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Air Forces comparison: Flag of France France vs Flag of Italy Italy

France operates 992 active military aircraft vs 801 for Italy.

AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Roundel of France FranceWorld #8 26.4
AIRS Index / 100

France leads on 4 of 6 categories

Roundel of Italy ItalyWorld #10 23.5
  • 274 Combat aircraftweight ×50 · generation 197
  • 408 Helicoptersweight ×10 · era 388
  • 172 Transportweight ×10 43
  • 55 Special missionweight ×8 5
  • 31 UAVsweight ×10 32
  • 52 Trainersweight ×1 136
France Italy Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
France Italy Ratio
Official name French Air and Space Force Italian Air Force
Active aircraft 992 801 🇫🇷 1.2×
Aircraft on order 321 192 🇫🇷 1.7×
Combat aircraft 274 197 🇫🇷 1.4×
Combat share of fleet 27.6 % 24.6 % 🇫🇷 1.1×
Aircraft types in service 41 34 🇫🇷 1.2×
Main supplier France · 79 % United States · 36 %
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
Helicopters 408 388 🇫🇷 1.1×
Transport aircraft 172 43 🇫🇷 4.0×
Special-mission aircraft 55 5 🇫🇷 11×
Trainers 52 136 🇮🇹 2.6×
UAVs 31 32 🇮🇹 ≈
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
🇫🇷 FranceRafale ×153NH90 / Caiman ×91SA340 Gazelle ×80
🇮🇹 ItalyNH90 / Caiman ×114Typhoon ×93F-35 Lightning II ×57
Fleet evolution · France
Fleet evolution · Italy
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more military aircraft, France or Italy?
France has more military aircraft with 992 active aircraft compared to Italy's 801, a difference of 191 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, France or Italy?
France has more combat aircraft with 274 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Italy's 197.
Which country has more military helicopters, France or Italy?
France operates more military helicopters with 408 compared to Italy's 388.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, France or Italy?
France has more transport aircraft with 172 compared to Italy's 43.
Which country has more aircraft on order, France or Italy?
France has 321 aircraft on order compared to Italy's 192.