Air Forces comparison: China vs Japan
Overview
China's air force fields 3,497 active aircraft — 2.5x Japan's 1,399.
The breakdown includes 2,043 vs 331 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 533 helicopters, 413 vs 114 transport aircraft, 16 vs 296 trainers (China vs Japan). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 317 for Japan.
The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Japan's is the Japan Air Self-Defense 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 |
|
Japan Air Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Local Name | 空自 (Kūji) |
| Active aircraft | 1399 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 317 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
2043 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
331 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
533 | |
|
Training
|
296 | |
|
Transport
|
114 | |
|
Other
|
125 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Japanese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Japan?
China has more military aircraft with 3,497 active aircraft compared to Japan's 1,399, a difference of 2,098 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Japan?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Japan's 331.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Japan?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Japan's 533.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Japan?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Japan's 114.
How do the China and Japan air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 3.6 times larger than Japan's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 114).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Japan?
Japan has 317 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.