Every piece of machinery in all militaries worldwide has a significant impact on the capabilities of its military. While it may appear that some have greater significance than others, and receive the bulk of notoriety, among military assets, helicopters have played a vital role. This is illustrated in the current ongoing Russo-Ukranian War.
Artillery and other armored vehicles and drones have received much attention as being important to the outcome of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but helicopters have also played a significant role. They combine reconnaissance, logistics, and combat capabilities, aiding in various operational roles on the battlefield. Although Russia possesses one of the world’s largest attack helicopter fleets, despite this numerical advantage, it has suffered substantial losses, losing more than one in eight of its helicopters. (Here is every plane in Russia’s air force.)
24/7 Wall St. reviewed GlobalFirepower, an annually updated website tracking defense-related statistics of 145 nations to determine the countries with the largest attack helicopter fleets. Countries were ranked by the number of attack helicopters in active service. Supplemental data regarding total aircraft fleet size and the most common combat helicopters came from FlightGlobal. Military expenditure data for 2022 came from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Database.
As the most powerful military in the world, the United States indisputably leads the charge with the most extensive attack helicopter fleet globally with around 1,00 helicopters, according to Global Firepower. With a focus on power projection and force mobility, the U.S. military operates an impressive number of helicopters such as the Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook CH-47. The Apache is particularly noteworthy for its lethal firepower and sophisticated technology. (Here is every helicopter used by the U.S. armed forces.)
Although its fleet is not as extensive as the United States, Russia comes in with the second-largest fleet of attack helicopters at around 559. Russia’s combat fleet is chiefly composed of helicopters such as the Mil Mi-24 (Hind) and Kamov Ka-52 (Alligator). These helicopters are known for their versatility, durability, and aggressive combat features, making them indispensable to the Russian military.
While the largest combat helicopter fleets are found in the U.S. and Russia, countries across the globe hold sizable combat helicopter fleets. Multiple countries’ fleets have some overlap in the types of helicopters they use, and the countries on the list have at least 33 active combat helicopters.
Here are the countries with the biggest attack helicopter fleets.
22. Uzbekistan
- Attack helicopters in military: 33 (tied)
- Total military aircraft fleet : 197 (#49 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-8
- Defense expenditure (2022) N/A
21. United Kingdom
- Attack helicopters in military: 33 (tied)
- Total military aircraft fleet : 663 (#16 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: CH-47 HC3/4/5/6/MH-47G
- Defense expenditure (2022) $68.5 billion (#6 most of 172)
20. Ukraine
- Attack helicopters in military: 33 (tied)
- Total military aircraft fleet : 312 (#33 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-8
- Defense expenditure (2022) $44 billion (#11 most of 172)
19. Saudi Arabia
- Attack helicopters in military: 34
- Total military aircraft fleet : 897 (#12 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: S-70/i/UH-60L/M
- Defense expenditure (2022) $75 billion (#5 most of 172)
18. India
- Attack helicopters in military: 36
- Total military aircraft fleet : 2,210 (#4 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-17
- Defense expenditure (2022) $81.4 billion (#4 most of 172)
17. Iraq
- Attack helicopters in military: 40
- Total military aircraft fleet : 361 (#31 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-8/171
- Defense expenditure (2022) $4.7 billion (#45 most of 172)
16. Sudan
- Attack helicopters in military: 43
- Total military aircraft fleet : 191 (#51 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-24/35
- Defense expenditure (2022) N/A
15. Jordan
- Attack helicopters in military: 44
- Total military aircraft fleet : 256 (#37 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: AH-1E/F
- Defense expenditure (2022) $2.3 billion (#60 most of 172)
14. Israel
- Attack helicopters in military: 48
- Total military aircraft fleet : 601 (#19 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: AH-64A/D
- Defense expenditure (2022) $23.4 billion (#15 most of 172)
13. Algeria
- Attack helicopters in military: 50
- Total military aircraft fleet : 547 (#21 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-8/17/171
- Defense expenditure (2022) $9.1 billion (#26 most of 172)
12. Germany
- Attack helicopters in military: 55
- Total military aircraft fleet : 601 (#18 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: CH-53G/GA/GS
- Defense expenditure (2022) $55.8 billion (#7 most of 172)
11. Pakistan
- Attack helicopters in military: 58 (tied)
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,413 (#7 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: AH-1F
- Defense expenditure (2022) $10.3 billion (#24 most of 172)
10. Italy
- Attack helicopters in military: 58 (tied)
- Total military aircraft fleet : 850 (#13 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: AW129
- Defense expenditure (2022) $33.5 billion (#12 most of 172)
9. France
- Attack helicopters in military: 69
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,004 (#10 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: SA342
- Defense expenditure (2022) $53.6 billion (#8 most of 172)
8. Taiwan
- Attack helicopters in military: 91
- Total military aircraft fleet : 737 (#14 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: AH-1W
- Defense expenditure (2022) $12.5 billion (#21 most of 172)
7. Egypt
- Attack helicopters in military: 92
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,069 (#8 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: SA342
- Defense expenditure (2022) $4.6 billion (#46 most of 172)
6. Turkey
- Attack helicopters in military: 110
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,065 (#9 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: UH-1H
- Defense expenditure (2022) $10.6 billion (#23 most of 172)
5. South Korea
- Attack helicopters in military: 112
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,602 (#5 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: MD500
- Defense expenditure (2022) $46.4 billion (#9 most of 172)
4. Japan
- Attack helicopters in military: 119
- Total military aircraft fleet : 1,451 (#6 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: UH-1J
- Defense expenditure (2022) $46 billion (#10 most of 172)
3. China
- Attack helicopters in military: 281
- Total military aircraft fleet : 3,166 (#3 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-17/171
- Defense expenditure (2022) $292 billion (#2 most of 172)
2. Russia
- Attack helicopters in military: 537
- Total military aircraft fleet : 4,182 (#2 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Mi-8/17/171
- Defense expenditure (2022) $86.4 billion (#3 most of 172)
1. United States
- Attack helicopters in military: 983
- Total military aircraft fleet : 13,300 (#1 most of 145)
- Most common combat helicopter: Black Hawk
- Defense expenditure (2022) $876.9 billion (#1 most of 172)
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