Air Forces comparison: Japan vs South Korea
Japan Air Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Local Name | 空自 (Kūji) |
| Active aircraft | 1397 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 310 |
| 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 |
|
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
331 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
533 | |
Training
|
296 | |
Transport
|
112 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
125 | |
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
314 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
856 | |
|
Training
|
293 | |
|
Transport
|
56 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
24 | |
Evolution of Japanese Air Force fleet
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Japan or South Korea?
South Korea has more military aircraft with 1,543 active aircraft compared to Japan's 1,397, a difference of 146 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Japan or South Korea?
Japan has more combat aircraft with 331 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Korea's 314.
Which country has more military helicopters, Japan or South Korea?
South Korea operates more military helicopters with 856 compared to Japan's 533.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Japan or South Korea?
Japan has more transport aircraft with 112 compared to South Korea's 56.
How do the Japan and South Korea air forces compare in size?
Japan's air force is 2.0 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total active aircraft (112 vs 56).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Japan or South Korea?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to Japan's 310.