Air Forces comparison: China vs Italy
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 4.6x Italy's 743. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 190 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 387 helicopters, 413 vs 30 transport aircraft, 16 vs 131 trainers (China vs Italy). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 98 for Italy. 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 order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Italian Air Force 🇮🇹
| Official Name | Italian Air Force |
| Local Name | Aeronautica Militare |
| Active aircraft | 743 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 98 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Italian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
190 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
387 | |
|
Training
|
131 | |
|
Transport
|
30 | |
|
Other
|
5 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Italian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Italy?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Italy's 743, a difference of 2,697 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Italy?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Italy's 190.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Italy?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Italy's 387.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Italy?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Italy's 30.
How do the China and Italy air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 13.8 times larger than Italy's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 30).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Italy?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Italy's 98.