Live Nasdaq Composite: Markets Rise as Optimism Returns on Stronger China Relations

Military

The 30 Countries With the Largest Air Forces in 2025

By Sam Stebbins Published Sep 2, 10:01AM EDT

Key Points

A key component of military operations since the First World War, military aircraft remain an indispensable tool of combat and national defense for countries around the globe.
For purposes ranging from troop deployment and bombing missions to reconnaissance and logistical support, militaries around the world maintain air force fleets numbering in the hundreds or even thousands of aircraft.
It sounds nuts, but SoFi is giving new active invest users up to $1,000 in stock for a limited time, and all it takes is a $50 deposit to get started. See for yourself (Sponsor)
DISCLOSURE:

Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 45 days of opening the account. Receive a minimum of $15. Probability of member receiving $3,000 is a probability of 0.026% If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Percentages for the $3,000 are subject to decrease. See full terms and conditions.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 30 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

The 30 Countries With the Largest Air Forces in 2025 — © USAF / Getty Images

Shortly after the Wright brothers’ first successful manned flight in 1903, the potential military applications of aviation technology became increasingly apparent. In 1907, the U.S. Army established the Army Signal Corps, a small division devoted to aeronautics. By 1912, the Signal Corps had nine aircraft and an annual budget of $125,000—about $4 million in current dollars. Investment in the Signal Corps ballooned during the First World War, a conflict defined in part by the deployment of military aircraft for reconnaissance, tactical support, and strategic bombing raids.

In 1941, when the United States was drawn into World War II by the aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, it was clear that air power had evolved into an indispensable component of modern combat. During the Second World War, the U.S. produced tens of thousands of bombers, fighters, and transport aircraft to support the Allied cause. In the summer of 1945, the U.S. forced the last remaining Axis power to surrender unconditionally by deploying two atomic weapons using B-29 Superfortress bombers.

By the mid-20th century, the U.S. Air Force had become its own military service branch, separate from the U.S. Army. Today, the Air Force’s continued importance is reflected in its annual budget. According to the Defense Department’s fiscal 2026 budget request, the Pentagon plans to spend nearly $159 billion on research, development, and procurement for the U.S. Air Force alone, the most of any U.S. military branch, and more than the entire defense budget of every country in the world, with the exception of China.

While the U.S. leads in military air power, many other countries also invest billions of dollars in their air forces each year, with several maintaining fleets of bombers, fighter jets, and support aircraft numbering in the thousands.

Using data from Global Firepower, 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the largest air force fleets. We reviewed the estimated number of aircraft in each country’s air force as of 2025 and ranked those countries by fleet size. Supplemental data on annual military spending and annual military spending as a share of gross domestic product are from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and are for 2024, the latest available year. Only countries with a fleet of at least 350 military aircraft were considered.

The 30 countries on this list have air force fleets ranging from 351 to more than 13,000 aircraft. The most common type of aircraft among these fleets is the fighter or interceptor jet. Fighter jets—such as the F-22, F-18, MiG-29, and Eurofighter Typhoon—are generally equipped with air-to-air missiles and serve as an air force’s first line of defense

Other common military aircraft include fixed-wing transporters and attack or strike jets.

Transport airlifters, such as the C-17 Globemaster and the Airbus CN-235, are used to move troops and materiel for purposes ranging from evacuations to airdrop missions. Attack jets, meanwhile, carry payloads of air-to-ground munitions designed to strike surface targets. These aircraft include the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 and the American F-35 Lightning.

These are the countries with the largest air force fleets in 2025.

Why It Matters

American airforce base | Overlook the aircraft boneyard, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

In the century since the first successful manned flight, aircraft have forever changed the face of combat. Modern military aircraft—including fixed-wing transporters, bombers, helicopters, and fighter jets—perform a variety of key functions in both war and peace, such as reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, lifesaving evacuations, precision strikes that minimize military intervention, and tactical support for ground operations. It is no coincidence that the U.S. Air Force is set to receive more funding than any other service branch in the coming fiscal year. The size of air force fleets worldwide shows that maintaining air power is a top priority for many countries, not just the United States.

