Air Forces comparison: Russia vs China
Russia operates 4,300 active military aircraft vs 3,440 for China. The breakdown includes 1,524 vs 1,986 combat aircraft, 152 vs 0 bombers, 1,604 vs 1,019 helicopters, 515 vs 413 transport aircraft, 442 vs 16 trainers (Russia vs China). Russia has 677 aircraft on order vs 130 for China. The Russia air force is officially the Russian Air Force, while China's is the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Russian Air Force 🇷🇺
| Official Name | Russian Air Force |
| Local Name | Военно-воздушные cилы (Voenno-vozdushnye sily) |
| Active aircraft | 4300 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 677 |
| Roundel |
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3440 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
Russian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
1524 | |
Bomber
|
152 | |
Helicopter
|
1604 | |
Training
|
442 | |
Transport
|
515 | |
Other
|
63 | |
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
1986 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
|
Training
|
16 | |
|
Transport
|
413 | |
|
Other
|
6 | |
Evolution of Russian Air Force fleet
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Russia or China?
Russia has more military aircraft with 4,300 active aircraft compared to China's 3,440, a difference of 860 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Russia or China?
China has more combat aircraft with 1,986 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Russia's 1,524.
Which country has more military helicopters, Russia or China?
Russia operates more military helicopters with 1,604 compared to China's 1,019.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Russia or China?
Russia has more transport aircraft with 515 compared to China's 413.
Which country has more aircraft on order, Russia or China?
Russia has 677 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.