Air Forces comparison: China vs Israel
Overview
China's air force fields 3,497 active aircraft — 6.5x Israel's 534.
The breakdown includes 2,043 vs 284 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 130 helicopters, 413 vs 13 transport aircraft, 16 vs 69 trainers (China vs Israel). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 125 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 | 3497 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Israeli Air Force 🇮🇱
| Official Name | Israeli Air Force |
| Local Name | חיל האוויר הישראלי (Ḥeil HaAvir HaYisraeli) |
| Active aircraft | 534 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 125 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
2043 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Israeli aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
284 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
130 | |
|
Training
|
69 | |
|
Transport
|
13 | |
|
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 3,497 active aircraft compared to Israel's 534, a difference of 2,963 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Israel?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 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 13.
How do the China and Israel air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 31.8 times larger than Israel's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 13).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Israel?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Israel's 125.