Air Forces comparison: 
Nigeria vs 
South Sudan
Nigeria's air force fields 182 active aircraft — 9.1:1 South Sudan's 20.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Nigeria
South Sudan
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
| Nigeria | South Sudan | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Nigerian Air Force | South Sudan Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 182 | 20 | 🇳🇬 9.1× |
| Aircraft on order | 124 | 0 | 🇳🇬 |
| Combat aircraft | 36 | 0 | 🇳🇬 |
| Combat share of fleet | 19.8 % | 0.0 % | 🇳🇬 |
| Aircraft types in service | 31 | 6 | 🇳🇬 5.2× |
| Main supplier | Italy · 22 % | Ex-USSR · 75 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 73 | 15 | 🇳🇬 4.9× |
| Transport aircraft | 20 | 5 | 🇳🇬 4.0× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 8 | 0 | 🇳🇬 |
| Trainers | 27 | 0 | 🇳🇬 |
| UAVs | 18 | 0 | 🇳🇬 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Nigeria
Fleet evolution · South Sudan
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Nigeria or South Sudan?
Nigeria has more military aircraft with 182 active aircraft compared to South Sudan's 20, a difference of 162 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Nigeria or South Sudan?
Nigeria has more combat aircraft with 36 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Sudan's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, Nigeria or South Sudan?
Nigeria operates more military helicopters with 73 compared to South Sudan's 15.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Nigeria or South Sudan?
Nigeria has more transport aircraft with 20 compared to South Sudan's 5.
How do the Nigeria and South Sudan air forces compare in size?
Nigeria's air force is 4.0 times larger than South Sudan's in terms of total active aircraft (20 vs 5).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Nigeria or South Sudan?
Nigeria has 124 aircraft on order compared to South Sudan's 0.