Air Forces comparison: United Kingdom vs Germany
United Kingdom operates 640 active military aircraft vs 589 for Germany. The breakdown includes 151 vs 224 combat aircraft, 259 vs 290 helicopters, 59 vs 70 transport aircraft, 156 vs 2 trainers (United Kingdom vs Germany). United Kingdom has 41 aircraft on order vs 302 for Germany. The United Kingdom air force is officially the Royal Air Force.
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 640 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 41 |
| Roundel |
|
German Air Force 🇩🇪
| Official Name | German Air Force |
| Local Name | Luftwaffe |
| Active aircraft | 589 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 302 |
| Roundel |
|
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
151 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
259 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
59 | |
Other
|
15 | |
German aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
224 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
290 | |
|
Training
|
2 | |
|
Transport
|
70 | |
|
Other
|
3 | |
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Evolution of German Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or Germany?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 640 active aircraft compared to Germany's 589, a difference of 51 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or Germany?
Germany has more combat aircraft with 224 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 151.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or Germany?
Germany operates more military helicopters with 290 compared to United Kingdom's 259.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or Germany?
Germany has more transport aircraft with 70 compared to United Kingdom's 59.
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or Germany?
Germany has 302 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 41.