Air Forces comparison:
China vs
Philippines
China's air force fields 3,731 active aircraft — 15:1 Philippines's 246.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
China
Philippines
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by unit price, helicopters by era) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| China | Philippines | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | People's Liberation Army Air Force | Philippine Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 3,731 | 246 | 🇨🇳 15× |
| Aircraft on order | 130 | 44 | 🇨🇳 3.0× |
| Combat aircraft | 2,043 | 11 | 🇨🇳 186× |
| Combat share of fleet | 54.8 % | 4.5 % | 🇨🇳 12× |
| Aircraft types in service | 44 | 30 | 🇨🇳 1.5× |
| Main supplier | China · 85 % | United States · 58 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Bombers | 234 | 0 | 🇨🇳 |
| Helicopters | 1,019 | 152 | 🇨🇳 6.7× |
| Transport aircraft | 380 | 41 | 🇨🇳 9.3× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 39 | 4 | 🇨🇳 9.8× |
| Trainers | 16 | 38 | 🇵🇭 2.4× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · China
Fleet evolution · Philippines
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, China or Philippines?
China has more military aircraft with 3,731 active aircraft compared to Philippines's 246, a difference of 3,485 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, China or Philippines?
China has more combat aircraft with 2,043 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Philippines's 11.
Which country has more military helicopters, China or Philippines?
China operates more military helicopters with 1,019 compared to Philippines's 152.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, China or Philippines?
China has more transport aircraft with 380 compared to Philippines's 41.
How do the China and Philippines air forces compare in size?
China's air force is 9.3 times larger than Philippines's in terms of total active aircraft (380 vs 41).
Which country has more aircraft on order, China or Philippines?
China has 130 aircraft on order compared to Philippines's 44.