Air Forces comparison: 
Cambodia vs 
Thailand
Thailand's air force fields 481 active aircraft — 19:1 Cambodia's 25.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Cambodia
Thailand
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
| Cambodia | Thailand | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Cambodian Air Force | Royal Thai Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 25 | 481 | 🇹🇭 19× |
| Aircraft on order | 0 | 16 | 🇹🇭 |
| Combat aircraft | 0 | 84 | 🇹🇭 |
| Combat share of fleet | 0.0 % | 17.5 % | 🇹🇭 |
| Aircraft types in service | 7 | 42 | 🇹🇭 6.0× |
| Main supplier | Ex-USSR · 48 % | United States · 63 % |
Show full breakdown · 4 more rowsHide the 4 extra rows
| Helicopters | 21 | 247 | 🇹🇭 12× |
| Transport aircraft | 4 | 57 | 🇹🇭 14× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 0 | 9 | 🇹🇭 |
| Trainers | 0 | 84 | 🇹🇭 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Cambodia
Fleet evolution · Thailand
Analyst Assessment
Verdict
Edge: Thailand
Thailand's air force is overwhelmingly the stronger of the two: the Royal Thai Air Force fields roughly 481 aircraft including 84 combat types led by 46 F-16s, while the Royal Cambodian Air Force operates about 25 aircraft with no combat aircraft at all. Cambodia's service is a light transport and rotary-lift organisation rather than an air power instrument, leaving Thailand with uncontested control of the air domain.
Domain by domain
Fighter & multirole fleet
Edge: Thailand
🇰🇭 CambodiaNo combat aircraft whatsoever. Zero fighters, zero armed jets; the only potentially armed platforms are Z-9 helicopters. No air-to-air or air-to-ground jet capability, no pilot cadre for it.
Helicopters & rotary lift
Edge: Thailand
🇰🇭 Cambodia21 helicopters, the bulk of the force: 10 Mi-8 Hips, 9 Z-9 Haitun, single AW109 and H125M/AS550 Fennec. Mixed Soviet and Chinese origin, utility and liaison roles, modest availability.
🇹🇭 Thailand247 helicopters, an order of magnitude larger: 48 UH-1N, 45 TH-55 Osage trainers, 26 UH-60 Black Hawk, 20 206 JetRanger, 16 H145M. Deep utility, assault and training rotary structure.
Transport & airlift
Edge: Thailand
🇰🇭 Cambodia4 transports: 2 An-26 Curl, 1 BN-2B Defender, 1 Y-12. Light tactical and liaison lift only; no strategic reach, no aerial refuelling, limited outsize cargo capacity.
🇹🇭 Thailand57 transports including 14 PC-6 Porters alongside a broad medium and light fleet, backed by 9 special mission aircraft. Sustained national and regional airlift, disaster response and utility flying.
Training & readiness
Edge: Thailand
🇰🇭 CambodiaNo dedicated trainer fleet recorded. Seven types across 25 airframes means low flying hours and a pilot pipeline dependent on foreign schooling; readiness constrained by legacy Ex-USSR sustainment (48 percent of supply).
🇹🇭 Thailand84 trainers: 29 DA42 Twin Star, 21 Enstrom 480, 19 T-6 Texan II, 14 T-50 Golden Eagle, plus 45 TH-55. A complete indigenous pipeline from screening to lead-in fighter training.
Procurement pipeline & industry
Edge: Thailand
🇰🇭 CambodiaNothing on order. Fleet renewal depends entirely on donated or transferred airframes; no visible modernisation programme and no domestic aerospace support base.
🇹🇭 Thailand16 aircraft on order: 12 JAS 39 Gripen, 3 H145M, 1 T-6 Texan II. Diversifies beyond a 63 percent US supply base and sustains a funded, continuous recapitalisation cycle.
Wildcards
- Access and alliance structure Thailand is a US treaty ally with long-standing multinational exercise hosting, giving its crews interoperability, spares access and combined-operations exposure. Cambodia's supply relationships are narrower and largely donor-driven, limiting both training exchange and sustainment depth.
- Sustainment of legacy fleets Cambodia's Mi-8 and An-26 aircraft are Soviet-era designs with 48 percent Ex-USSR sourcing; parts flow and airframe hours are the binding constraint. Serviceable strength may be materially below the 25 airframes listed.
- Geography and basing Both air forces operate over a shared land border with short transit distances, so range matters less than sortie generation. Thailand's dispersed base network and larger fleet allow sustained tempo; Cambodia's few airfields concentrate its limited assets.
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Analysis generated by a language model from the figures on this page and public sources; it is an informed reading, not a military assessment or a prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Cambodia or Thailand?
Thailand has more military aircraft with 481 active aircraft compared to Cambodia's 25, a difference of 456 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Cambodia or Thailand?
Thailand has more combat aircraft with 84 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Cambodia's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, Cambodia or Thailand?
Thailand operates more military helicopters with 247 compared to Cambodia's 21.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Cambodia or Thailand?
Thailand has more transport aircraft with 57 compared to Cambodia's 4.
How do the Cambodia and Thailand air forces compare in size?
Thailand's air force is 14.2 times larger than Cambodia's in terms of total active aircraft (57 vs 4).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Cambodia or Thailand?
Thailand has 16 aircraft on order compared to Cambodia's 0.