Air Forces comparison: United States vs Germany
United States Air Force 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Air Force |
| Local Name | US Air Force |
| Active aircraft | 12860 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 3389 |
| Roundel |
|
German Air Force 🇩🇪
| Official Name | German Air Force |
| Local Name | Luftwaffe |
| Active aircraft | 589 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 302 |
| Roundel |
|
United States aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
3120 | |
Bomber
|
147 | |
Helicopter
|
5479 | |
Training
|
1598 | |
Transport
|
1507 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
1009 | |
German aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
224 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
290 | |
|
Training
|
2 | |
|
Transport
|
70 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
3 | |
Evolution of United States Air Force fleet
Evolution of German Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United States or Germany?
United States has more military aircraft with 12,860 active aircraft compared to Germany's 589, a difference of 12,271 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United States or Germany?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,120 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Germany's 224.
Which country has more military helicopters, United States or Germany?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,479 compared to Germany's 290.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United States or Germany?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,507 compared to Germany's 70.
How do the United States and Germany air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 21.5 times larger than Germany's in terms of total active aircraft (1,507 vs 70).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United States or Germany?
United States has 3,389 aircraft on order compared to Germany's 302.