Air Forces comparison: Portugal vs Spain
Spain's air force fields 471 active aircraft — 5.5x Portugal's 86. The breakdown includes 25 vs 178 combat aircraft, 22 vs 178 helicopters, 23 vs 72 transport aircraft, 11 vs 40 trainers (Portugal vs Spain). Portugal has 3 aircraft on order vs 164 for Spain. The Spain air force is officially the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Portuguese Air Force 🇵🇹
| Official Name | Portuguese Air Force |
| Local Name | Força Aérea Portuguesa |
| Active aircraft | 86 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 3 |
| Roundel |
|
Spanish Air and Space Force 🇪🇸
| Official Name | Spanish Air and Space Force |
| Local Name | Ejército del Aire |
| Active aircraft | 471 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 164 |
| Roundel |
|
Portuguese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
25 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
22 | |
Training
|
11 | |
Transport
|
23 | |
Other
|
5 | |
Spanish aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
178 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
178 | |
|
Training
|
40 | |
|
Transport
|
72 | |
|
Other
|
3 | |
Evolution of Portuguese Air Force fleet
Evolution of Spanish Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has more military aircraft with 471 active aircraft compared to Portugal's 86, a difference of 385 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has more combat aircraft with 178 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Portugal's 25.
Which country has more military helicopters, Portugal or Spain?
Spain operates more military helicopters with 178 compared to Portugal's 22.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has more transport aircraft with 72 compared to Portugal's 23.
How do the Portugal and Spain air forces compare in size?
Spain's air force is 3.1 times larger than Portugal's in terms of total active aircraft (72 vs 23).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has 164 aircraft on order compared to Portugal's 3.