Air Forces comparison: South Korea vs Japan
Republic of Korea Air Force 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Air Force |
| Local Name | 공군 (Gong-gun) |
| Active aircraft | 1592 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 548 |
| Roundel |
|
Japan Air Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Local Name | 空自 (Kūji) |
| Active aircraft | 1443 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 335 |
| Roundel |
|
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
433 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
807 | |
Training
|
271 | |
Transport
|
56 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
25 | |
Japanese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
322 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
579 | |
|
Training
|
307 | |
|
Transport
|
110 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
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 1,592 active aircraft compared to Japan's 1,443, a difference of 149 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, South Korea or Japan?
South Korea has more combat aircraft with 433 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Japan's 322.
Which country has more military helicopters, South Korea or Japan?
South Korea operates more military helicopters with 807 compared to Japan's 579.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, South Korea or Japan?
Japan has more transport aircraft with 110 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 (110 vs 56).
Which country has more aircraft on order, South Korea or Japan?
South Korea has 548 aircraft on order compared to Japan's 335.