Air Forces comparison: Iran vs South Korea
Overview
South Korea's air force fields 1,543 active aircraft — 2.5x Iran's 627.
The breakdown includes 286 vs 314 combat aircraft, 160 vs 856 helicopters, 81 vs 56 transport aircraft, 88 vs 293 trainers (Iran vs South Korea). Iran has 0 aircraft on order vs 410 for South Korea.
The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, while South Korea's is the Republic of Korea Air 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 |
|
Republic of Korea Air Force 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Air Force |
| Local Name | 공군 (Gong-gun) |
| Active aircraft | 1543 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 410 |
| Roundel |
|
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
286 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
160 | |
Training
|
88 | |
Transport
|
81 | |
Other
|
12 | |
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
314 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
856 | |
|
Training
|
293 | |
|
Transport
|
56 | |
|
Other
|
24 | |
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or South Korea?
South Korea has more military aircraft with 1,543 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 916 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or South Korea?
South Korea has more combat aircraft with 314 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or South Korea?
South Korea operates more military helicopters with 856 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or South Korea?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to South Korea's 56.
Which country has more aircraft on order, Iran or South Korea?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.