Air Forces comparison: United Kingdom vs United States
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 631 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 139 |
| Roundel |
|
United States Air Force 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Air Force |
| Local Name | US Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 13043 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 3435 |
| Roundel |
|
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
144 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
266 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
52 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
13 | |
United States aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
3308 | |
|
Bomber
|
135 | |
|
Helicopter
|
5496 | |
|
Training
|
1566 | |
|
Transport
|
1522 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
1016 | |
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Evolution of United States Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or United States?
United States has more military aircraft with 13,043 active aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 631, a difference of 12,412 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or United States?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,308 fighters and attack aircraft compared to United Kingdom's 144.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or United States?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,496 compared to United Kingdom's 266.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or United States?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,522 compared to United Kingdom's 52.
How do the United Kingdom and United States air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 29.3 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total active aircraft (1,522 vs 52).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or United States?
United States has 3,435 aircraft on order compared to United Kingdom's 139.