30. Canada

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 351
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 66
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 6
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 28
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 0
Total defense spending in 2024: $29.3 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.3%

29. Iraq

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 391
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 36
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 26
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 15
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 39
Total defense spending in 2024: $6.2 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.4%

28. Mexico

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 433
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 33
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 3
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 41
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 0
Total defense spending in 2024: $16.7 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 0.9%

27. Colombia

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 436
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 24
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 16
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 1
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 86
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 0
Total defense spending in 2024: $15.1 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 3.4%

26. Indonesia

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 459
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 34
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 41
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 1
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 70
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 15
Total defense spending in 2024: $11.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 0.8%

25. Spain

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 461
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 12
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 137
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 51
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 17
Total defense spending in 2024: $24.6 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.4%

24. Poland

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 479
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 44
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 59
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 49
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 29
Total defense spending in 2024: $38.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 4.2%

23. Thailand

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 493
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 20
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 72
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 54
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 7
Total defense spending in 2024: $5.5 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.1%

22. Brazil

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 513
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 38
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 43
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 109
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 0
Total defense spending in 2024: $20.9 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.0%

21. Iran

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 551
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 21
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 188
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 6
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 87
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 13
Total defense spending in 2024: $7.9 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.0%

20. United Arab Emirates

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 551
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 16
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 99
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 4
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 37
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 30
Total defense spending in 2024: N/A
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: N/A

19. Greece

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 558
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 178
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 15
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 29
Total defense spending in 2024: $8.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 3.1%

18. Germany

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 584
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 63
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 129
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 3
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 50
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 54
Total defense spending in 2024: $88.5 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.9%

17. Algeria

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 608
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 42
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 102
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 5
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 63
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 74
Total defense spending in 2024: $21.8 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 8.0%

16. Israel

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 611
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 38
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 240
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 14
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 13
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 48
Total defense spending in 2024: $46.5 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 8.8%

15. United Kingdom

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 631
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 31
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 113
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 9
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 29
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 37
Total defense spending in 2024: $81.8 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.3%

14. Italy

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 729
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 67
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 89
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 8
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 30
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 37
Total defense spending in 2024: $38.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.6%

13. Taiwan

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 761
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 285
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 19
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 91
Total defense spending in 2024: $16.5 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.1%

12. North Korea

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 861
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 114
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 368
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 1
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 20
Total defense spending in 2018: $1.6 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: N/A

11. Saudi Arabia

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 917
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 81
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 283
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 22
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 49
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 34
Total defense spending in 2024: $80.3 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 7.3%

10. France

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 976
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 226
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 16
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 119
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 68
Total defense spending in 2024: $64.7 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.1%

9. Turkey

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 1,083
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 201
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 7
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 84
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 111
Total defense spending in 2024: $25.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.9%

8. Egypt

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 1,093
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 90
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 238
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 0
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 61
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 100
Total defense spending in 2024: $2.4 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 0.7%

7. Pakistan

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 1,399
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 90
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 328
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 4
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 64
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 57
Total defense spending in 2024: $10.2 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.7%

6. Japan

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 1,443
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 38
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 217
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 10
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 55
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 119
Total defense spending in 2024: $55.3 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.4%

5. South Korea

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 1,592
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 98
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 315
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 4
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 41
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 111
Total defense spending in 2024: $47.6 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.6%

4. India

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 2,229
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 130
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 513
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 6
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 270
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 80
Total defense spending in 2024: $86.1 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 2.3%

3. China

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 3,309
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 371
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 1,212
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 10
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 289
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 281
Total defense spending in 2024: $313.7 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 1.7%

2. Russia

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 4,292
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 689
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 833
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 19
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 456
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 557
Total defense spending in 2024: $149.0 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 7.1%

1. United States

Estimated number of military aircraft as of 2025: 13,043
Est. attack/strike aircraft fleet size: 889
Est. fighter/interceptor aircraft fleet size: 1,790
Est. tanker aircraft fleet size: 605
Est. fixed-wing transport aircraft fleet size: 918
Est. attack helicopter fleet size: 1,002
Total defense spending in 2024: $997.3 billion (current USD)
Defense spending as a share of GDP in 2024: 3.4%

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.