Air Forces comparison: China vs Thailand
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 7.2x Thailand's 481. The breakdown includes 1,986 vs 84 combat aircraft, 1,019 vs 247 helicopters, 413 vs 57 transport aircraft, 16 vs 84 trainers (China vs Thailand). China has 130 aircraft on order vs 16 for Thailand. The China air force is officially the People's Liberation Army Air Force, while Thailand's is the Royal Thai 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 Thai Air Force 🇹🇭
| Official Name | Royal Thai Air Force |
| Local Name | กองทัพอากาศไทย (Kong Thap Akat Thai) |
| Active aircraft | 481 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 16 |
| Roundel |
|
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1986 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
Training
|
16 | |
Transport
|
413 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Thai aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
84 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
247 | |
|
Training
|
84 | |
|
Transport
|
57 | |
|
Other
|
9 | |
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Thai Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Thailand?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to Thailand's 481, a difference of 2,959 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Thailand?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Thailand's 84.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Thailand?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Thailand's 247.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Thailand?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Thailand's 57.
How do the China and Thailand air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 7.2 times larger than Thailand's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 57).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Thailand?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Thailand's 16.