Air Forces comparison: China vs South Korea
Overview
China's air force fields 3,497 active aircraft — 2.3x South Korea's 1,543.
The breakdown includes 2,043 vs 314 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 856 helicopters, 413 vs 56 transport aircraft, 16 vs 293 trainers (China vs South Korea). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 410 for South Korea.
The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while South Korea's is the Republic of Korea 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 |
|
Republic of Korea Air Force 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Air Force |
| Local Name | 공군 (Gong-gun) |
| Active aircraft | 1543 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 410 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
2043 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
314 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
856 | |
|
Training
|
293 | |
|
Transport
|
56 | |
|
Other
|
24 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or South Korea?
China has more military aircraft with 3,497 active aircraft compared to South Korea's 1,543, a difference of 1,954 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or South Korea?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Korea's 314.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or South Korea?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to South Korea's 856.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or South Korea?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to South Korea's 56.
How do the China and South Korea air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 7.4 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 56).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or South Korea?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.