Air Forces comparison: 
United Kingdom vs 
Portugal
United Kingdom's air force fields 673 active aircraft — 6.7:1 Portugal's 100.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
United KingdomWorld #14
24.0
AIRS Index / 100
United Kingdom leads on 6 of 6 categories
PortugalWorld #49
9.7
United Kingdom
Portugal
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
| United Kingdom | Portugal | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Air Force | Portuguese Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 673 | 100 | 🇬🇧 6.7× |
| Aircraft on order | 49 | 16 | 🇬🇧 3.1× |
| Combat aircraft | 151 | 33 | 🇬🇧 4.6× |
| Combat share of fleet | 22.4 % | 33.0 % | 🇵🇹 1.5× |
| Aircraft types in service | 24 | 12 | 🇬🇧 2.0× |
| Main supplier | United States · 28 % | United States · 43 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 259 | 28 | 🇬🇧 9.2× |
| Transport aircraft | 49 | 23 | 🇬🇧 2.1× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 25 | 5 | 🇬🇧 5.0× |
| Trainers | 170 | 11 | 🇬🇧 15× |
| UAVs | 19 | 0 | 🇬🇧 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Kingdom
Fleet evolution · Portugal
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Kingdom or Portugal?
United Kingdom has more military aircraft with 673 active aircraft compared to Portugal's 100, a difference of 573 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Kingdom or Portugal?
United Kingdom has more combat aircraft with 151 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Portugal's 33.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Kingdom or Portugal?
United Kingdom operates more military helicopters with 259 compared to Portugal's 28.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Kingdom or Portugal?
United Kingdom has more transport aircraft with 49 compared to Portugal's 23.
How do the United Kingdom and Portugal air forces compare in size?
United Kingdom's air force is 2.1 times larger than Portugal's in terms of total active aircraft (49 vs 23).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Kingdom or Portugal?
United Kingdom has 49 aircraft on order compared to Portugal's 16.