Air Forces comparison: United Kingdom vs Italy
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 631 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 139 |
| Roundel |
|
Italian Air Force 🇮🇹
| Official Name | Italian Air Force |
| Local Name | Aeronautica Militare |
| Active aircraft | 726 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 87 |
| Roundel |
|
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
144 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
266 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
52 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
13 | |
Italian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
178 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
390 | |
|
Training
|
123 | |
|
Transport
|
30 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
5 | |
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Evolution of Italian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or Italy?
Italy has more military aircraft with 726 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 631, a difference of 95 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or Italy?
Italy has more combat aircraft with 178 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 144.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or Italy?
Italy operates more military helicopters with 390 compared to United Kingdom's 266.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or Italy?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 52 compared to Italy's 30.
How do the United Kingdom and Italy air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 1.7 times larger than Italy's in terms of total active aircraft (52 vs 30).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or Italy?
United Kingdom has 139 aircraft on order compared to Italy's 87.