Air Forces comparison: Ethiopia vs Iran
Iran's air force fields 627 active aircraft — 6.3x Ethiopia's 99. The breakdown includes 34 vs 286 combat aircraft, 31 vs 160 helicopters, 14 vs 81 transport aircraft, 20 vs 88 trainers (Ethiopia vs Iran). The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
Ethiopian Air Force 🇪🇹
| Official Name | Ethiopian Air Force |
| Local Name | የኢትዮጵያ አየር ሃይል (YeItyopya Ayer Hayl) |
| Active aircraft | 99 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force 🇮🇷
| Official Name | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Local Name | نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Nīrvī-ye Havāyī-ye Arteš-e Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Īrān) |
| Active aircraft | 627 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Ethiopian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
34 | |
|
|
0 | |
|
|
31 | |
|
|
20 | |
|
|
14 | |
|
|
0 | |
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
286 | |
|
|
0 | |
|
|
160 | |
|
|
88 | |
|
|
81 | |
|
|
12 | |
Evolution of Ethiopian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Ethiopia or Iran?
Iran has more military aircraft with 627 active aircraft compared to Ethiopia's 99, a difference of 528 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Ethiopia or Iran?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 286 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Ethiopia's 34.
Which country has more military helicopters, Ethiopia or Iran?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Ethiopia's 31.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Ethiopia or Iran?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Ethiopia's 14.
How do the Ethiopia and Iran air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 5.8 times larger than Ethiopia's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 14).

