Air Forces comparison: Iran vs Japan
Japan's air force fields 1,397 active aircraft — 2.2x Iran's 627. The breakdown includes 286 vs 331 combat aircraft, 160 vs 533 helicopters, 81 vs 112 transport aircraft, 88 vs 296 trainers (Iran vs Japan). Iran has 0 aircraft on order vs 310 for Japan. The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, while Japan's is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
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 |
|
Japan Air Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Local Name | 空自 (Kūji) |
| Active aircraft | 1397 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 310 |
| Roundel |
|
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
286 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
160 | |
Training
|
88 | |
Transport
|
81 | |
Other
|
12 | |
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
331 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
533 | |
|
Training
|
296 | |
|
Transport
|
112 | |
|
Other
|
125 | |
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Japanese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Japan?
Japan has more military aircraft with 1,397 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 770 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Japan?
Japan has more combat aircraft with 331 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Japan?
Japan operates more military helicopters with 533 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Japan?
Japan has more transport aircraft with 112 compared to Iran's 81.
Which country has more aircraft on order, Iran or Japan?
Japan has 310 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.