Air Forces comparison: 
United Kingdom vs 
Ireland
United Kingdom's air force fields 712 active aircraft — 27:1 Ireland's 26.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
United KingdomWorld #13
23.2
AIRS Index / 100
United Kingdom leads on 6 of 6 categories
IrelandWorld #97
2.9
United Kingdom
Ireland
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
| United Kingdom | Ireland | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Air Force | Irish Air Corps | |
| Active aircraft | 712 | 26 | 🇬🇧 27× |
| Aircraft on order | 73 | 6 | 🇬🇧 12× |
| Combat aircraft | 158 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
| Combat share of fleet | 22.2 % | 0.0 % | 🇬🇧 |
| Aircraft types in service | 23 | 6 | 🇬🇧 3.8× |
| Main supplier | United Kingdom · 28 % | Switzerland · 46 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 254 | 10 | 🇬🇧 25× |
| Transport aircraft | 51 | 8 | 🇬🇧 6.4× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 23 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
| Trainers | 173 | 8 | 🇬🇧 22× |
| UAVs | 53 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Kingdom
Fleet evolution · Ireland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or Ireland?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 712 active aircraft compared to Ireland's 26, a difference of 686 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or Ireland?
United Kingdom has more combat aircraft with 158 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Ireland's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or Ireland?
United Kingdom operates more military helicopters with 254 compared to Ireland's 10.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or Ireland?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 51 compared to Ireland's 8.
How do the United Kingdom and Ireland air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 27.4 times larger than Ireland's in terms of total active aircraft (712 vs 26).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or Ireland?
United Kingdom has 73 aircraft on order compared to Ireland's 6.