National Air Force of Angola
The National Air Force of Angola is the air force branch of the Angolan Armed Forces.
With an inventory of more than 300 aircraft, FANA is one of the largest and strongest air forces of Africa.
History
Angola became independent from Portugal on 11 November 1975. However, the foundations for the establishment of the air force were laid before independence when members of the then Flying Club of Angola were assembled at Luanda in October 1975. These people and aircraft left behind by the Portuguese Air Force formed the basis for the air transport branch of the force.The force was formally established on 21 January 1976 as the People's Air Force of Angola / Air and Antiaircraft Defense or FAPA/DAA. Its first batch of Soviet MiG fighter aircraft was delivered in mid-December 1975. The FAPA/DAA fought several battles with South African Air Force aircraft in November 1981, October 1982, and twice in September 1987.
Circa 1983–85, in order to enhance MPLA's combat capacity, Romania sent 150 flight instructors and other aviation personnel, who contributed to the establishment of an Angolan Military Aviation School.
The FANA has bases at Luanda, Catumbela, Belas, Luena, Kuito, Lubango and Moçâmedes. The World Factbook, produced by the CIA, reported that by 2007 the name of the force had changed to "National Air Force".
Most of the inventory is out of service, and refers to historical equipment delivered along the years. FAN has many bases – most of them, former Portuguese Air Force bases and others courtesy of the Cold War – but few airplanes that actually fly. The main body of the active air force is made of transport/cargo planes, used for moving supplies, equipment and personnel between parts of the country.
On 7 November 2025, an Airbus announcement for the delivery of 2 C-295 showed the new Roundel of the air force. Main difference is the removal of half-cogwheel, machete and the five-pointed star from the roundel, which is a part of its national flag.
Structure
The National Air Force of Angola is headed by the Chief of Staff of the FANA. The Chief of Staff of the FANA is a General directly subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Angola.FANA follows a Russian/ex-Soviet organizational model, with its air units being aviation regiments, each one including several squadrons. To each of the six aviation regiments corresponds an air base. Besides the aviation regiments, there is also a Pilot Training School.
Its order of battle is:
- 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- * 13th Fighter Squadron
- * 12th Fighter Squadron
- * 11th Fighter Squadron
- 26th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- * 14th Fighter Squadron
- * 16th Fighter Squadron
- * 15th Fighter Squadron
- 24th Training Regiment
- * 8th Training Squadron
- * 9th Training Squadron
- * 10th Training Squadron
- 23rd Air Transportation Regiment
- * 5th Light Transportation Squadron
- *6th Transportation Squadron
- *7th Transportation Squadron
- 21st Transportation Helicopter Regiment
- *1st Helicopter Squadron
- *2nd Helicopter Squadron
- 22nd Combat Helicopter Regiment
- * 3rd Helicopter Squadron
- * 4th Helicopter Squadron
- Pilot Basic Training School