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Largest air forces in the world: 2026 ranking

THE SHORT ANSWERThe United States has the largest air force in the world by a wide margin, with roughly 13,000 military aircraft across its services and an estimated 850 to 1,000 fifth generation fighters. Russia (about 4,200 aircraft) and China (about 3,300) follow, then India, South Korea and Japan. China has the second largest stealth fighter fleet.

By Silent Dossier · Updated

The ranking

Download the data (CSV)
#CountryaircraftCombat aircraft
1United States12.5k–13.5k2,500–3,000
2Russia3,800–4,5001,000–1,300
3China3,150–3,5001,900–2,300
4India2,100–2,300560–650
5South Korea1,500–1,650380–420
6Japan1,380–1,450320–345
7Pakistan1,300–1,450380–450
8Egypt950–1,150400–480
9Turkey1,050290
10France900–1,100220–232
11North Korea850–1,000400–550
12Saudi Arabia900300–350
13Italy650–800155–185
14Taiwan700–800380–420
15Brazil600–700130–160
16Germany550–650210–235
17United Kingdom550–650155–160
18Israel580280–340
19Thailand520–60090–96
20Algeria500–600160–220
21Greece500–600180–210
22United Arab Emirates550135–150
23Spain450–550140–165
24Indonesia430–48085–105
25Colombia400–51035–55
26Iran300–550100–250
27Poland400–50085–110
28Australia400–44096–108
29Mexico380–4503–40
30Canada350–40077–95
31Iraq30050–70
32Ukraine220–35060–120
33Vietnam250–32065–75
34Peru250–29028–40
35Myanmar230–28050–70
36Morocco230–28060–80
37Chile220–26052–72
38Singapore220–24097–102
39Bangladesh180–21244–50
40Argentina180–24020–32
41Kazakhstan180–24070–110
42Angola150–25025–60
43Jordan20040–61
44Qatar200108
45Sweden180–22090–100
46South Africa180–21025–26
47Venezuela150–24015–40
48Malaysia160–20026–32
49Philippines160–20011–17
50Nigeria140–20030–45
51Belarus140–19045–65
52Uzbekistan120–19040–80
53Netherlands130–17052
54Romania120–17040–49
55Kenya130–16015–23
56Tunisia130–16012–15
57Finland120–16060–74
58Azerbaijan100–14035–55
59Oman12035–43
60Sudan80–15020–45
61Bahrain11028–38
62Kuwait11060–85
63Norway100–13052
64Ethiopia80–11020–32
65Lebanon706–9
66Libya50–9015–35
67Armenia50–7015–20
68Uganda40–605–8
69Eritrea201–4

Which country has the largest air force in the world?

The United States. Counting the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army together, it operates an estimated 13,000 military aircraft, about 2,700 of them fighters and attack jets. It also flies about 140 bombers, 500 tankers and 100 airborne early warning aircraft, the support fleets that let fighters reach far beyond their own borders.

The Navy alone flies about 500 Super Hornets from 11 carriers. In January 2026 the United States put more than 150 aircraft from 20 bases into a single raid on Caracas.

Who comes after the United States?

Russia has the second largest fleet by total aircraft, an estimated 4,200, and around 1,150 combat aircraft. China is third on total aircraft at about 3,300 but leads Russia comfortably on combat jets, with roughly 2,100, and on stealth fighters by a wide margin.

India follows with about 2,200 aircraft and 600 combat jets, though its fighter force fell to 29 squadrons after the MiG-21 retired in September 2025. South Korea (about 1,580 aircraft), Japan (about 1,430) and Pakistan (about 1,400) come next, with Egypt and Turkey each near 1,050 and France about 1,000.

Which country has the most powerful air force?

Size and power are different measures, and the sharper one is fifth generation fighters. The United States has an estimated 850 to 1,000 F-22s and F-35s. China has more than 300 J-20s and the J-35 now entering service; Silent Dossier's estimate for its whole stealth fleet runs from 316 to 560. Russia's Su-57 force is small, an estimated 16 to 35 aircraft.

Among US allies, Australia flies 72 F-35As and the Netherlands and Norway 52 each. Israel has 48 F-35Is, Britain 47 F-35Bs and Japan an estimated 40 to 50. Israel's have flown against Iranian air defences in two wars.

Why does our index weight air power so heavily?

Air power carries 24% of the Silent Dossier score, the largest single pillar, because control of the air has decided most conventional wars of the past fifty years. Stealth fighters count several times over older jets, bombers, tankers and early warning aircraft add credit for reach, and the whole pillar is scaled by a judgement of how modern the fleet is. A fleet of ageing jets therefore scores far below its headcount. North Korea flies an estimated 480 combat aircraft, mostly MiG-17s, MiG-19s, MiG-21s and MiG-23s, with only about 35 MiG-29s.

Which air forces are growing fastest?

China's is the one to watch. J-20 production runs at about 100 a year and the J-35 has joined it, so the stealth gap with the US is narrowing. India has ordered 97 more Tejas Mk1A fighters and asked France for 114 Rafales, but American engine delays have held Tejas deliveries back by more than two years.

In Europe the F-35 is spreading. Poland's first arrived in May 2026, Finland took its first the same year, Romania has ordered 32 and Greece 20. Turkey, shut out of the F-35 programme in 2019, has ordered 20 Typhoons from Britain and is still negotiating for used jets from Qatar and Oman until its own KAAN arrives.

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Questions readers ask

What is the largest air force in the world?

The United States. Counting all US services, America operates about 13,000 military aircraft, more than Russia and China combined.

What is the second largest air force in the world?

By total aircraft, Russia, with an estimated 4,200. By combat jets and stealth fighters, China is ahead of Russia, with about 2,100 combat aircraft.

Which country has the most fighter jets?

The United States, with an estimated 2,400 fighters. China is second with about 1,650 fighters, or about 2,100 combat aircraft once strike jets are counted.

How many fifth generation fighters does China have?

Silent Dossier estimates at least 316 stealth fighters in 2026, more than 300 of them J-20s, and the true figure could be as high as 560. The J-35, which can also fly from carriers, is entering service. That is the second largest stealth fleet after the United States.

Which country has the most powerful air force in the world?

The United States, by size, technology and support fleets. China is the only air force closing the gap.