One thing that has amazed me is how since 1991 many global airforces have effectively disappeared into virtual nothingness. Most airforces around the planet have shrunk anywhere from 20%-90% since 1991.
So what's growing in terms of combat capability?
I've not added countries like Japan or Saudi Arabia which are effectively maintaining capability or countries like UK, Netherlands etc where new capabilities have been added at cost of massive reductions to tactical air power. Also not included Iraq whose massive aiforce was destroyed in 1991. Also no China as their tactical numbers have halved! A Su-30 may be an awesome fighter but maintaining numbers is critical to actually expanding capability.
Australia
Fighter Fleet: Stable at about 100 aircraft (give or take) – this is amazing for a Western airforce.
Force multipliers
- Has added reliable tankers.
- Has introduced AWACS.
- Has introduced strategic transports
- Is adding dedicating EW capability (12 x EA-18G).
- Has added heavy lift helicopters
- Has added helicopter gunships
Has lost:
- Long range strike, though F-111s were replaced nearly 1:1 with F/A-18F.
Bangladesh
Fighter Fleet:
Has expanded from handful of F-6/F-7 to 60 MiG-29/F-7/A-5 and further growth expected.
Force Multipliers:
- Has expanded tactical transport capability
- Has added helicopter gunship capability
- Has added naval helicopter capability
- Has expanded tactical helicopter capability
Brazil
Fighter Fleet:
- Largely maintained in terms of numbers
- Has added carrier capability in the form of A-4 Skyhawks.
Force Multipliers
- Has added AWACS
- Has expanded transport helicopter fleet
- Has added helicopter gunship capability
- Has added long range maritime patrol capability
- Has introduced advanced COIN aircraft.
- Continued expansion of aerospace industrial capability including successful short haul airliners.
Botswana
Fighter Fleet:
- Qualitative improvement (from subsonic Strikemaster to supersonic CF-5A Freedom Fighter). An operational 1960s vintage CF-5 is still a potent asset in Africa.
Force multipliers
- Massively expanded tactical transpoprt capability (3 C130s and 2 CN-235s
Chad
From virtually nothing to 3 x MiG-29, 6 X Su-25 as well as some inductions of Russian helicopters
Eritrea
Fighter Fleet:
- Air force formed in 1994 and has since acquired largish by African standard fleet: 12+ MiG-29, at least 6-8 Su-27, 6 x Su-25, 6 x MB339CD.
Used against Ethiopia in 1998-2003 with several MiGs lost to Ethiopian Su-27s but they also bagged some Mig-21/-23S.
Force multipliers
- Added light transport capability
- Added helicopter gunship capability
- Added transport capability
- Added training program
Ethiopia
Fighter Fleet:
Virtually non-operational in 1991. Has since restored dozens of MiG-21/23 to flight service and introduced at least 15 Su-27 Flankers.
Jordan
Fighter Fleet:
- Stable in numbers but has improved qualitatively with acquisition of large fleet of ex-European F-16AM/BM..
Force multipliers
- Has added strategic airlift capability
- Has expanded tactical transport fleet
- Is creating large special operations aviation forces including acquisition of MC-235 fixed wing gunships, UH-60 and MD530F (equivalent to MH-6 Little Bird)
Myanmar
Fighter Fleet:
From virtually no fighters to 80 MiG-29/F-7/A-5.
Force Multipliers
- Expanded tactical transport
- Added helicopter gunship capability
- Has expanded training capability
Oman
Fighter Fleet:
- Has gone from 36 Jaguar/Strikemaster to 36 F-16C/D/Hawk 200 + 12 Eurofighter on order. Qualitative improvement as well with dedicated air defence capability being introduced.
Force multipliers
- Has added naval helicopter capability
- Has expanded tactical transport fleet
- Has expanded pilot training capabilities
Qatar
Fighter Fleet:
- Stable in numbers (18 aircraft) but is in process of massive expansion to 36-72 aircraft (Eurofighter or Rafale or F-15 or F/A-18E/F).
Force multipliers
- Has added strategic airlift capability
- Has added tactical transport fleet
- Is adding helicopter gunship
- Large expansion in transport helicopter fleet
- Is adding tankers
- Is creating training program.
Singapore
Fighter Fleet:
- Massive qualitative improvement compared to neighbouring countries (A-4, F-5, small F-16A/B fleet replaced by F-15SG and large F-16C/D force) and overall force has grown by at least 20-30 fighters.
Force multipliers
- Has added reliable tankers.
- Has introduced AWACS.
- Has added heavy lift helicopters
- Has added helicopter gunships
- Has increased tactical transport fleet
South Korea
Fighter Fleet:
- Fleet largely maintained in terms of numbers, but massive qualitative improvements including F-15SG (long range strike) and F-16C/D.
- Is developing 5th generation fighter and has adopted indigenous light fighter (F/A-50).
Force Multipliers
- Has introduced large long range maritime patrol capability (16 P-3s)
- Has increased tactical transport capability
- Has added AWACS
- Has added or is adding ISR, SIGINT, ELINT and IMINT platforms
- Is expanding naval helicopter fleet.
- Further development of indigenous capabilities eg. helicopters (KAI KUH-1 Surion).
Sudan
Fighter Fleet:
Figher numbers are difficult to acertain. However big qualitative programs have been undertaken including introduction of advanced MiG-29SMT variant and addition of long range strike (Su-24 Fencer courtesy of Belarus}.
Force Multipliers:
- Added large helicopter gunship capability
- Expansion of tactical transport helicopter capability.
Uganda
From no operational assets by 1991 to 6 Su-30 Flankers and similar number of MiG-21s.
There's been an influx of helicopters but they've suffered appalling casualties.
United Arab Emirates
Fighter Fleet:
- Has gone from 60 Mirage 2000s to 140 Mirage 2000/F-16E/F. Qualitative as well quantitative increase with long range precision strike via cruise missiles.
Force multipliers
- Has introduced tankers.
- Has introduced AWACS.
- Has added heavy lift helicopters
- Has added helicopter gunships
- Has introduced strategic transports
- Has increased tactical transport fleet
- Has expanded pilot training capabilities
