Air Forces comparison: Saudi Arabia vs Iran
Saudi Arabia operates 914 active military aircraft vs 627 for Iran. The breakdown includes 384 vs 286 combat aircraft, 262 vs 160 helicopters, 46 vs 81 transport aircraft, 156 vs 88 trainers (Saudi Arabia vs Iran). Saudi Arabia has 319 aircraft on order vs 0 for Iran. The Saudi Arabia air force is officially the Royal Saudi Air Force, while Iran's is the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
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 aircraft | 914 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 319 |
| Roundel |
|
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 aircraft | 627 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
|
Saudi Arabian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
384 | |
Bomber
|
0 | |
Helicopter
|
262 | |
Training
|
156 | |
Transport
|
46 | |
Other
|
66 | |
Iranian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
286 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
160 | |
|
Training
|
88 | |
|
Transport
|
81 | |
|
Other
|
12 | |
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 914 active aircraft compared to Iran's 627, a difference of 287 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia has more combat aircraft with 384 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Iran's 286.
Which country has more military helicopters, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia operates more military helicopters with 262 compared to Iran's 160.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Saudi Arabia's 46.
How do the Saudi Arabia and Iran air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 1.8 times larger than Saudi Arabia's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 46).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Saudi Arabia or Iran?
Saudi Arabia has 319 aircraft on order compared to Iran's 0.