Air Forces comparison: China vs Malta
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 491:1 Malta's 7. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 0 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 3 helicopters, 413 vs 1 transport aircraft, 16 vs 0 trainers (China vs Malta). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 0 for Malta. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Malta's is the Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta.
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 |
|
Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta 🇲🇹
| Official Name | Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta |
| Local Name | Forza tal-Ajru tar-Rumanija ta' Malta |
| Active aircraft | 7 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Maltese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
0 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
3 | |
|
Training
|
0 | |
|
Transport
|
1 | |
|
Other
|
3 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Maltese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Malta?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Malta's 7, a difference of 3,433 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Malta?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Malta's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Malta?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Malta's 3.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Malta?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Malta's 1.
How do the China and Malta air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 413.0 times larger than Malta's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 1).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Malta?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Malta's 0.