Air Forces comparison: 
United Kingdom vs 
New Zealand
United Kingdom's air force fields 712 active aircraft — 16:1 New Zealand's 44.
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
New ZealandWorld #87
3.4
United Kingdom
New Zealand
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 | New Zealand | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Air Force | Royal New Zealand Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 712 | 44 | 🇬🇧 16× |
| Aircraft on order | 73 | 7 | 🇬🇧 10× |
| Combat aircraft | 158 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
| Combat share of fleet | 22.2 % | 0.0 % | 🇬🇧 |
| Aircraft types in service | 23 | 8 | 🇬🇧 2.9× |
| Main supplier | United Kingdom · 28 % | United States · 70 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 254 | 18 | 🇬🇧 14× |
| Transport aircraft | 51 | 7 | 🇬🇧 7.3× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 23 | 8 | 🇬🇧 2.9× |
| Trainers | 173 | 11 | 🇬🇧 16× |
| UAVs | 53 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Kingdom
Fleet evolution · New Zealand
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or New Zealand?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 712 active aircraft compared to New Zealand's 44, a difference of 668 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or New Zealand?
United Kingdom has more combat aircraft with 158 fighters and attack aircraft compared to New Zealand's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or New Zealand?
United Kingdom operates more military helicopters with 254 compared to New Zealand's 18.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or New Zealand?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 51 compared to New Zealand's 7.
How do the United Kingdom and New Zealand air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 16.2 times larger than New Zealand's in terms of total active aircraft (712 vs 44).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or New Zealand?
United Kingdom has 73 aircraft on order compared to New Zealand's 7.