The event, hosted by the Zambia Air Force in collaboration with the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), brought together 38 African nations, including 29 members of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF).

The discussions focused on enhancing Africa-led air force cooperation, refining disaster response strategies, and expanding multilateral engagements to address natural and humanitarian crises.
General James B. Hecker, USAFE-AFAFRICA Commander, speaking at digital press briefing, emphasized the increasing role African nations were playing in shaping their collective air force capabilities.

"This is an African-led operation. The host is, in this case, Zambia and General Nyoni. I am the co-host," he stated, reinforcing Africa's growing ownership in regional air force collaborations.
Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, Zambia Air Force Commander, hailed the enthusiasm of the participating air chiefs and their commitment to developing solutions for African challenges, stating that, "the contributions brought on board by African chiefs from all over Africa - Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and the North - have been fantastic... Their desire to contribute toward solving African problems is highly appreciated."

Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief at the Core

A key feature of this year's symposium was the focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). African nations conducted a tabletop exercise simulating a large-scale flood scenario, which tested collaborative response mechanisms.

The exercise, designed to identify logistical and operational challenges in disaster response, underscored the importance of preemptive coordination.

General Hecker underscored the importance of preemptive planning, noting that critical logistical questions - such as fuel costs, supply arrangements, and diplomatic clearances for overflights - must be addressed in advance rather than during an actual crisis.

General Nyoni emphasized that addressing disasters is central to regional stability.
"We are focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as these are some of the worst enemies of thecontinent's development. By alleviating the suffering of the people, we will be promoting human dignity as well as unity in the continent," he explained.

Expansion of the Association of African Air Forces
Since its inception in 2015, the AAAF has grown significantly, expanding from just four member nations to 29 in 2025.

This growth reflects a collective commitment to strengthening Africa's air power and fostering intercontinental partnerships.

"The more African countries participate, the better," said General Nyoni. "Being members of this association has shown us the benefits of collective engagement. We hope that by the close of this conference, maybe one or two more nations may add to the number."

The symposium also provided an opportunity for non-member African nations to observe and consider joining the AAAF.

General Hecker noted that these engagements provide a pathway for stronger regional security collaborations, and that "the 29 member nations have demonstrated how cooperation enhances capabilities. The additional nine African nations attending as observers have the opportunity to witness these benefits firsthand."

Empowering Non-Commissioned Officers
Another major milestone of this year's symposium was the adoption of a standardized Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) handbook, a document that will serve as a guiding framework for the training and development of enlisted personnel across member nations.
"Starting in 2021, the African Air Chiefs Symposium began including our senior enlisted leaders," said General Hecker, and "since then, they have been putting together an NCO handbook, which is basically an agreement among all the nations at a very strategic level on how our NCOs should be trained."

The newly ratified handbook is expected to create a more unified approach to enlisted leadership and improve interoperability among African air forces.

Roadmap to 2026: Advancing Air Force Collaboration

Looking ahead, the symposium laid the groundwork for future joint exercises, culminating in a major live-flight operation in Kenya in November 2026.

General Hecker outlined the phased approach toward this goal: "What we're doing here is the beginning of this exercise - a tabletop exercise. In May 2026, we will conduct a command-post exercise, and the culmination will be a live-flight exercise with all AAAF members participating.

This initiative aims to enhance coordination, response time, and logistical efficiency in disaster relief scenarios.

The live-flight exercise will serve as a comprehensive test of the protocols and strategies developed through prior planning stages.

Growing Financial and Logistical Independence
One of the key discussions at the symposium centered on financial sustainability and African nations taking greater ownership of air force operations - a shift reflects Africa's increasing leadership in air force development and self- sufficiency in security operations.

"At the last AACS, we had a vote, and it was decided that Africa would pick up more of the costs... They voted on that themselves, which is a good conclusion for all of us," General Hecker said.
While the U.S. continues to provide logistical and training support, the emphasis is on African nations strengthening their own capabilities.

A Unified Vision for the Future
General Nyoni expressed optimism about the outcomes and the future of African air force collaboration, and that "going forward, we hope that the resolutions we have agreed upon as African nations will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges that arise. These challenges can come unannounced and affect any nation at any time."

General Hecker reiterated those sentiments, commending the seamless organization of the event.
"When you host 38 nations, a lot of things can go wrong, but they haven't. That's because of our terrific hosts. The Zambian people, the Zambian Air Force, and the Zambian Government have all been behind this, putting on a first-class symposium."

With a shared vision for regional cooperation, disaster response readiness, and military development, the 14th African Air Chiefs Symposium has reinforced Africa's commitment to building a stronger and more self-reliant air force network for the future.

GNA