Quantcast

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

Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
EasyJet to launch 11 new flight routes from small UK airport named the best in Europe
Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
50 New Routes Launching In September 2025
JetBlue's Network Shake-Up: Its Top 10 Routes This Month
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
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike - Wikipedia
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

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event will take place at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel in Brussels.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, to bring a curated selection of anime content to its flights.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has been recognized as one of the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, marking its return to the list since 2019.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines marked its 100th anniversary by serving as the official airline of the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston.

Oct 23, 2025

American Airlines has announced that it will upgrade its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new Flagship Suites, the airline's latest business-class product.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce a new in-flight dining partnership with Chef José Andrés, bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to select cabins starting November 4.

Oct 23, 2025