Air Forces comparison: Germany vs South Korea
South Korea's air force fields 1,543 active aircraft — 2.6x Germany's 589. The breakdown includes 224 vs 314 combat aircraft, 290 vs 856 helicopters, 70 vs 56 transport aircraft, 2 vs 293 trainers (Germany vs South Korea). Germany has 302 aircraft on order vs 410 for South Korea. The South Korea air force is officially the Republic of Korea Air Force .
German Air Force 🇩🇪
| Official Name | German Air Force |
| Local Name | Luftwaffe |
| Active aircraft | 589 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 302 |
| 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 |
|
German aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
224 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
290 | |
Training
|
2 | |
Transport
|
70 | |
Other
|
3 | |
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
314 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
856 | |
|
Training
|
293 | |
|
Transport
|
56 | |
|
Other
|
24 | |
Evolution of German Air Force fleet
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Germany or South Korea?
South Korea has more military aircraft with 1,543 active aircraft compared to Germany's 589, a difference of 954 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Germany or South Korea?
South Korea has more combat aircraft with 314 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Germany's 224.
Which country has more military helicopters, Germany or South Korea?
South Korea operates more military helicopters with 856 compared to Germany's 290.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Germany or South Korea?
Germany has more transport aircraft with 70 compared to South Korea's 56.
Which country has more aircraft on order, Germany or South Korea?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to Germany's 302.