African Air Forces Forum 2026
The 5th African Air Forces Forum will be hosted by the Côte d’Ivoire Air Force in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event will bring together African Air Force Chiefs, senior officers, government representatives, international defense partners, and technology providers to discuss current air power requirements across the continent.
For audiences focused on surveillance and operational awareness, the event includes content on airborne ISR, UAVs, maritime domain awareness contribution, border security, and border and coastal surveillance helicopters. The wider program also covers air defense, combat air power, air mobility, C4ISR, training, and sustainment.
When is the Event?
The event is listed for December 1–2, 2026. The program includes conference sessions, exhibition activity, networking events, a VIP dinner, and private one-to-one meetings.
Themes
The forum’s 2026 theme is “Building Interoperable Air Defence and UAV Capabilities for Regional Peace and Resilience.” The agenda will explore how air forces can strengthen surveillance, reconnaissance, border security, and internal security operations through integrated air power capabilities.
The supplied capability index identifies several focus areas, including combat air power, ISR and UAV maturity, air mobility, air defense, readiness and training, infrastructure, and sustainment. The ISR and UAV category includes UAV maturity, airborne ISR, and contribution to maritime domain awareness.
Image Credit: African Air Forces Forum 2025
What’s On?
The event will include formal opening sessions, keynote remarks, panel discussions, technology showcases, exhibition tours, networking sessions, and meetings between exhibitors and attending Chiefs of Air Force.
The conference program begins with senior leadership arrivals, a cultural display, live performance, welcome address, and networking gala dinner. The main conference sessions include registration, VIP arrivals, the national anthem, safety briefing, welcome remarks by the Chief of Air Staff of Côte d’Ivoire, a documentary on the forum, goodwill messages, and an opening keynote address.
Surveillance and Border Security Sessions
The program includes a session on UAV and ISR in counterterrorism, internal security, and asymmetric operations. This will address how airborne systems support intelligence gathering, operational awareness, and security missions.
Another session will focus on the integration of UAV and ISR for air surveillance and border security. The panel discussion will cover the development of airborne ISR capabilities to improve intelligence gathering, extend surveillance reach, and strengthen reconnaissance effectiveness.
Relevant Capability Areas
Content relevant to surveillance and monitoring includes MALE UAVs, tactical surveillance drones, AEW&C platforms, ELINT and SIGINT systems, satellite-based ISR integration, geospatial intelligence platforms, artificial intelligence for ISR analysis, and autonomous drone technologies.
The rotary wing aviation section also includes border and coastal surveillance helicopters, alongside attack helicopters, utility and transport helicopters, and CSAR platforms.
Exhibition and Meetings
The International Exhibition will provide space for technology providers to present systems linked to the event’s air power, surveillance, defense, and operational support themes. The Meet The Air Force Chiefs program will give exhibitors and sponsors scheduled one-to-one meetings with attending Chiefs of Air Force during official networking breaks.
Speakers
The forum will include the Chief of Air Staff of Côte d’Ivoire, Chiefs of Air Staff, VIP speakers, sponsor representatives, moderators, a forum chairman, and a special guest of honor. The supplied content also identifies senior officers, commandants, branch chiefs, government leaders, international defense partners, and technology providers as participants.
Previous Highlights
Previous discussions connected to the forum covered national security, counterterrorism operations, peacekeeping missions, and advanced technologies. The 2026 program develops these areas through sessions on air surveillance, border security, ISR, UAVs, air defense, and regional operational capability.
Who Will Attend?
The forum is intended for air forces, aviation authorities, law enforcement, ministries of defense, and ministries of interior. Attendee profiles include Chiefs of Air Staff, Deputy Chiefs of Air Staff, Directors of Armament and Procurement, Directors of Policy and Plans, Directors of Training, Directors General, Directors of Logistics, and Directors of Air Operations.
Where is the Event?
The 5th African Air Forces Forum will take place at:
Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire
Abidjan
Côte d’Ivoire
To learn more about African Air Forces Forum 2026, to register to attend or exhibit, please click below .
