Some of the most advanced air forces in the world are known for their offensive capabilities, which are carried out through their attack and strike aircraft. These aircraft play a specific role in taking out enemy assets on the ground, however they are capable of aerial engagements. Here, we are taking a closer look at the countries that have the most impressive fleets of attack and strike aircraft. (These are the nations with the largest air forces.)
To determine the countries with the most attack and strike aircraft, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. We included supplemental information regarding total military aircraft, and helicopters. We included the overall military strength score as well which is a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is.
Russia and China rank fairly high on this list as both of these nations have made great strides in recent years in terms of modernizing their air forces. This effort is seen in the development and deployment of advanced jets like the Sukhoi Su-34 and Chengdu J-20.
The United States leads the pack in terms of attack and strike aircraft. Some of these fighter jets play more roles than as just strike aircraft. The F-35 Lightning II has more capabilities than most jets as it features some of the most advanced avionics and stealth technology in the world. (This is the fastest military stealth plane ever.)
These fighter jets are a major component of most national air forces. Also, the strongest militaries in the world are home to a significant number of these jets.
Here is a look at the countries with the most attack and strike aircraft:
Why Are We Covering This?
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
Understanding which countries have the most attack and strike aircraft gives some context to international relations and geopolitics at large. Countries with these aircraft can better defend their airspace and project power. Understanding this, helps further understand the current balance of power in the world.
30. Myanmar
Source: sndr / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 26
- Total military aircraft: 293
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 58
- Total helicopters: 80
- Attack helicopters: 9
- Military strength score: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145
29. Turkmenistan
Source: sagesolar / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 28
- Total military aircraft: 90
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 24
- Total helicopters: 26
- Attack helicopters: 10
- Military strength score: 1.4906 – #83 out of 145
28. United Kingdom
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 29
- Total military aircraft: 664
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 120
- Total helicopters: 276
- Attack helicopters: 52
- Military strength score: 0.1443 – #6 out of 145
27. Norway
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 30
- Total military aircraft: 102
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
- Total helicopters: 37
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.5664 – #41 out of 145
26. Ukraine
Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 30
- Total military aircraft: 321
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 72
- Total helicopters: 130
- Attack helicopters: 33
- Military strength score: 0.2598 – #18 out of 145
25. Sudan
Source: KGrif / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 32
- Total military aircraft: 170
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 45
- Total helicopters: 64
- Attack helicopters: 35
- Military strength score: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145
24. Mexico
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 33
- Total military aircraft: 462
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 3
- Total helicopters: 178
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.4274 – #31 out of 145
23. Vietnam
Source: heaadricofrohan / iStock via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 33
- Total military aircraft: 226
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
- Total helicopters: 99
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.3158 – #22 out of 145
22. Poland
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 34
- Total military aircraft: 468
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 59
- Total helicopters: 215
- Attack helicopters: 30
- Military strength score: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145
21. Iraq
Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 35
- Total military aircraft: 371
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 26
- Total helicopters: 197
- Attack helicopters: 40
- Military strength score: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145
20. Japan
Source: guvendemir / Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 36
- Total military aircraft: 1,459
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 217
- Total helicopters: 577
- Attack helicopters: 119
- Military strength score: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145
19. Indonesia
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 37
- Total military aircraft: 474
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
- Total helicopters: 210
- Attack helicopters: 15
- Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145
18. Kazakhstan
Source: Thinkstock
- Attack and strike aircraft: 38
- Total military aircraft: 243
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 81
- Total helicopters: 75
- Attack helicopters: 22
- Military strength score: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145
17. Israel
Source: Courtesy Boeing Co.
- Attack and strike aircraft: 39
- Total military aircraft: 612
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 241
- Total helicopters: 146
- Attack helicopters: 48
- Military strength score: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145
16. Algeria
Source: U.S. Navy
- Attack and strike aircraft: 42
- Total military aircraft: 605
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 102
- Total helicopters: 298
- Attack helicopters: 75
- Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145
15. Belarus
Source: Jozsef Soos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 51
- Total military aircraft: 183
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 37
- Total helicopters: 64
- Attack helicopters: 25
- Military strength score: 1.0901 – #64 out of 145
14. Syria
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 57
- Total military aircraft: 452
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 168
- Total helicopters: 153
- Attack helicopters: 27
- Military strength score: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145
13. Australia
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 60
- Total military aircraft: 325
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 24
- Total helicopters: 79
- Attack helicopters: 22
- Military strength score: 0.2515 – #16 out of 145
12. Italy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Attack and strike aircraft: 67
- Total military aircraft: 800
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 90
- Total helicopters: 402
- Attack helicopters: 57
- Military strength score: 0.1863 – #10 out of 145
11. Brazil
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 72
- Total military aircraft: 628
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 46
- Total helicopters: 195
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.1944 – #12 out of 145
10. Germany
Source: bbevren / iStock via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 76
- Total military aircraft: 618
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 133
- Total helicopters: 318
- Attack helicopters: 55
- Military strength score: 0.2847 – #19 out of 145
9. Saudi Arabia
Source: Matt Cardy / Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 81
- Total military aircraft: 914
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 283
- Total helicopters: 262
- Attack helicopters: 34
- Military strength score: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145
8. Egypt
Source: Artyom_Anikeev / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 88
- Total military aircraft: 1,080
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 238
- Total helicopters: 338
- Attack helicopters: 100
- Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145
7. Pakistan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 90
- Total military aircraft: 1,434
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 387
- Total helicopters: 352
- Attack helicopters: 57
- Military strength score: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145
6. South Korea
Source: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com
- Attack and strike aircraft: 98
- Total military aircraft: 1,576
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 354
- Total helicopters: 758
- Attack helicopters: 112
- Military strength score: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145
5. India
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Attack and strike aircraft: 130
- Total military aircraft: 2,296
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 606
- Total helicopters: 869
- Attack helicopters: 40
- Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145
4. North Korea
Source: Tatohra / Shutterstock.com
- Attack and strike aircraft: 132
- Total military aircraft: 951
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 440
- Total helicopters: 205
- Attack helicopters: 20
- Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145
3. China
Source: N509FZ / Wikimedia Commons
- Attack and strike aircraft: 371
- Total military aircraft: 3,304
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 1,207
- Total helicopters: 913
- Attack helicopters: 281
- Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145
2. Russia
Source: Laski Collection / Getty Images
- Attack and strike aircraft: 730
- Total military aircraft: 4,255
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 809
- Total helicopters: 1,547
- Attack helicopters: 559
- Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145
1. United States
- Attack and strike aircraft: 896
- Total military aircraft: 13,209
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 1,854
- Total helicopters: 5,737
- Attack helicopters: 1,000
- Military strength score: 0.0699 – #1 out of 145
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