Air Forces comparison: Saudi Arabia vs Iran

Royal Saudi Air Force 🇸🇦

Official Name Royal Saudi Air Force
Local Name القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية (Al Quwwāt al Jawwīyah al Malakīyah as Saʿūdīyah)
Active aircraft917 as of 2026
Aircraft on order308
Roundel

Roundel of Saudi Arabia air force

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force 🇮🇷

Official Name Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Local Name نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Nīrvī-ye Havāyī-ye Arteš-e Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Īrān)
Active aircraft640 as of 2026
Aircraft on order25
Roundel

Roundel of Iran air force

Saudi Arabian aircraft by type

Aircraft type Active
Combat Combat 385
Bomber Bomber 0
Helicopter Helicopter 264
Training Training 156
Transport Transport 46
UAV UAV 0
Other Other 66

Iranian aircraft by type

Aircraft type Active
Combat Combat 253
Bomber Bomber 0
Helicopter Helicopter 145
Training Training 116
Transport Transport 107
UAV UAV 0
Other Other 19

Evolution of Saudi Arabian Air Force fleet

Evolution of Iranian Air Force fleet

Aircraft Types Radar Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more military aircraft, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia has more military aircraft with 917 active aircraft compared to Iran's 640, a difference of 277 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia has more combat aircraft with 385 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 253.
Which country has more military helicopters, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia operates more military helicopters with 264 compared to Iran's 145.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 107 compared to Saudi Arabia's 46.
How do the Saudi Arabia and Iran air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 2.3 times larger than Saudi Arabia's in terms of total active aircraft (107 vs 46).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia has 308 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 25.