Museum of the Armed Forces

The Museum of the Armed Forces occupies the Fortaleza de São Miguel and displays military vehicles, aircraft, and artillery from various periods of Angola's past. The collection spans equipment from multiple conflicts, showing how military hardware changed over time.

The museum opened in 1975 following Angola's independence and preserves artifacts from the Independence War and subsequent armed conflicts. It serves as a record of a crucial period in the nation's development.

The museum grounds display colonial-era statues that once stood in Luanda's streets, representing historical figures from an earlier period. These sculptures offer visitors insight into how the city once honored its past.

The museum is housed in a fortress setting and can be visited most days, with time needed to explore both indoor and outdoor sections. Since much of the display is outdoors, visitors should dress for the weather and arrive earlier in the day for better light.

The collection features aircraft wreckage from machines used during regional conflicts, along with training planes from an earlier era. These aircraft remnants tell stories of multiple decades of military activity in the region.

Location: Luanda

Inception: 1975

Official opening: 1975

GPS coordinates: -8.80916,13.22340

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00