Air Forces comparison: United Kingdom vs France
United Kingdom operates 640 active military aircraft vs 988 for France. The breakdown includes 151 vs 289 combat aircraft, 259 vs 454 helicopters, 59 vs 142 transport aircraft, 156 vs 44 trainers (United Kingdom vs France). United Kingdom has 41 aircraft on order vs 301 for France. The United Kingdom air force is officially the Royal Air Force, while France's is the French Air and Space Force.
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 640 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 41 |
| 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 | 988 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 301 |
| Roundel |
|
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
151 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
259 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
59 | |
Other
|
15 | |
French aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
289 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
454 | |
|
Training
|
44 | |
|
Transport
|
142 | |
|
Other
|
59 | |
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 988 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 640, a difference of 348 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or France?
France has more combat aircraft with 289 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 151.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or France?
France operates more military helicopters with 454 compared to United Kingdom's 259.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or France?
France has more transport aircraft with 142 compared to United Kingdom's 59.
How do the United Kingdom and France air forces compare in size?
France's air force is 2.4 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total active aircraft (142 vs 59).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or France?
France has 301 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 41.