Air Forces comparison:
Mexico vs
United States
United States's air force fields 12,892 active aircraft — 28:1 Mexico's 466.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
AIRS Index / 100
United States leads on 7 of 7 categories
Mexico
United States
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
| Mexico | United States | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Mexican Air Force | United States Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 466 | 12,892 | 🇺🇸 28× |
| Aircraft on order | 13 | 3,090 | 🇺🇸 238× |
| Combat aircraft | 7 | 3,002 | 🇺🇸 429× |
| Combat share of fleet | 1.5 % | 23.3 % | 🇺🇸 16× |
| Aircraft types in service | 37 | 87 | 🇺🇸 2.4× |
| Main supplier | United States · 45 % | United States · 94 % |
Show full breakdown · 6 more rowsHide the 6 extra rows
| Bombers | 0 | 147 | 🇺🇸 |
| Helicopters | 170 | 5,504 | 🇺🇸 32× |
| Transport aircraft | 48 | 1,369 | 🇺🇸 29× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 17 | 1,222 | 🇺🇸 72× |
| Trainers | 221 | 1,455 | 🇺🇸 6.6× |
| UAVs | 3 | 193 | 🇺🇸 64× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Mexico
Fleet evolution · United States
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Mexico or United States?
United States has more military aircraft with 12,892 active aircraft compared to Mexico's 466, a difference of 12,426 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Mexico or United States?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,002 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Mexico's 7.
Which country has more military helicopters, Mexico or United States?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,504 compared to Mexico's 170.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Mexico or United States?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,369 compared to Mexico's 48.
How do the Mexico and United States air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 27.7 times larger than Mexico's in terms of total active aircraft (12,892 vs 466).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Mexico or United States?
United States has 3,090 aircraft on order compared to Mexico's 13.