Air Forces comparison: France vs Iran
France operates 988 active military aircraft vs 627 for Iran. The breakdown includes 289 vs 286 combat aircraft, 454 vs 160 helicopters, 142 vs 81 transport aircraft, 44 vs 88 trainers (France vs Iran). France has 301 aircraft on order vs 0 for Iran. The France air force is officially the French Air and Space Force, while Iran's is the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
French Air and Space Force 🇫🇷
| Official Name | French Air and Space Force |
| Local Name | Armée de l'air et de l'Espace |
| Active aircraft | 988 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 301 |
| 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 |
|
French aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
289 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
454 | |
Training
|
44 | |
Transport
|
142 | |
Other
|
59 | |
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
286 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
160 | |
|
Training
|
88 | |
|
Transport
|
81 | |
|
Other
|
12 | |
Evolution of French Air Force fleet
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, France or Iran?
France has more military aircraft with 988 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 361 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, France or Iran?
France has more combat aircraft with 289 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, France or Iran?
France operates more military helicopters with 454 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, France or Iran?
France has more transport aircraft with 142 compared to Iran's 81.
How do the France and Iran air forces compare in size?
France's air force is 1.8 times larger than Iran's in terms of total active aircraft (142 vs 81).
Which country has more aircraft on order, France or Iran?
France has 301 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.