Air Forces comparison: South Korea vs Japan
South Korea operates 1,543 active military aircraft vs 1,397 for Japan. The breakdown includes 314 vs 331 combat aircraft, 856 vs 533 helicopters, 56 vs 112 transport aircraft, 293 vs 296 trainers (South Korea vs Japan). South Korea has 410 aircraft on order vs 310 for Japan. The South Korea air force is officially the Republic of Korea Air Force , while Japan's is the Japan Air Self-Defense 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 |
|
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 |
|
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
314 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
856 | |
Training
|
293 | |
Transport
|
56 | |
Other
|
24 | |
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
331 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
533 | |
|
Training
|
296 | |
|
Transport
|
112 | |
|
Other
|
125 | |
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Evolution of Japanese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, South Korea or Japan?
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, South Korea or Japan?
Japan has more combat aircraft with 331 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Korea's 314.
Which country has more military helicopters, South Korea or Japan?
South Korea operates more military helicopters with 856 compared to Japan's 533.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, South Korea or Japan?
Japan has more transport aircraft with 112 compared to South Korea's 56.
How do the South Korea and Japan 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, South Korea or Japan?
South Korea has 410 aircraft on order compared to Japan's 310.