Quantcast

U.S. maintains lead in global air power with largest military aircraft fleet

Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Aviation sector faces steeper losses in FY26; passenger growth slows amid headwinds: ICRA - The Times of India
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
The aviation industry just got exactly what it wanted from Trump's EU deal
Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
U.S. maintains lead in global air power with largest military aircraft fleet
Policy
Webp ah 64
AH-64 Apache | Wikipedia

The number of military aircraft in air forces worldwide is constantly changing. While some nations, like China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), have been expanding, others such as the United States and Russia are seeing reductions. Despite these shifts, the United States remains the leader in air power according to data from World Population Review.

"America has more military aircraft between the US Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Army than the next nine members of the top ten combined," highlighting its overwhelming advantage over other nations. The US Armed Forces' closest competitor is Russia, but the qualitative and quantitative gap remains significant.

The United States Air Force alone operates 5,004 military aircraft of all types. The US Army Aviation follows with 4,333 helicopters, making it the second-largest air force globally. The US Navy ranks fourth with a total of 2,504 aircraft, while the US Marines rank seventh internationally with 1,211 tactical helicopters and jets.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Globally ranked by fleet count:

1. USA - 14,486

2. Russia - 4,211

3. China - 3,304

4. India - 2,296

5. Japan - 1,459

In terms of fighter jets specifically:

"The United States has far more airworthy fighters than any other force on the planet." This includes a substantial number of fifth-generation aircraft compared to other countries.

For strategic strike capabilities involving bombers:

China leads with a bomber count of 209 while "the tiny fleet of 19 Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is one of the most precious and important strategic assets in the entire US military."

Regarding helicopter fleets:

"When it comes to helo-power," the US Army dominates with over 4,000 helicopters including Boeing AH-64 Apaches.

For cargo planes:

"This is another area where the USAF is a juggernaut," owning almost 700 fixed-wing cargo planes including Lockheed C-5 Galaxies capable of transporting heavy tanks globally.

Overall rankings highlight that despite various advancements by other countries in specific areas or technologies such as stealth or tiltrotor aircrafts—the United States maintains superiority across multiple dimensions within its air force capabilities.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Hainan Airlines announced on X that it is offering rewards to eligible inbound passengers who book accommodations through designated Marriott channels from September 15 to December 31, 2025.

Oct 24, 2025

Japan Airlines has announced via the social media platform X that its partner, Malaysia Airlines, will introduce the Airbus A330neo on the Tokyo (Narita)–Kuala Lumpur route.

Oct 24, 2025

Allegiant Air recently highlighted a couple whose long-distance relationship between Lexington, Kentucky, and St. Pete, Florida, was sustained through the airline's flights.

Oct 24, 2025

MOST, an aviation technology firm, has announced on LinkedIn that it releases new features for its onboard retail and payment platform every two weeks, providing automatic updates at no extra cost.

Oct 24, 2025

Amazon Air announced on Instagram that its Women Air group hosted a wellness event at the KSBD facility in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Oct 24, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines announced on X that it has reinsaid flights to Port Sudan, with daily service starting on October 15, 2025, and increasing to two daily flights on November 1, 2025.

Oct 24, 2025