Air Forces comparison: 
Bahrain vs 
Iran
Iran's air force fields 659 active aircraft — 4.7:1 Bahrain's 140.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Bahrain
Iran
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
| Bahrain | Iran | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Bahraini Air Force | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 140 | 659 | 🇮🇷 4.7× |
| Combat aircraft | 48 | 295 | 🇮🇷 6.1× |
| Combat share of fleet | 34.3 % | 44.8 % | 🇮🇷 1.3× |
| Aircraft types in service | 13 | 37 | 🇮🇷 2.8× |
| Main supplier | United States · 89 % | United States · 50 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 80 | 160 | 🇮🇷 2.0× |
| Transport aircraft | 3 | 81 | 🇮🇷 27× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 0 | 12 | 🇮🇷 |
| Trainers | 9 | 88 | 🇮🇷 9.8× |
| UAVs | 0 | 23 | 🇮🇷 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Bahrain
Fleet evolution · Iran
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Bahrain or Iran?
Iran has more military aircraft with 659 active aircraft compared to Bahrain's 140, a difference of 519 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Bahrain or Iran?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 295 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Bahrain's 48.
Which country has more military helicopters, Bahrain or Iran?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Bahrain's 80.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Bahrain or Iran?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Bahrain's 3.
How do the Bahrain and Iran air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 27.0 times larger than Bahrain's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 3).