The air force strength of a nation is a core indicator of its military capabilities, particularly in projecting power, maintaining air superiority, and defending national airspace. In 2026, countries like the United States, Russia, and China dominate the skies with the highest number of combat aircraft, showcasing advanced air fleets comprised of fighters, bombers, and multirole aircraft. This article explores and compares air combat capabilities across continents, providing a detailed look into global air power rankings.
The rankings in this article are based on the latest global defense data, accounting for operational combat aircraft only—primarily fighters, bombers, attack jets, and multirole aircraft. Transport aircraft, trainers, or drones are excluded. Numbers may include both domestically produced and foreign-acquired aircraft. Some nations maintain large fleets but may have a portion of aircraft in reserve or non-operational states, which are not counted. The data reflects active military inventories as of mid-2025 and may slightly vary depending on updates from defense ministries and global think tanks.
Top 10 Countries with the Most Combat Aircraft
- United States: 2,803 combat aircraft
- Russia: 1,538 combat aircraft
- China: 1,334 combat aircraft
- India: 686 combat aircraft
- North Korea: 572 combat aircraft
- South Korea: 467 combat aircraft
- Pakistan: 450 combat aircraft
- Egypt: 427 combat aircraft
- France: 265 combat aircraft
- Japan: 261 combat aircraft
The United States leads by a wide margin, with a fleet of over 2,800 combat aircraft—nearly double that of Russia, the second-ranking country. The U.S. inventory includes cutting-edge platforms like the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and F-15EX. Russia, though significantly behind, fields a powerful mix including Su-35s, Su-57s, and MiG-31s.
China continues rapid expansion and modernization, fielding over 1,300 aircraft including the J-20 stealth fighter. India, ranking fourth, maintains a strategic fleet sourced from both Western and Russian manufacturers. Interestingly, North Korea, despite its economic constraints, holds the fifth-largest fleet—primarily older models like MiG-21s and MiG-23s.
South Korea and Pakistan boast strong regional air forces, closely followed by Egypt, which leads in Africa. France and Japan round out the top 10 with modern, versatile forces including Rafales and F-15Js, respectively.
Complete Global Ranking of Combat Aircraft by Country
| # | Country | Number of Combat Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 2,803 |
| 2 | Russia | 1,538 |
| 3 | China | 1,334 |
| 4 | India | 686 |
| 5 | North Korea | 572 |
| 6 | South Korea | 467 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 450 |
| 8 | Egypt | 427 |
| 9 | France | 265 |
| 10 | Japan | 261 |
| 11 | Turkey | 245 |
| 12 | Israel | 244 |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 244 |
| 14 | Taiwan | 243 |
| 15 | Italy | 210 |
| 16 | Iran | 198 |
| 17 | United Kingdom | 183 |
| 18 | Greece | 173 |
| 19 | Ukraine | 130 |
| 20 | Brazil | 103 |
| 21 | Germany | 98 |
| 22 | Thailand | 94 |
| 23 | Myanmar | 91 |
| 24 | Indonesia | 89 |
| 25 | Vietnam | 85 |
| 26 | Algeria | 82 |
| 27 | Syria | 81 |
| 28 | Uzbekistan | 72 |
| 29 | Bangladesh | 65 |
| 30 | Canada | 63 |
| 31 | Spain | 60 |
| 32 | Iraq | 58 |
| 33 | Morocco | 56 |
| 34 | Jordan | 53 |
| 35 | Belarus | 50 |
| 36 | Colombia | 48 |
| 37 | United Arab Emirates | 47 |
| 38 | Serbia | 46 |
| 39 | Kazakhstan | 45 |
| 40 | Malaysia | 44 |
| 41 | South Africa | 43 |
| 42 | Romania | 42 |
| 43 | Philippines | 41 |
| 44 | Peru | 39 |
| 45 | Australia | 38 |
| 46 | Azerbaijan | 37 |
| 47 | Venezuela | 35 |
| 48 | Mexico | 34 |
| 49 | Chile | 33 |
| 50 | Ethiopia | 32 |
| 51 | Sudan | 31 |
| 52 | Yemen | 30 |
| 53 | Libya | 29 |
| 54 | Poland | 28 |
| 55 | Netherlands | 27 |
| 56 | Singapore | 26 |
| 57 | Argentina | 25 |
| 58 | Sweden | 24 |
| 59 | Finland | 23 |
| 60 | Norway | 22 |
| 61 | Bulgaria | 21 |
Key Global Insights Beyond the Top 10
- Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia each operate over 240 combat aircraft, placing them just outside the top 10 and making them dominant air powers in the Middle East.
- Taiwan maintains 243 combat aircraft—a critical deterrent in the Asia-Pacific region amidst rising tensions with China.
- Italy (210) and United Kingdom (183) illustrate Europe’s continued commitment to NATO air capabilities.
- Brazil leads South America with 103 aircraft, followed by Colombia and Chile, reflecting a growing focus on regional defense modernization.
- Notably, Germany, Poland, and Netherlands maintain relatively smaller fleets compared to other NATO countries but are investing in 5th-generation platforms.
- Countries like Iran, Ukraine, and Syria show significant numbers despite facing geopolitical instability or economic sanctions.
Air Power Distribution by Continent
While North America (led by the United States) dominates globally, Asia emerges as the most militarized continent in terms of combat aircraft numbers, with six countries in the top 15. Europe maintains strong air fleets across multiple NATO members. Africa, with Egypt and Algeria, shows selective but significant air strength, especially in North Africa. In South America, Brazil is the clear leader, while Australia represents Oceania with a modest yet technologically advanced fleet of 38 aircraft.
In 2025, air dominance continues to shape the strategic posture of nations. The disparity in air force strength between countries underscores not only military capacity but also political priorities and defense budgets. As aerial warfare evolves with stealth, AI, and drones, the sheer number of combat aircraft remains a crucial benchmark of national power and preparedness.