Air Forces comparison: United States vs South Korea
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 |
|
Republic of Korea Air Force 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Air Force |
| Local Name | 공군 (Gong-gun) |
| Active aircraft | 1543 as of 2026 |
| Aircraft on order | 410 |
| Roundel |
|
United States aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
Combat
|
3120 | |
Bomber
|
147 | |
Helicopter
|
5479 | |
Training
|
1598 | |
Transport
|
1507 | |
UAV
|
0 | |
Other
|
1009 | |
South Korean aircraft by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
|
Combat
|
314 | |
|
Bomber
|
0 | |
|
Helicopter
|
856 | |
|
Training
|
293 | |
|
Transport
|
56 | |
|
UAV
|
0 | |
|
Other
|
24 | |
Evolution of United States Air Force fleet
Evolution of South Korean Air Force fleet
Aircraft Types Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United States or South Korea?
United States has more military aircraft with 12,860 active aircraft compared to South Korea's 1,543, a difference of 11,317 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United States or South Korea?
United States has more combat aircraft with 3,120 fighters and attack aircraft compared to South Korea's 314.
Which country has more military helicopters, United States or South Korea?
United States operates more military helicopters with 5,479 compared to South Korea's 856.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United States or South Korea?
United States has more transport aircraft with 1,507 compared to South Korea's 56.
How do the United States and South Korea air forces compare in size?
United States's air force is 26.9 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total active aircraft (1,507 vs 56).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United States or South Korea?
United States has 3,389 aircraft on order compared to South Korea's 410.