The African Air Forces Association is planning an HA/DR exercise in 2025 in Lusaka and is preparing field training for 2026.
Summary
The African Air Force Association (AAAF), bringing together more than 30 countries, is taking a step forward in multilateral cooperation. With the support of USAFE-AFAFRICA and the Zambian Air Force, a HA/DR (Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response) exercise will be organized in 2025 in the form of a tabletop exercise. The objective is to simulate joint and intergovernmental coordination in the face of a natural disaster. In 2026, this preparation will culminate in a field exercise involving transport aircraft, medical teams, and logistics. This initiative responds to the humanitarian challenges facing the continent, where climate and health disasters are on the rise. It aims to develop shared capabilities, harmonize procedures, and strengthen the credibility of African air forces in their role of supporting populations. This ramp-up reflects a strategic ambition for collective security.
A structured organization for air cooperation
The African Air Force Association was created to develop trust and collaboration between the continent’s military air forces. It now has more than 30 members, representing the majority of African air forces. The rotating presidency allows different host countries to be involved in the planning and execution of exercises. In 2025, Zambia will host the strategic meeting in Lusaka, symbolizing a growing commitment in Southern Africa. The support of USAFE-AFAFRICA provides expertise and resources, while placing this initiative within a framework of transatlantic cooperation. The AAAF is thus establishing itself as a unique platform where African countries can harmonize their doctrines and define common standards.
A HA/DR exercise focused on planning
The tabletop exercise planned for 2025 will be the first step. This format is based on fictional scenarios in which delegations simulate the response to a major disaster, such as a cyclone or flood. Each country will have to define its available resources, air transport capabilities, field hospitals, and engineering units. Discussions will focus on the chain of command, the distribution of responsibilities, and the management of air corridors. The main challenge lies in the interoperability of forces, which requires unified procedures for the delivery of aid. These exercises will also identify capacity gaps, whether in strategic transport aircraft, communications, or deployable medical facilities.
Field training in 2026
In 2026, the AAAF will move into a practical phase with a field exercise. This will involve transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, the Chinese Y-8, or the Casa 295, depending on the fleets available to the participating countries. Medical, logistical, and security teams will be deployed to a defined area to test real-world coordination. The goal is to validate the ability to set up an airlift, transport several tons of cargo, and ensure the rotation of medical evacuations. Emergency simulations, such as earthquakes or epidemics, will measure the speed of response and resilience of local structures. This practical step will be an indicator of operational maturity for African air forces, capable of working together on common bases.
A response tailored to African challenges
The choice to focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster response reflects the reality of the continent’s needs. Africa is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters: floods in Mozambique, recurrent droughts in the Horn of Africa, cyclones in the Indian Ocean. Health crises, such as the Ebola epidemic, have also shown the importance of rapid air logistics for transporting vaccines, equipment, and medical teams. The development of multilateral cooperation aims to avoid bureaucratic delays and strengthen the capacity for immediate action. By strengthening their common mechanisms, African countries are seeking to reduce their dependence on external intervention and assert their strategic autonomy.
Regional and international momentum
This exercise demonstrates a desire to build collective African security. It is part of a dynamic in which the African Union, regional economic communities, and external partners are seeking to better integrate crisis responses. USAFE-AFAFRICA, key partners in the project, see this initiative as an opportunity to support the development of African air forces’ capabilities while promoting regional stability. The host country, Zambia, is positioning itself as a key player between southern and central Africa. The establishment of regular HA/DR exercises could eventually become an annual tradition, consolidating the AAAF as an essential organization in the management of humanitarian air crises.
Towards a gradual ramp-up
The 2025-2026 cycle marks a turning point for African air forces. By structuring their cooperation around progressive exercises, they are gaining valuable shared experience. The benefits go beyond the purely humanitarian sphere: developing the capacity to rapidly deploy logistical resources is also fundamental to the continent’s security and stability. This initiative could pave the way for other areas of cooperation, such as maritime surveillance and the fight against illicit trafficking. The AAAF is therefore positioning itself as a laboratory for African military integration, where disaster response becomes a lever for trust and credibility.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.