Air Forces comparison: China vs Pakistan
Overview
China's air force fields 3,497 active aircraft — 2.6x Pakistan's 1,369.
The breakdown includes 2,043 vs 469 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 355 helicopters, 413 vs 62 transport aircraft, 16 vs 447 trainers (China vs Pakistan). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 77 for Pakistan.
The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Pakistan's is the Pakistan 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 |
|
Pakistan Air Force 🇵🇰
| Official Name | Pakistan Air Force |
| Local Name | پاک فضائیہ (Pāk Faḍāyiyah) |
| Active aircraft | 1369 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 77 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
2043 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Pakistani aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
469 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
355 | |
|
Training
|
447 | |
|
Transport
|
62 | |
|
Other
|
36 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Pakistani Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Pakistan?
China has more military aircraft with 3,497 active aircraft compared to Pakistan's 1,369, a difference of 2,128 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Pakistan?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Pakistan's 469.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Pakistan?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Pakistan's 355.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Pakistan?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Pakistan's 62.
How do the China and Pakistan air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 6.7 times larger than Pakistan's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 62).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Pakistan?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Pakistan's 77.