Air Forces comparison: Spain vs Portugal
Spain's air force fields 471 active aircraft — 5.5x Portugal's 86. The breakdown includes 178 vs 25 combat aircraft, 178 vs 22 helicopters, 72 vs 23 transport aircraft, 40 vs 11 trainers (Spain vs Portugal). Spain has 164 aircraft on order vs 3 for Portugal. The Spain air force is officially the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Spanish Air and Space Force 🇪🇸
| Official Name | Spanish Air and Space Force |
| Local Name | Ejército del Aire |
| Active aircraft | 471 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 164 |
| Roundel |
|
Portuguese Air Force 🇵🇹
| Official Name | Portuguese Air Force |
| Local Name | Força Aérea Portuguesa |
| Active aircraft | 86 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 3 |
| Roundel |
|
Spanish aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
178 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
178 | |
Training
|
40 | |
Transport
|
72 | |
Other
|
3 | |
Portuguese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
25 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
22 | |
|
Training
|
11 | |
|
Transport
|
23 | |
|
Other
|
5 | |
Evolution of Spanish Air Force fleet
Evolution of Portuguese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Spain or Portugal?
Spain has more military aircraft with 471 active aircraft compared to Portugal's 86, a difference of 385 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Spain or Portugal?
Spain has more combat aircraft with 178 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Portugal's 25.
Which country has more military helicopters, Spain or Portugal?
Spain operates more military helicopters with 178 compared to Portugal's 22.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Spain or Portugal?
Spain has more transport aircraft with 72 compared to Portugal's 23.
How do the Spain and Portugal air forces compare in size?
Spain's air force is 3.1 times larger than Portugal's in terms of total active aircraft (72 vs 23).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Spain or Portugal?
Spain has 164 aircraft on order compared to Portugal's 3.