Air Forces comparison: 
Australia vs 
United Kingdom
Australia operates 367 active military aircraft vs 712 for United Kingdom.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
AustraliaWorld #19
18.5
AIRS Index / 100
United Kingdom leads on 5 of 6 categories
United KingdomWorld #13
23.2
Australia
United Kingdom
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Australia | United Kingdom | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Australian Air Force | Royal Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 367 | 712 | 🇬🇧 1.9× |
| Aircraft on order | 88 | 73 | 🇦🇺 1.2× |
| Combat aircraft | 96 | 158 | 🇬🇧 1.6× |
| Combat share of fleet | 26.2 % | 22.2 % | 🇦🇺 1.2× |
| Aircraft types in service | 22 | 23 | 🇬🇧 ≈ |
| Main supplier | United States · 67 % | United Kingdom · 28 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 73 | 254 | 🇬🇧 3.5× |
| Transport aircraft | 45 | 51 | 🇬🇧 1.1× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 44 | 23 | 🇦🇺 1.9× |
| Trainers | 82 | 173 | 🇬🇧 2.1× |
| UAVs | 27 | 53 | 🇬🇧 2.0× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Australia
Fleet evolution · United Kingdom
Explore this matchup
Go deeper · same matchup, other lenses
Change opponent
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Australia or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 712 active aircraft compared to Australia's 367, a difference of 345 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Australia or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more combat aircraft with 158 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Australia's 96.
Which country has more military helicopters, Australia or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom operates more military helicopters with 254 compared to Australia's 73.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Australia or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 51 compared to Australia's 45.
How do the Australia and United Kingdom air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 1.9 times larger than Australia's in terms of total active aircraft (712 vs 367).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Australia or United Kingdom?
Australia has 88 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 73.