Air Forces comparison: 
Argentina vs 
Chile
Argentina operates 241 active military aircraft vs 277 for Chile.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Argentina
Chile
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by unit price, helicopters by era) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Argentina | Chile | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Argentine Air Force | Chilean Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 241 | 277 | 🇨🇱 1.1× |
| Aircraft on order | 57 | 0 | 🇦🇷 |
| Combat aircraft | 26 | 81 | 🇨🇱 3.1× |
| Combat share of fleet | 10.8 % | 29.2 % | 🇨🇱 2.7× |
| Aircraft types in service | 29 | 30 | 🇨🇱 ≈ |
| Main supplier | United States · 72 % | United States · 47 % |
Show full breakdown · 4 more rowsHide the 4 extra rows
| Helicopters | 101 | 87 | 🇦🇷 1.2× |
| Transport aircraft | 22 | 49 | 🇨🇱 2.2× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 22 | 17 | 🇦🇷 1.3× |
| Trainers | 70 | 43 | 🇦🇷 1.6× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Argentina
Fleet evolution · Chile
Analyst Assessment
Run the wargame simulation →Verdict
Edge: Chile
Chile holds a clear and broad advantage over Argentina, fielding 81 combat aircraft led by 46 F-16s against Argentina's 26 ageing A-4 Skyhawks, and backing them with tanker, AEW and airlift assets Argentina lacks. Argentina's 57 aircraft on order, including 24 F-16s, narrow the gap over the coming years but do not close it.
Domain by domain
Fighter & multirole fleet
Edge: Chile
ISR / AEW & tankers
Edge: Chile
🇦🇷 Argentina22 special-mission aircraft, mostly light King Air 90s (16) for liaison and maritime patrol; no dedicated AEW platform and no strategic air-to-air refuelling capability.
🇨🇱 Chile17 special-mission aircraft of higher end value, including Boeing 707-based AEW and KC-135 tanker capability that extends fighter reach across a long, narrow national geography.
Transport & airlift
Edge: Chile
🇦🇷 Argentina22 transports, a modest tactical fleet supporting Antarctic and domestic resupply, with limited outsize or long-range lift and heavy reliance on ageing airframes.
🇨🇱 Chile49 transports, roughly double Argentina's, mixing tactical types with DHC-6 Twin Otters (13) and Vulcanair P68s (7) for austere strips across a 4,000 km territory.
Helicopters & rotary lift
Even
🇦🇷 Argentina101 helicopters, the larger fleet, but dominated by 63 UH-1 Iroquois plus Alouette IIs and 206 JetRangers; light, dated and largely single-engine utility types.
Procurement pipeline & industry
Edge: Argentina
🇦🇷 Argentina57 aircraft on order: 24 F-16s, 12 H125M Fennecs, 8 AW109s, 5 Bell 407s, plus 4 IA-63 Pampas from domestic producer FAdeA, which also builds and sustains trainers.
🇨🇱 ChileNo aircraft currently on order; recapitalization of the F-5E and older transport fleets remains pending. ENAER supports local assembly, T-35 Pillan production and F-16 sustainment work.
Wildcards
- Supplier concentration and access Argentina draws 72 % of its fleet from the United States versus Chile's 47 %, yet Chile's longer, uninterrupted F-16 relationship gives it deeper spares, weapons and upgrade access than Argentina is rebuilding from scratch.
- Geography and basing Chile's extreme length forces dispersed basing and rewards its tanker and short-field transport fleet. Argentina's wider landmass and Antarctic commitments impose comparable distances without comparable refuelling or AEW support.
- Sustainment and availability Headline inventories overstate Argentine strength: the A-4 and UH-1 fleets are decades old with constrained serviceability. Chile's newer F-16, Super Tucano and Cougar fleets carry lower sustainment risk.
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Editorial assessment produced from the figures on this page and public sources; it is an informed reading, not a military assessment or a prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Argentina or Chile?
Chile has more military aircraft with 277 active aircraft compared to Argentina's 241, a difference of 36 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Argentina or Chile?
Chile has more combat aircraft with 81 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Argentina's 26.
Which country has more military helicopters, Argentina or Chile?
Argentina operates more military helicopters with 101 compared to Chile's 87.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Argentina or Chile?
Chile has more transport aircraft with 49 compared to Argentina's 22.
How do the Argentina and Chile air forces compare in size?
Chile's air force is 2.2 times larger than Argentina's in terms of total active aircraft (49 vs 22).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Argentina or Chile?
Argentina has 57 aircraft on order compared to Chile's 0.