Air Forces comparison: 
Iran vs 
Syria
Iran operates 659 active military aircraft vs 414 for Syria.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Iran
Syria
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Iran | Syria | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | Syrian Arab Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 659 | 414 | 🇮🇷 1.6× |
| Combat aircraft | 295 | 225 | 🇮🇷 1.3× |
| Combat share of fleet | 44.8 % | 54.3 % | 🇸🇾 1.2× |
| Aircraft types in service | 37 | 17 | 🇮🇷 2.2× |
| Main supplier | United States · 50 % | Ex-USSR · 78 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 160 | 153 | 🇮🇷 ≈ |
| Transport aircraft | 81 | 5 | 🇮🇷 16× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 12 | 2 | 🇮🇷 6.0× |
| Trainers | 88 | 29 | 🇮🇷 3.0× |
| UAVs | 23 | 0 | 🇮🇷 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Iran
Fleet evolution · Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Syria?
Iran has more military aircraft with 659 active aircraft compared to Syria's 414, a difference of 245 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Syria?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 295 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Syria's 225.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Syria?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Syria's 153.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Syria?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Syria's 5.
How do the Iran and Syria air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 16.2 times larger than Syria's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 5).