Air Forces comparison: China vs Israel

China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 6.5x Israel's 532. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 284 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 130 helicopters, 413 vs 11 transport aircraft, 16 vs 69 trainers (China vs Israel). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 127 for Israel. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

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 order130
Roundel

Roundel of China air force

Israeli Air Force 🇮🇱

Official Name Israeli Air Force
Local Name חיל האוויר הישראלי (Ḥeil HaAvir HaYisraeli)
Active aircraft 532 as of 2026
Aircraft on order127
Roundel

Roundel of Israel air force

Chinese aircraft by type

Aircraft type Active
Combat Combat 1986
Bomber Bomber 0
Helicopter Helicopter 1019
Training Training 16
Transport Transport 413
Other Other 6

Israeli aircraft by type

Aircraft type Active
Combat Combat 284
Bomber Bomber 0
Helicopter Helicopter 130
Training Training 69
Transport Transport 11
Other Other 38

Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet

Evolution of Israeli Air Force fleet

Aircraft Types Radar Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more military aircraft, China or Israel?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Israel's 532, a difference of 2,908 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Israel?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Israel's 284.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Israel?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Israel's 130.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Israel?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Israel's 11.
How do the China and Israel air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 37.5 times larger than Israel's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 11).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Israel?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Israel's 127.