Air Forces comparison: India vs Iran
Overview
India's air force fields 2,217 active aircraft — 3.5x Iran's 627.
The breakdown includes 588 vs 286 combat aircraft, 993 vs 160 helicopters, 340 vs 81 transport aircraft, 290 vs 88 trainers (India vs Iran). India has 587 aircraft on order vs 0 for Iran.
The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
Indian Air Force 🇮🇳
| Official Name | Indian Air Force |
| Local Name | भारतीय वायु सेना (Bhāratīya vāyu senā) |
| Active aircraft | 2217 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 587 |
| Roundel |
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force 🇮🇷
| Official Name | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Local Name | نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Nīrvī-ye Havāyī-ye Arteš-e Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Īrān) |
| Active aircraft | 627 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Indian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
588 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
993 | |
Training
|
290 | |
Transport
|
340 | |
Other
|
6 | |
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
286 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
160 | |
|
Training
|
88 | |
|
Transport
|
81 | |
|
Other
|
12 | |
Evolution of Indian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, India or Iran?
India has more military aircraft with 2,217 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 1,590 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, India or Iran?
India has more combat aircraft with 588 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, India or Iran?
India operates more military helicopters with 993 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, India or Iran?
India has more transport aircraft with 340 compared to Iran's 81.
How do the India and Iran air forces compare in size?
India's air force is 4.2 times larger than Iran's in terms of total active aircraft (340 vs 81).
Which country has more aircraft on order, India or Iran?
India has 587 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.