Air Forces comparison: Iran vs Saudi Arabia
Iran operates 627 active military aircraft vs 914 for Saudi Arabia. The breakdown includes 286 vs 384 combat aircraft, 160 vs 262 helicopters, 81 vs 46 transport aircraft, 88 vs 156 trainers (Iran vs Saudi Arabia). Iran has 0 aircraft on order vs 319 for Saudi Arabia. The Iran air force is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, while Saudi Arabia's is the Royal Saudi 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 |
|
Royal Saudi Air Force 🇸🇦
| Official Name | Royal Saudi Air Force |
| Local Name | القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية (Al Quwwāt al Jawwīyah al Malakīyah as Saʿūdīyah) |
| Active aircraft | 914 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 319 |
| Roundel |
|
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
286 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
160 | |
Training
|
88 | |
Transport
|
81 | |
Other
|
12 | |
Saudi Arabian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
384 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
262 | |
|
Training
|
156 | |
|
Transport
|
46 | |
|
Other
|
66 | |
Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Saudi Arabian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has more military aircraft with 914 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 287 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has more combat aircraft with 384 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia operates more military helicopters with 262 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Saudi Arabia's 46.
How do the Iran and Saudi Arabia air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 1.8 times larger than Saudi Arabia's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 46).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has 319 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.