The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) has about 80 military aircraft, according to Global Firepower’s 2026 estimate, including nine fighters, nine attack aircraft, 20 trainers, 14 fixed-wing transports and 28 helicopters, six of them attack helicopters. In practice its combat fleet is small and old: about eight Chinese F-7 fighters, three MiG-23s of uncertain status, around ten K-8 jet trainers and six Mi-35 gunships. Spare-parts problems have affected the Hawk fleet, and no official inventory is published, so every total here is an estimate.
Quick answer
Total military aircraft: about 80 (Global Firepower 2026, estimate). Fighter jets: 9 counted by GFP; defenceWeb lists 8 F-7 (6 F-7II and 2 further F-7s) and 3 MiG-23. Attack helicopters: 6 Mi-35/Mi-35P. Jet trainers: about 10 K-8 listed; Hawk T.60s listed as grounded by defenceWeb, with 4 reported restored by Scramble. Drones: none confirmed. Reported on order: 12 MFI-395 Super Mushshak trainers (defenceWeb).
Data verified on 7 November 2026. Delivery history from SIPRI (to end-2025); fleet estimates from Global Firepower 2026 and defenceWeb (profile updated 28 May 2026).
How many fighter jets does Zimbabwe have?
About eight to eleven, depending on whether the MiG-23s are counted. SIPRI records 12 F-7BS fighters delivered from China in 1986 and two FT-7BZ two-seaters in 1991, and defenceWeb’s May 2026 profile lists six F-7IIs and two further F-7s. Global Firepower’s 2026 count is nine fighters.
defenceWeb also lists three MiG-23s. SIPRI records three MiG-23MS fighters received second-hand from Libya around 2000-2003 and notes that their status is uncertain and that they were “probably acquired only for show”. We therefore treat them as of unknown operational status rather than as active fighters.
Zimbabwe Air Force aircraft inventory
| Platform | Variant | Quantity | Status | Source / period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu F-7 | F-7II, other F-7 (SIPRI: F-7BS, FT-7BZ) | 8 listed | Listed | defenceWeb, May 2026; SIPRI (1986, 1991) |
| Mikoyan MiG-23 | MiG-23MS | 3 | Unknown; SIPRI calls status uncertain | SIPRI; defenceWeb |
| Hongdu K-8 | K-8E | 12 delivered; 10 listed | Listed (advanced trainer, light attack) | SIPRI (2005-2006); defenceWeb |
| BAE Hawk | Hawk T.60 / 60A | 13 delivered (1982, 1992) | defenceWeb lists 12 grounded; Scramble reports 4 restored since 2022 | SIPRI; defenceWeb; Scramble |
| SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 | SF-260C, W, F | About 22 listed | Listed (basic trainer) | defenceWeb; SIPRI |
| PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak | MFI-395 | 12 | Reported on order | defenceWeb, May 2026 |
| CASA C-212 | C-212-200 | 13 delivered 1983-1990 | Current number not confirmed | SIPRI |
| BN-2 Islander / Cessna 337 / O-2A | BN-2A; 337; O-2A | 6 Islanders and 23 Cessna 337/O-2 delivered 1975-1993 | Current number not confirmed | SIPRI |
| Mil Mi-35 | Mi-35, Mi-35P (SIPRI: 6 Mi-24P delivered 1999) | 6 listed | Listed | defenceWeb; SIPRI |
| Bell 412 | AB412SP | 7-8 listed | Listed | defenceWeb; Scramble |
| Kazan Ansat | Ansat | About 12 listed | Air Force share unclear | defenceWeb |
| Military drones | – | None confirmed | No UAV listed | defenceWeb |
SIPRI quantities are deliveries, not current serviceable aircraft. defenceWeb’s figures are an open-source estimate and include aircraft whose status is unclear.
Attack helicopters: the Mi-35 fleet
Zimbabwe has a small dedicated attack-helicopter force. SIPRI records six Mi-24P gunships bought second-hand from Russia around 1998 and delivered in 1999 for use against rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, financed by the DRC. defenceWeb’s 2026 profile lists four Mi-35 and two Mi-35P, which matches Global Firepower’s count of six attack helicopters. For the type’s African record, see our Mi-24/Mi-35 combat record in Africa.
Spares and the grounded Hawks
Spare parts have been a recurring problem. SIPRI notes that the K-8s were bought in 2005-2006 after the UK refused to sell spare parts for the Hawk, and defenceWeb’s 2026 profile lists the Hawk fleet as grounded. Scramble reports that four Hawks have been restored to flying condition since 2022; the two sources have not been reconciled. Pilot training continues: in November 2026 President Mnangagwa conferred wings on ten new AFZ pilots at Gweru, as we reported in our news coverage.
New partners have offered help but not yet delivered major aircraft. Belarusian state media have reported expanding military cooperation with Zimbabwe; we found no confirmed aircraft order resulting from it.
How Zimbabwe compares
On paper the AFZ is slightly larger than Zambia’s air force (about 78 aircraft, GFP 2026) and twice the size of Tanzania’s (about 38). On Global Firepower’s count it is the only one of the three with attack helicopters.
Frequently asked questions
What fighter jets does Zimbabwe have?
Chinese Chengdu F-7s, based on the MiG-21, plus three MiG-23s from Libya whose operational status is uncertain.
Does Zimbabwe have attack helicopters?
Yes. defenceWeb lists six Mi-35/Mi-35P Hind gunships; SIPRI records six second-hand Mi-24Ps delivered from Russia in 1999, which are probably the same aircraft.
Does Zimbabwe have military drones?
None confirmed. defenceWeb’s 2026 profile lists no military drones.
Why does Zimbabwe fly Chinese aircraft?
China has been a supplier since the 1980s, when Zimbabwe received F-7 fighters. In 2005-2006 it bought K-8 trainers from China after the UK refused to sell spare parts for its Hawks, according to SIPRI.
Related reading
- Mnangagwa confers wings on 10 new AFZ pilots
- Mi-24/Mi-35 in Africa: combat record
- Trainer aircraft in African air forces
- Fighter aircraft in African air forces
- Africa’s largest air forces ranked
Sources
- SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, trade register for Zimbabwe, 1960-2025 (data published March 2026; accessed November 2026).
- Global Firepower, Zimbabwe military strength 2026 (accessed November 2026).
- defenceWeb, “Zimbabwe” African militaries profile, 9 January 2026, updated 28 May 2026.
- Scramble, Air Force of Zimbabwe order of battle (accessed November 2026).
- news.by (Belarusian state media), report on Belarus-Africa military cooperation, 2026.
Last updated: 7 November 2026.