Ghana Has a Small But Decent Air Force

The Ghanaian Air Force is the 3rd largest Air Force in West Africa by personnel second largest by number of aircraft. Ghana maintains a small fleet of combat aircraft, helicopters and transport aircraft.

The GHF headquarters and main transport airfield are located in Accra, close to Kotoka International Airport. Other GHF airfields include: Tamale and Sexondi-Takoradi.

Aircraft Inventory

Two Diamond DA42 Surveillance Aircraft

The DA42 aircraft provide meduim air surveillance capability for the Ghanaian Air Force. Given its size the DA42 possesses considerable endurance, being capable of performing 13 hour-long flights without carrying additional fuel tanks; this is partially due to its high fuel efficiency of its Austro engines, which consume 13.6 US gallons per hour when operated at 75 per cent power, lower than some of its single-engined rivals.

Fokker F27 Transport/Utility Aircraft.

EADS CASA C-295 Transport/Utility Aircraft

Hongdu K-8 Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft

The Hongdu K-8 is a Chinese built trainer aircraft with secondary light attack capabilities. It has a multi-role capability for training and, with little modification, can also be used for airfield defense. The aircraft is cost-effective, with a short turn-around time and low maintenance requirements.

Aermacchi MB339 Trainer/Light Attack Plane

The Italian built Aermacchi MB-339 is a military jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed. It provides Ghana with light fighter and fighter-bomber capability. It features advanced avionics, inertial guidance systems, digital nav/attack computers, a MIL-STD-1553B databus, and hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS)-compatible flight controls.

It features cool defensive systems such as a radio jammer, radar warning receiver (RWR), electronic countermeasures (ECM).

The MB.339K carries a pair of 30mm DEFA cannon while a total of six underwing hard points can accommodate up to 1,815 kilograms (4,000 lb) of external stores.

Mil Mi-17sH Multirole Helicopter

The Russian built Mi-17sH is a transport helicopter with armed assault capabilities. It can carry 28 fully armed troops and features a 27 mm gun, rocket pods and 250kg bombs.

Harbin Z9EH Attack Helicopter

The Harbin Z9EH is a Chinese built multirole helicopter and features Pylons for rockets, gun pods, ET52 torpedo, HJ-8 anti-tank missiles, or TY-90 air-to-air missiles.

SC-7 Sky Van

Aero L-39 Trainer/Light Attack Plane

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia. It is a cost-effective jet-powered trainer aircraft, which is also capable of performing ground attack missions.