Air Forces comparison: United Kingdom vs France
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 631 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 139 |
| Roundel |
|
French Air and Space Force 🇫🇷
| Official Name | French Air and Space Force |
| Local Name | Armée de l'air et de l'Espace |
| Active aircraft | 976 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 302 |
| Roundel |
|
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
144 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
266 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
52 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
13 | |
French aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
286 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
448 | |
|
Training
|
44 | |
|
Transport
|
137 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
61 | |
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Evolution of French Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or France?
France has more military aircraft with 976 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 631, a difference of 345 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or France?
France has more combat aircraft with 286 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 144.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or France?
France operates more military helicopters with 448 compared to United Kingdom's 266.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or France?
France has more transport aircraft with 137 compared to United Kingdom's 52.
How do the United Kingdom and France air forces compare in size?
France's air force is 2.6 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total active aircraft (137 vs 52).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or France?
France has 302 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 139.