Want to know which is the largest air force in the world in 2024? In this era, the strength of any country is judged by the strength of its aircraft. Aircraft types considered include fighters, trainers, transports, dedicated bombers and ground attackers, special-mission platforms, etc. Global Firepower tracks the total air service strength for each national power considered for the annual ranking. Take a look at our list of the top 10 Largest air forces in the world in 2024.
The French Air and Space Force is one of the largest and most powerful air forces in the world. Formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service branch of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the French Air Force.
The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) is directly subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA), a high-ranking military official who in turn answers to the civilian Minister of the Armed Forces.
The French Air Force played a significant role in World War II, particularly during the Battle of France in 1940. The Vichy French Air Force later established a significant presence in the French Levant. According to Global Firepower, the French Air Force has a total of 972 aircraft, including 224 fighter jets, 447 helicopters, and 69 attack helicopters.
The Turkish Air Force is the ninth largest air force in the world in 2024. It is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces with 1069 aircraft. The Turkish Air Force has its origins in June 1911 when it was established by the Ottoman Empire.
However, the Air Force as it is known today came into existence after the creation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The Turkish Air Force is considered the third largest air force in NATO.
The world’s first black pilot, Ahmet Ali Celikten, and the world’s first female fighter pilot, Sabiha Gokcen, both served in the Turkish Air Force. According to Global Firepower, the Turkish Air Force has a total of 1,069 aircraft, including 205 fighter jets, 502 helicopters and 111 attack helicopters.
The Turkish Air Force has an active strength of 50,000 military personnel and operates approximately 295 manned fixed-wing aircraft, 35 helicopters and 52 unmanned aerial vehicles. In terms of number of aircraft, it is the largest air force in Europe.
08. Egyptian Air Force – 1,080
Total aircraft assets: 1,080
Personnel: 30,000 – reserve 20,000
The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces, responsible for all air defense missions. The EAF operates all military aircraft, including those used in support of the Egyptian Army, Egyptian Navy, and Egyptian Air Defense Forces.
The army is headed by an Air Marshal (equivalent to Lieutenant General). Currently, the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Mahmoud Fouad Abdel-Gawad. The Egyptian Air Force’s primary role is the air defense of the nation, while secondary tasks are strike and army support operations.
In addition, the EAF provides official government transport and conducts international search and rescue operations in the desert, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. According to Global Firepower, the Egyptian Air Force has a total of 1,080 aircraft, including 238 fighter jets, 338 helicopters and 100 attack helicopters. The Egyptian Air Force is the 8th largest air force in the world in 2024.
07. Pakistan Air Force – 1,434
Total aircraft assets: 1,434
Personnel: 70,000 – reserve 8,000
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, whose main task is to provide the air defense of Pakistan. The PAF has over 70,000 active-duty personnel and operates at least 970 aircraft.
Its primary mandate and mission is to provide the most efficient, assured and cost-effective air defense of Pakistan in synergy with other inter-services. The Constitution of Pakistan appoints the President of Pakistan as the civilian commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Moreover, the Pakistan Air Force is the seventh largest air force in the world with a total strength of 1,434 aircraft. According to Global Firepower, the Pakistan Air Force has a total of 1,434 aircraft, including 387 fighter jets, 352 helicopters and 57 attack helicopters.
06. Japan Air Self-Defense Force – 1,459
Total aircraft assets: 1,459
Personnel: 49,913
The air force of Japan is known as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which is one of the top 10 largest air forces in the world in 2024. It is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Force, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyber warfare, and electronic warfare.
The JASDF conducts combat air patrols around Japan, as well as maintains a network of ground and air early warning radar systems. Also, the branch has an aerobatic team known as Blue Impulse and provides aerial transportation to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Additionally, according to Global Firepower, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has a total of 1,459 aircraft, including 217 fighter jets, 577 helicopters and 119 attack helicopters.
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is one of the top 10 largest air forces in the world by 2024, with more than 1,500 aircraft. It is the air combat service branch of South Korea, operating under the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea.
Soon after the end of World War II, the South Korean Air Construction Association was established on August 10, 1946, to publicize the importance of air power. In September 1949, the United States provided 10 L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft to the South Korean air unit.
In addition, an Army Air Academy was established in January 1949, and the ROKAF was officially established in October 1949. According to Global Firepower, the Republic of Korea Air Force has a total of 1,576 aircraft, including 354 fighter aircraft, 758 helicopters, and 112 attack helicopters.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has launched a project to develop indigenous long-range air defense radars. According to the agency, the foreign-made radars currently used to monitor Cadiz will be phased out and replaced with new domestic equipment from 2027.
04. Indian Air Force – 2,296
Total aircraft assets: 2,296
Personnel: 170,576 – reserve 140,000
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth among the top 10 largest air forces in the world. The Indian Air Force is a strong air force, with 170,576 active personnel and 140,000 reserve personnel.
The primary mission of the Indian Air Force is to secure Indian airspace and conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire, which awarded the Royal prefix to India’s aviation service during World War II.
After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force was renamed the Dominion of India. According to Global Firepower, the Indian Air Force has a total of 2,296 aircraft, including 606 fighter aircraft, 869 helicopters and 40 attack helicopters.
03. People’s Liberation Army Air Force – 3,304
Photo: Courtesy of Aviation Industry Corporation of China
Total aircraft assets: 3,304
Personnel: 400,000
China has the third largest air force in the world by 2024, known as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It is an air service branch of the People’s Liberation Army, the regular armed forces of the People’s Republic of China.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force was officially established on 11 November 1949 and is composed of 5 branches which are Aviation, Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Surface to Air Missile (SAM), Radar, and Airborne Corps.
Also, early on, the PLAAF operated a mix of captured Kuomintang (KMT) and Soviet aircraft and began organizing its structure around several aviation divisions.
According to Global Firepower the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has a total of 3,304 aircraft, including 1,207 fighter jets, 913 helicopters, and 281 attack helicopters.
02. Russian Air Force – 4,255
Total aircraft assets: 4,255
Personnel: 148,000
The Russian Air Force is considered the second strongest air force in the world. It is a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, formed on 1 August 2015 with the merger of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.
The modern Russian Air Force was originally established by Boris Yeltsin after the creation of the Ministry of Defense on 7 May 1992. Additionally, the Russian Air Force is one of the largest air forces in the world in terms of military aircraft strength.
Modernization plans and programs undertaken since the 2010s are being continued in 2021 as a part of Russia’s state armament program for 2018-2027. According to Global Firepower, the Russian Air Force has a total of 4,255 aircraft, including 809 fighter jets, 1,547 helicopters, and 559 attack helicopters.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keith Holcomb
Total aircraft assets: 13,209
Personnel: 321,848 – reserve 68,927
The United States Air Force (USAF) is considered the largest and most powerful air force in the world. It is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the eight U.S. uniformed services.
The U.S. Air Force articulates its core missions as air supremacy, global integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global attack, and command and control. The United States Air Force is a military service branch organized under the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense.
The highest-ranking military officer in the United States Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who supervises Air Force units and serves as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to Global Firepower, the United States Air Force has a total of 13,209 aircraft, including 1,854 fighter aircraft, 5,737 helicopters, and 1,000 attack helicopters.
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