The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) is among Africa’s largest and most experienced militaries, but decades of underinvestment, ageing Soviet-era equipment, and limited maintenance capacity have eroded much of its effectiveness.
The FAA, a tri-service force, comprises the Army, Air Force, and Navy, fielding over 100 000 active-duty personnel and some 10 000 paramilitary forces. The Army forms the backbone of Angola’s military capability, with the Air Force providing a valuable and regionally unmatched heavy-lift capacity. The Navy, long neglected, is being modernised as security and piracy concerns escalate off the Angolan coast and throughout the Gulf of Guinea.
Broader modernisation efforts have had little impact thus far, as FAA funding has steadily declined in real terms over the past decade, a trend that constrains the force’s overall combat capability. Efforts to foster a domestic defence industry have largely stalled; however, Angola continues to pursue not only enhanced regional ties but also to diversify its defence partnerships away from its historical reliance on Russia, with recent defence agreements with the UAE and others signalling a renewed intent to strengthen strategic autonomy. Despite these challenges, the FAA remains a significant regional force, increasingly focused on modernisation, maritime security, and supporting stability in Central and Southern Africa.
Click here to read the full African Military Profile on Angola.
