Air Forces comparison: Japan vs China
Overview
China's air force fields 3,497 active aircraft — 2.5x Japan's 1,399.
The breakdown includes 331 vs 2,043 combat aircraft, 533 vs 1,019 helicopters, 114 vs 413 transport aircraft, 296 vs 16 trainers (Japan vs China). Japan has 317 aircraft on order vs 130 for China.
The Japan air force is officially the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, while China's is the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Local Name | 空自 (Kūji) |
| Active aircraft | 1399 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 317 |
| Roundel |
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3497 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
331 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
533 | |
Training
|
296 | |
Transport
|
114 | |
Other
|
125 | |
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
2043 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
|
Training
|
16 | |
|
Transport
|
413 | |
|
Other
|
6 | |
Evolution of Japanese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Japan or China?
China has more military aircraft with 3,497 active aircraft compared to Japan's 1,399, a difference of 2,098 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Japan or China?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Japan's 331.
Which country has more military helicopters, Japan or China?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Japan's 533.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Japan or China?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to Japan's 114.
How do the Japan and China air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 3.6 times larger than Japan's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 114).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Japan or China?
Japan has 317 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.