Air Forces comparison: Iran vs Nigeria
Iran's air force fields 627 active aircraft — 3.8x Nigeria's 164. The breakdown includes 286 vs 24 combat aircraft, 160 vs 73 helicopters, 81 vs 20 transport aircraft, 88 vs 39 trainers (Iran vs Nigeria). Iran has 0 aircraft on order vs 75 for Nigeria. The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran 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 |
|
Nigerian Air Force 🇳🇬
| Official Name | Nigerian Air Force |
| Local Name | Nigerian Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 164 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 75 |
| Roundel |
|
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
286 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
160 | |
Training
|
88 | |
Transport
|
81 | |
Other
|
12 | |
Nigerian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
24 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
73 | |
|
Training
|
39 | |
|
Transport
|
20 | |
|
Other
|
8 | |
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Nigerian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Nigeria?
Iran has more military aircraft with 627 active aircraft compared to Nigeria's 164, a difference of 463 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Nigeria?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 286 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Nigeria's 24.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Nigeria?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Nigeria's 73.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Nigeria?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Nigeria's 20.
How do the Iran and Nigeria air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 4.0 times larger than Nigeria's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 20).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Iran or Nigeria?
Nigeria has 75 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.