Air Forces comparison: China vs Ireland
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 127:1 Ireland's 27. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 0 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 10 helicopters, 413 vs 9 transport aircraft, 16 vs 8 trainers (China vs Ireland). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 0 for Ireland. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Ireland's is the Irish Air Corps.
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3440 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Irish Air Corps 🇮🇪
| Official Name | Irish Air Corps |
| Local Name | Óglaigh na hÉireann Aerchór |
| Active aircraft | 27 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Irish aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
0 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
10 | |
|
Training
|
8 | |
|
Transport
|
9 | |
|
Other
|
0 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Irish Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Ireland?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Ireland's 27, a difference of 3,413 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Ireland?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Ireland's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Ireland?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Ireland's 10.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Ireland?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Ireland's 9.
How do the China and Ireland air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 45.9 times larger than Ireland's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 9).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Ireland?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Ireland's 0.