Air Forces comparison: South Korea vs China
China's air force fields 3,440 active aircraft — 2.2x South Korea's 1,543. The breakdown includes 314 vs 1,986 combat aircraft, 856 vs 1,019 helicopters, 56 vs 413 transport aircraft, 293 vs 16 trainers (South Korea vs China). South Korea has 410 aircraft on order vs 130 for China. The South Korea air force is officially the Republic of Korea Air Force , while China's is the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
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 |
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3440 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
314 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
856 | |
Training
|
293 | |
Transport
|
56 | |
Other
|
24 | |
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
1986 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
|
Training
|
16 | |
|
Transport
|
413 | |
|
Other
|
6 | |
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, South Korea or China?
China has more military aircraft with 3,440 active aircraft compared to South Korea's 1,543, a difference of 1,897 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, South Korea or China?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Korea's 314.
Which country has more military helicopters, South Korea or China?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to South Korea's 856.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, South Korea or China?
China has more transport aircraft with 413 compared to South Korea's 56.
How do the South Korea and China air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 7.4 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total active aircraft (413 vs 56).
Which country has more aircraft on order, South Korea or China?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.