Air Forces comparison: Ireland vs United Kingdom
Irish Air Corps 🇮🇪
| Official Name | Irish Air Corps |
| Local Name | Óglaigh na hÉireann Aerchór |
| Active aircraft | 24 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Royal Air Force 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 631 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 139 |
| Roundel |
|
Irish aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
0 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
8 | |
Training
|
8 | |
Transport
|
8 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
0 | |
British aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
144 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
266 | |
|
Training
|
156 | |
|
Transport
|
52 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
13 | |
Evolution of Irish Air Force fleet
Evolution of British Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 631 active aircraft compared to Ireland's 24, a difference of 607 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more combat aircraft with 144 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Ireland's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom operates more military helicopters with 266 compared to Ireland's 8.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 52 compared to Ireland's 8.
How do the Ireland and United Kingdom air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 6.5 times larger than Ireland's in terms of total active aircraft (52 vs 8).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has 139 aircraft on order compared to Ireland's 0.