Air Forces comparison: United States vs Australia
Overview
United States's air force fields 12,784 active aircraft — 36:1 Australia's 355.
The breakdown includes 3,101 vs 108 combat aircraft, 147 vs 0 bombers, 5,442 vs 95 helicopters, 1,483 vs 61 transport aircraft, 1,598 vs 79 trainers (United States vs Australia). United States has 3,432 aircraft on order vs 113 for Australia.
The United States air force is officially the United States Air Force, while Australia's is the Royal Australian Air Force.
United States Air Force 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Air Force |
| Local Name | US Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 12784 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 3432 |
| Roundel |
|
Royal Australian Air Force 🇦🇺
| Official Name | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 355 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 113 |
| Roundel |
|
United States aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
3101 | |
Bomber
|
147 | |
Helicopter
|
5442 | |
Training
|
1598 | |
Transport
|
1483 | |
Other
|
1013 | |
Australian aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
108 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
95 | |
|
Training
|
79 | |
|
Transport
|
61 | |
|
Other
|
12 | |
Evolution of United States Air Force fleet
Evolution of Australian Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United States or Australia?
United States has more military aircraft with 12,784 active aircraft compared to Australia's 355, a difference of 12,429 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United States or Australia?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,101 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Australia's 108.
Which country has more military helicopters, United States or Australia?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,442 compared to Australia's 95.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United States or Australia?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,483 compared to Australia's 61.
How do the United States and Australia air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 24.3 times larger than Australia's in terms of total active aircraft (1,483 vs 61).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United States or Australia?
United States has 3,432 aircraft on order compared to Australia's 113.