Air Forces comparison: Australia vs South Africa
Australia operates 355 active military aircraft vs 192 for South Africa. The breakdown includes 108 vs 25 combat aircraft, 95 vs 84 helicopters, 61 vs 22 transport aircraft, 79 vs 57 trainers (Australia vs South Africa). Australia has 113 aircraft on order vs 0 for South Africa. The Australia air force is officially the Royal Australian Air Force.
Royal Australian Air Force 🇦🇺
| Official Name | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 355 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 113 |
| Roundel |
|
South African Air Force 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Air Force |
| Local Name | South African Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 192 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Australian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
108 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
95 | |
Training
|
79 | |
Transport
|
61 | |
Other
|
12 | |
South African aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
25 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
84 | |
|
Training
|
57 | |
|
Transport
|
22 | |
|
Other
|
4 | |
Evolution of Australian Air Force fleet
Evolution of South African Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Australia or South Africa?
Australia has more military aircraft with 355 active aircraft compared to South Africa's 192, a difference of 163 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Australia or South Africa?
Australia has more combat aircraft with 108 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Africa's 25.
Which country has more military helicopters, Australia or South Africa?
Australia operates more military helicopters with 95 compared to South Africa's 84.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Australia or South Africa?
Australia has more transport aircraft with 61 compared to South Africa's 22.
How do the Australia and South Africa air forces compare in size?
Australia's air force is 2.8 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total active aircraft (61 vs 22).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Australia or South Africa?
Australia has 113 aircraft on order compared to South Africa's 0.