Air Forces comparison: United States vs China
Overview
United States's air force fields 12,784 active aircraft — 3.7x China's 3,497.
The breakdown includes 3,101 vs 2,043 combat aircraft, 147 vs 0 bombers, 5,442 vs 1,019 helicopters, 1,483 vs 413 transport aircraft, 1,598 vs 16 trainers (United States vs China). United States has 3,432 aircraft on order vs 130 for China.
The United States air force is officially the United States Air Force, while China's is the People's Liberation Army 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 |
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Local Name | 空军 (Kōngjūn) |
| Active aircraft | 3497 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 130 |
| Roundel |
|
United States aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
3101 | |
Bomber
|
147 | |
Helicopter
|
5442 | |
Training
|
1598 | |
Transport
|
1483 | |
Other
|
1013 | |
Chinese aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
2043 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
1019 | |
|
Training
|
16 | |
|
Transport
|
413 | |
|
Other
|
6 | |
Evolution of United States Air Force fleet
Evolution of Chinese Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United States or China?
United States has more military aircraft with 12,784 active aircraft compared to China's 3,497, a difference of 9,287 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United States or China?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,101 fighters and attack aircraft compared to China's 2,043.
Which country has more military helicopters, United States or China?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,442 compared to China's 1,019.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United States or China?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,483 compared to China's 413.
How do the United States and China air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 3.6 times larger than China's in terms of total active aircraft (1,483 vs 413).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United States or China?
United States has 3,432 aircraft on order compared to China's 130.