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Roundel of Mongolia air force
Air Forceยท ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ Mongolia

Mongolian Air Force

The Mongolian Air Force operates 22 military aircraft in 2026 โ€” 10 combat aircraft (fighter and attack jets), 6 helicopters, 6 transport aircraft. It ranks #88 of 162 air forces worldwide.

Active aircraft
222026
Combat
10
Helicopters
6
AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength)
3.3/ 100
The score reflects a fleet of 10 combat aircraft, 6 helicopters and 6 transports out of 22 active airframes, weighted by combat effectiveness.
Combat quality 0.42 ยท enablers ร—1.00 ยท armament ร—1.00 ยท availability ร—0.90
Fleet Composition โ€” 2026
  • Combat 10
  • Helicopter 6
  • Transport 6
Fleet Evolution
2020 โ€” 19 19 2020 2021 โ€” 15 15 2021 2022 โ€” 19 19 2022 2023 โ€” 19 19 2023 2024 โ€” 19 19 2024 2025 โ€” 19 19 2025 2026 โ€” 22 22 2026
Origin of Aircraft

Full inventory in 2026

4 aircraft types

Mongolian Air Force

Aircraft Origin Model year Active ฮ” YoY Ordered
Combat
MiG-29 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1983 6 โ€” โ€”
Su-30SM ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1996 4 โ€” โ€”
Helicopter
Mi-171 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1977 6 โ€” โ€”
Transport
An-26 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Ex-USSR 1969 6 +3 โ€”
ActiveOn order

Overview

The Mongolian Air Force, formally known as the Mongolian People's Army Air Force, is the aerial warfare branch of the Mongolian Armed Forces. It was established on April 25, 1925, as a part of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army. The Air Force primarily focuses on air defense, reconnaissance, and transport missions. Over the years, it has operated various Soviet-designed aircraft, including fighters, bombers, trainers, and transport planes. The Air Force underwent modernization efforts in the 1990s and 2000s, acquiring newer aircraft, such as the MiG-29 and the An-26, to replace older models. Currently, it operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including MiG-29, Su-25, and L-39 fighters, as well as helicopters like the Mi-8 and Mi-24. The Air Force regularly participates in joint military exercises with other nations and plays a crucial role in supporting Mongolia's national security objectives. It remains a small force compared to other air forces globally, with limited resources and a focus on maintaining its capability to protect Mongolian airspace.

Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), official air force and government publications and dated press reports; the update journal below lists the sources of each pass. Last updated on 24 July 2026. Suggest a change

Frequently Asked Questions

How many aircraft does Mongolia have?
Mongolia Air Force operates 22 active military aircraft as of the current year. Additionally, 0 aircraft are currently on order.
How does Mongolia's air force rank globally?
Mongolia Air Force ranks #88 out of 162 air forces worldwide based on the AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength), which measures overall air power capability considering fleet size and combat effectiveness.
How many combat aircraft does Mongolia operate?
Mongolia operates 10 combat aircraft, including fighters, multirole jets, and attack aircraft. These form the core of its offensive and defensive air capabilities.
How many military helicopters does Mongolia have?
Mongolia Air Force operates 6 military helicopters, including attack, transport, and utility rotorcraft used for various combat and support missions.
What is the AIRS Index score of Mongolia?
Mongolia has an AIRS Index (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) score of 3.3 out of 100. This composite score weights every active airframe by category and by generation tier (strategic bombers highest, then combat aircraft, helicopters and transports), scales the combat fleet by its enablers โ€” tankers and airborne early warning โ€” and its stand-off armament, and applies a budget-based availability proxy to the whole force.
Where does Mongolia get its military aircraft from?
Mongolia sources its military aircraft primarily from Ex-USSR. The fleet composition reflects both domestic production capabilities and international defense partnerships.
Compare this Air Force
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Latest Data Updates
  1. JUL 242026 Updated MiG-29 fleet entry linked to its aircraft page
  2. MAR 142026 Updated 10 inventory entries added across 4 aircraft types; active count updated across 2 entries