As of January 2026, a list of countries with the largest air forces in the world has been announced. The list was prepared based on Global Firepower data, showing both the total number of military aircraft and the number of fighters separately.
Modern.az reports that the USA leads the list with a clear difference. The total number of military aircraft in the US is 13,032, of which 1,791 are fighters and interceptors. Russia is in second place. This country's total aircraft fleet is 4,237, of which 861 are in the fighter and interceptor category. China is in third place. China has a total of 3,529 military aircraft, with 1,443 fighters.
India and South Korea are in the subsequent places. India has 2,183 total aircraft, of which 476 are fighters. In South Korea, 242 out of 1,540 total aircraft are fighters. Japan is on the list with 1,429 total aircraft and 217 fighters. Pakistan has 1,397 total aircraft, and 331 of them are fighters.
Turkey is on the list with 1,101 total aircraft. 201 of these aircraft are in the fighter/interceptor category. Egypt has 1,088 total aircraft, of which 242 are fighters. France's air force has 974 total aircraft and 223 fighters. Saudi Arabia is on the list with 917 total aircraft and 283 fighters. North Korea has 837 total aircraft, 341 fighter/interceptors. Taiwan has 720 total aircraft and 258 fighters.
Italy is on the list with 714 total aircraft and 88 fighters. In Great Britain, 103 out of 625 total aircraft are fighters. Algeria has 620 total aircraft, and 111 of them are fighters. Israel stands out with 597 total aircraft and 239 fighters. The United Arab Emirates has 581 total aircraft and 99 fighters. Germany has 569 total aircraft, 127 fighters.
At the end of the list is Greece. This country has 560 total aircraft, and 178 of them are in the fighter category.
