Air Forces comparison: 
United Kingdom vs 
India
India's air force fields 2,217 active aircraft — 3.4:1 United Kingdom's 654.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
United Kingdom
India
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by unit price, helicopters by era) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| United Kingdom | India | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Air Force | Indian Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 654 | 2,217 | 🇮🇳 3.4× |
| Aircraft on order | 41 | 587 | 🇮🇳 14× |
| Combat aircraft | 151 | 588 | 🇮🇳 3.9× |
| Combat share of fleet | 23.1 % | 26.5 % | 🇮🇳 1.1× |
| Aircraft types in service | 22 | 38 | 🇮🇳 1.7× |
| Main supplier | United States · 28 % | Ex-USSR · 29 % |
Show full breakdown · 4 more rowsHide the 4 extra rows
| Helicopters | 259 | 993 | 🇮🇳 3.8× |
| Transport aircraft | 49 | 328 | 🇮🇳 6.7× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 25 | 18 | 🇬🇧 1.4× |
| Trainers | 170 | 290 | 🇮🇳 1.7× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Kingdom
Fleet evolution · India
Explore this matchup
Go deeper · same matchup, other lenses
Change opponent
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or India?
India has more military aircraft with 2,217 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 654, a difference of 1,563 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or India?
India has more combat aircraft with 588 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 151.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or India?
India operates more military helicopters with 993 compared to United Kingdom's 259.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or India?
India has more transport aircraft with 328 compared to United Kingdom's 49.
How do the United Kingdom and India air forces compare in size?
India's air force is 6.7 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total active aircraft (328 vs 49).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or India?
India has 587 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 41.