Air Forces comparison: China vs Malaysia
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 23:1 Malaysia's 149. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 25 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 54 helicopters, 413 vs 26 transport aircraft, 16 vs 36 trainers (China vs Malaysia). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 32 for Malaysia. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Malaysia's is the Royal Malaysian 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 |
|
Royal Malaysian Air Force 🇲🇾
| Official Name | Royal Malaysian Air Force |
| Local Name | Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia |
| Active aircraft | 149 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 32 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Malaysian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
25 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
54 | |
|
Training
|
36 | |
|
Transport
|
26 | |
|
Other
|
8 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Malaysian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Malaysia?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Malaysia's 149, a difference of 3,291 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Malaysia?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Malaysia's 25.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Malaysia?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Malaysia's 54.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Malaysia?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Malaysia's 26.
How do the China and Malaysia air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 15.9 times larger than Malaysia's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 26).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Malaysia?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Malaysia's 32.