Air Forces comparison: 
Iran vs 
Qatar
Iran's air force fields 659 active aircraft — 2.3:1 Qatar's 283.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
IranWorld #29
13.5
AIRS Index / 100
Qatar leads overall, ahead on 2 of 6 categories
QatarWorld #22
15.6
Iran
Qatar
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Iran | Qatar | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | Qatar Emiri Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 659 | 283 | 🇮🇷 2.3× |
| Aircraft on order | 0 | 44 | 🇶🇦 |
| Combat aircraft | 295 | 126 | 🇮🇷 2.3× |
| Combat share of fleet | 44.8 % | 44.5 % | 🇮🇷 ≈ |
| Aircraft types in service | 37 | 19 | 🇮🇷 1.9× |
| Main supplier | United States · 50 % | France · 34 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 160 | 86 | 🇮🇷 1.9× |
| Transport aircraft | 81 | 12 | 🇮🇷 6.8× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 12 | 0 | 🇮🇷 |
| Trainers | 88 | 53 | 🇮🇷 1.7× |
| UAVs | 23 | 6 | 🇮🇷 3.8× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Iran
Fleet evolution · Qatar
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Qatar?
Iran has more military aircraft with 659 active aircraft compared to Qatar's 283, a difference of 376 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Qatar?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 295 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Qatar's 126.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Qatar?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Qatar's 86.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Qatar?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Qatar's 12.
How do the Iran and Qatar air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 6.8 times larger than Qatar's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 12).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Iran or Qatar?
Qatar has 44 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.