Air Forces comparison: China vs United Kingdom
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft β 5.4x United Kingdom's 640. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 151 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 259 helicopters, 413 vs 59 transport aircraft, 16 vs 156 trainers (China vs United Kingdom). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 41 for United Kingdom. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while United Kingdom's is the Royal Air Force.
People's Liberation Army Air Force π¨π³
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | η©Ίε (KΕngjΕ«n) |
| Active aircraft | 3440 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Royal Air Force π¬π§
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 640 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 41 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
151 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
259 | |
|
Training
|
156 | |
|
Transport
|
59 | |
|
Other
|
15 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or United Kingdom?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 640, a difference of 2,800 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or United Kingdom?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 151.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or United Kingdom?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to United Kingdom's 259.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or United Kingdom?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to United Kingdom's 59.
How do the China and United Kingdom air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 7.0 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 59).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or United Kingdom?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 41.