Air Forces comparison: New Zealand vs Australia
Overview
Australia's air force fields 355 active aircraft — 7.6x New Zealand's 47.
The breakdown includes 0 vs 108 combat aircraft, 21 vs 95 helicopters, 11 vs 61 transport aircraft, 11 vs 79 trainers (New Zealand vs Australia). New Zealand has 0 aircraft on order vs 113 for Australia.
The New Zealand air force is officially the Royal New Zealand Air Force, while Australia's is the Royal Australian Air Force.
Royal New Zealand Air Force 🇳🇿
| Official Name | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 47 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Royal Australian Air Force 🇦🇺
| Official Name | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 355 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 113 |
| Roundel |
|
New Zealand aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
0 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
21 | |
Training
|
11 | |
Transport
|
11 | |
Other
|
4 | |
Australian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
108 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
95 | |
|
Training
|
79 | |
|
Transport
|
61 | |
|
Other
|
12 | |
Evolution of New Zealand Air Force fleet
Evolution of Australian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia has more military aircraft with 355 active aircraft compared to New Zealand's 47, a difference of 308 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia has more combat aircraft with 108 fighters and attack aircraft compared to New Zealand's 0.
Which country has more military helicopters, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia operates more military helicopters with 95 compared to New Zealand's 21.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia has more transport aircraft with 61 compared to New Zealand's 11.
How do the New Zealand and Australia air forces compare in size?
Australia's air force is 5.5 times larger than New Zealand's in terms of total active aircraft (61 vs 11).
Which country has more aircraft on order, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia has 113 aircraft on order compared to New Zealand's 0.