Air Forces comparison: 
Australia vs 
United States
United States's air force fields 13,004 active aircraft — 34:1 Australia's 382.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
AustraliaWorld #19
19.2
AIRS Index / 100
United States leads on 7 of 7 categories
United StatesWorld #1
100.0
Australia
United States
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 States | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Australian Air Force | United States Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 382 | 13,004 | 🇺🇸 34× |
| Aircraft on order | 114 | 3,418 | 🇺🇸 30× |
| Combat aircraft | 96 | 2,956 | 🇺🇸 31× |
| Combat share of fleet | 25.1 % | 22.7 % | 🇦🇺 1.1× |
| Aircraft types in service | 22 | 95 | 🇺🇸 4.3× |
| Main supplier | United States · 65 % | United States · 95 % |
Show full breakdown · 6 more rowsHide the 6 extra rows
| Bombers | 0 | 147 | 🇺🇸 |
| Helicopters | 95 | 5,442 | 🇺🇸 57× |
| Transport aircraft | 42 | 1,365 | 🇺🇸 32× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 43 | 1,284 | 🇺🇸 30× |
| Trainers | 79 | 1,598 | 🇺🇸 20× |
| UAVs | 27 | 212 | 🇺🇸 7.9× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Australia
Fleet evolution · United States
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Australia or United States?
United States has more military aircraft with 13,004 active aircraft compared to Australia's 382, a difference of 12,622 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Australia or United States?
United States has more combat aircraft with 2,956 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Australia's 96.
Which country has more military helicopters, Australia or United States?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,442 compared to Australia's 95.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Australia or United States?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,365 compared to Australia's 42.
How do the Australia and United States air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 32.5 times larger than Australia's in terms of total active aircraft (1,365 vs 42).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Australia or United States?
United States has 3,418 aircraft on order compared to Australia's 114.