Air Forces comparison: Australia vs China
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 9.7x Australia's 355. The breakdown includes 108 vs 1,986 combat aircraft, 95 vs 1,019 helicopters, 61 vs 413 transport aircraft, 79 vs 16 trainers (Australia vs China). Australia has 113 aircraft on order vs 130 for China. The Australia air force is officially the Royal Australian Air Force, while China's is the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Royal Australian Air Force 🇦🇺
| Official Name | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 355 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 113 |
| Roundel |
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3440 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Australian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
108 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
95 | |
Training
|
79 | |
Transport
|
61 | |
Other
|
12 | |
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
1986 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
|
Training
|
16 | |
|
Transport
|
413 | |
|
Other
|
6 | |
Evolution of Australian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Australia or China?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Australia's 355, a difference of 3,085 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Australia or China?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Australia's 108.
Which country has more military helicopters, Australia or China?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Australia's 95.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Australia or China?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Australia's 61.
How do the Australia and China air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 6.8 times larger than Australia's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 61).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Australia or China?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Australia's 113.