MENA: military aircraft strength by country 2024| ��ƽ��

Number of total military aircraft in the Middle East and North Africa in 2024, by country

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Release date

January 2024

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Region

MENA

Survey time period

2024

Supplementary notes

Note: according to the source, the statistic includes both fixed-wing and rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft types as well as active aircraft from all branches of service (be they from the air force, army, navy, or marines, etc.). All aircraft types are considered including basic / advanced trainers, transports, fighters, bombers, special missions platforms and so forth.

The source does not provide an exact publication date. Date given here is the date of access.

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As of 2024, Egypt had the most military aircraft amongst the Middle East and North African countries, with an estimated aircraft strength of . Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates operate the most modern fleet of military aircraft amongst MENA countries.

Regional military spending

The Middle East and North Africa region boast a diverse array of military aircraft strength and are primarily reliant on contracts with foreign suppliers. The region's total military aircraft market is projected to reach **** billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with an expected annual growth rate of **** percent. Furthermore, countries like Israel and Turkey have advanced local aerospace industries, which are experienced in maintaining and upgrading military aircraft from countries like the United States.

Military expenditure varies widely across MENA countries, with some countries allocating substantial portions of their GDP to defense. Countries in the region have faced various internal and external security challenges and therefore military spending has consistently increased over the years. The arms trade plays a significant role in shaping the military landscape of the region. Gulf Cooperation Council countries are prioritizing defense and fostering partnerships with foreign manufacturers. This trend is reflected in the diverse aircraft fleets of countries like Qatar, which has placed orders for high-end equipment from multiple Western allies.

Leading Military powers in the region

Political rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia also boast some of the largest levels of active military personnel in the region. Saudi Arabia has strong partnerships with major Western allies like the United States from where it procures the bulk of its military equipment. The country has imported arms worth billions in trend-indicator value (TIV), although their TIV has considerably fallen in recent years. On the other hand, Iran has alliances with China and Russia in addition to indigenously producing many of its own equipment. This distribution of human and material resources underscores the complex balance of power in the MENA region.