Air Forces comparison: 
Iran vs 
Yemen
Iran's air force fields 659 active aircraft — 4.2:1 Yemen's 156.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Iran
Yemen
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by unit price, helicopters by era) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Iran | Yemen | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | Yemeni Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 659 | 156 | 🇮🇷 4.2× |
| Combat aircraft | 295 | 75 | 🇮🇷 3.9× |
| Combat share of fleet | 44.8 % | 48.1 % | 🇾🇪 1.1× |
| Aircraft types in service | 37 | 17 | 🇮🇷 2.2× |
| Main supplier | United States · 50 % | Ex-USSR · 60 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 160 | 40 | 🇮🇷 4.0× |
| Transport aircraft | 81 | 13 | 🇮🇷 6.2× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 12 | 0 | 🇮🇷 |
| Trainers | 88 | 28 | 🇮🇷 3.1× |
| UAVs | 23 | 0 | 🇮🇷 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Iran
Fleet evolution · Yemen
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Iran or Yemen?
Iran has more military aircraft with 659 active aircraft compared to Yemen's 156, a difference of 503 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Iran or Yemen?
Iran has more combat aircraft with 295 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Yemen's 75.
Which country has more military helicopters, Iran or Yemen?
Iran operates more military helicopters with 160 compared to Yemen's 40.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Iran or Yemen?
Iran has more transport aircraft with 81 compared to Yemen's 13.
How do the Iran and Yemen air forces compare in size?
Iran's air force is 6.2 times larger than Yemen's in terms of total active aircraft (81 vs 13).