It came as part of the decisions of the Soummam congress held on August 20, 1956, which recommended a long-term plan to form a modern army.

[4] In 1957, six Algerians were sent for training to the Syrian Arab Air Force flight school at Nayrab near Aleppo.

[5][4] During this period, the French army started the Challe and Morice lines used to isolate the ALN fighters inside the country and to stop supplies coming from Tunisia and Morocco.

Then came the idea to train transport and helicopter pilots to ensure supplying the national liberation army, and to prepare the first core of the military aviation.

Military aviation had a core of pilots and technicians after independence, who laid the foundations of the present Air Force.

Despite its growth, at the time of the Six-Day War the Algerian Air Force was not deemed combat ready.

[11] In 1967, the Algerian Air Force also bought its first surface-to-air missile systems, with two battalions of S-75 Dvinas.

[12] In the late 1960s, thanks to increased oil prices and to Algeria's economic growth, important arms orders were passed with the USSR.

During the same period, 28 second-hand Fouga CM.170 Magisters were bought from West Germany, as well as some Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and Mil Mi-6 helicopters.

[11] Thanks to its growth in the previous years, the Algerian Air Force was able to participate directly in the 1973 October War.

Through the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force worked to build a fully integrated network of early warning radars.

A new airplane supplier emerged just after the Iranian revolution when Algeria received 18 C-130H Hercules and 12 Hawker Beechcrafts supplied by USA from 1981 to 1989.

[16] As the Civil War was winding down, the Algerian Air Force began to replace its older combat aircraft.

[18] Shortly after the first MiG-29 9.19 deliveries, the Algerian military discovered that these aircraft were not newly built airframes, but older ones modernised to MiG-29 9.19 standard.