised during the state visit to Washington by President William Ruto.
The National Interest published on 8 September 2024 an article titled "The F-16 Is Being Replaced by China's J-10C Fighter in 1 Air Force" by Peter Suciu.
Egypt has decided to replace its aging fleet of US-made F-16 Fighting Falcons with Chinese J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighters. Egypt will become the second nation to acquire the Chinese-made J-10C after Pakistan. Cairo's decision to select the J-10C over the F-16 was apparently based on price and aircraft capabilities.
Defence Web posted on 17 July 2023 an article titled "Another Nigerian F-7Ni Lost in a Crash" by Guy Martin.
In 2005, Nigeria purchased twelve F-7Ni single seat fighters and three FT-7Ni dual-seat trainers from China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Six have been lost in crashes along with three pilots. Most recently, a two-seat trainer crashed on 14 July. The two pilots ejected safely.
Air Force Magazine published on 27 January 2022 an article titled "Somalia Hopes to Reconstitute Its Air Force with Renewed US Partnership" by Abraham Mahshie.
Somalia reestablished its Air Force in 2015, although it has no pilots or planes. It hopes to rebuild with US help.
Comment: Except for humanitarian needs and disaster relief, an Air Force would seem to be a low priority for Somalia.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies published in August 2021 a study titled "Personal Ties: Measuring Chinese and U.S. Engagement with African Security Chiefs" by Judd Devermont, Marielle Harris and Alison Albelda.
The conclusions are based on an open source database measuring Chinese and U.S. engagement with 454 current and former African security chiefs. China engages with top African security chiefs at less than half the rate of the United States, with engagements peaking in 2019 followed by a sharp decline in 2020.
