Top 5 Largest Air Forces in the World

Many people have no idea just how big the U.S. military is. For instance, did you know that out of the largest air forces in the world, U.S. military branches rank in four of the top five places? Let’s explore how air forces around the globe compare in terms of fleet size and combat readiness to get a better picture of the U.S. military’s capabilities. 

The Top Five Most Powerful Air Forces

When measuring airpower, there are several important considerations besides the number of airplanes. We look at the types of aircraft, airlift and refueling capability — as well as the manufacturing base to rapidly deploy more aircraft during a near-peer conflict. 

Based on the TrueValueRating system, the current most powerful air forces in the world are the following:

1. The United States Air Force

The United States Air Force ranks as number one, with 5,154 manned and unmanned aircraft systems. The U.S. Air Force units break down into the following categories:

Manned Aircraft

• Fighters: 1,683 (with an additional 1,009 F-35A on order)
• Attack Aircraft: 314 (A-10 Thunderbolts + AC-130 Gunships)
• Bombers: 153
• Tankers: 533
• Strategic Airlift Platforms: 821
• Rotary Wing (Helicopters): 343 (+181 on order)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• Multi-Mission: 83
• ISR: 3,080

Other Aircraft

• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft: 178 (+85 on order)
• Training Aircraft: 1,314 (+ 350 on order)

2. The United States Navy

The United States Navy has around half the inventory of the U.S. Air Force, yet it still ranks second out of all the air forces in the world, based on the TrueValueRating system. The U.S. Navy has an active aircraft inventory of 3,877 manned and unmanned aircraft despite its traditional specialty in waterway support. The U.S. Navy’s aircraft break down as follows:

Manned Aircraft

• Fighters: 451
• Electronic Warfare: 261
• Tankers: 11
• Strategic Airlift Platforms: 79
• Rotary Wing (Helicopters): 507

Other Aircraft

• Maritime Patrol: 126
• Training Aircraft: 995

3. The Russian Air Force

The Russian Air Force is one of the only largest air forces in the world that isn’t controlled by the U.S. Russia currently has 3,794 active aircraft units in its inventory, with approximately one-third (39.2%) being helicopters. One-quarter of Russia’s inventory  consists of fighter units, including dedicated bombers, interceptors, strike units, and more. 

Manned Aircraft

• Fighters: 800
• Bombers: 126
• Tankers: 19
• Strategic Airlift Platforms: 130
• Rotary Wing (Helicopters): 1,372

Unmanned Aircraft

• Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs): 1,030

Other Aircraft

• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft: 17
• Training Aircraft: 300

Russia ranks third in the world for largest air forces just below the U.S. Navy.

4. The United States Army Aviation Branch

Despite lacking aircraft versatility, the United States Army Aviation Branch also lands on the top five list because of its impressive aircraft unit inventory. The U.S. Army Aviation Branch currently has 4,420, which you would think would rank it above Russia and the U.S. Navy, but the vast majority of these units are helicopters. In terms of defense and offense, helicopters cannot always serve the correct tactical purpose, which is why our rating places them slightly below Russia. 

Manned Aircraft:

• Attack Helicopters:
  • AH-64 Apache: 824 units
• Utility Helicopters:
  • UH-60 Black Hawk: Approximately 2,135 units
  • UH-72 Lakota: Approximately 460 units
• Heavy-Lift Helicopters:
  • CH-47 Chinook: Approximately 510 units
• Fixed-Wing Aircraft:
  • C-12 Huron: Approximately 3 units
  • UC-35 Jet: Approximately 28 units
• Training Aircraft:
  • UH-72 Lakota: Approximately 460 units, with a portion dedicated to training.

Despite the U.S. Army Aviation Branch’s large fleet, its versatility is limited as far as striking and fighter support — however, this is what the U.S. Air Force is for! The U.S. Army Aviation Branch is primarily tasked with supporting the ground elements of the United States Army. 

5. The United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps has a slightly smaller inventory with relatively impressive versatility, landing it in fifth place. 

Manned Aircraft

• Fighters: 352 (+303 F-35 on order)
• Tankers: 64
• Strategic Airlift Platforms: 28
• Rotary Wing (Helicopters): 483
• Tiltrotor (MV-22 Osprey): 289

Unmanned Aircraft

• Approximately 330

Other Aircraft

• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft: 4
• Training Aircraft: 104

The Largest Air Forces in the World (by Military Aircraft Numbers)

You may still find value in sheer numbers. Here are the top countries with the biggest air forces based on active military aircraft numbers: 

1. The United States (14,423)
2. Russia (4,036)
3. China (3,284)
4. India (1,850)
5. Egypt (1,122)
6. Turkey (1,055)
7. South Korea (890)
8. Pakistan (818)
9. Japan (779)
10. France (697)

The United States has over 14,000 active military units in total, while the runner-up, Russia, has a little over 4,000 units. Even using simple, hard numbers, you can see that no other country has anywhere near the aviation power of the United States military. 

Honor your U.S. Air Force Service With Custom Challenge Coins

The U.S. Air Force is not only one of the largest air forces in the world but also a powerful, honorable service branch highly deserving of recognition. If you’re looking for a way to embrace our military members, we can help. At Embleholics, we create custom, beautifully designed challenge coins to commemorate those who’ve helped serve our country. 

Our Veteran-owned and -operated business is happy to help you design a custom coin, celebrating the power, capabilities, and successes of the U.S. Air Force. Reach out to us today to learn more about our U.S. Air Force challenge coins, or fill out our order form to request a quote. Let us bring your vision to life with coins you’ll be proud to own or give to those who’ve served.