World’s largest air forces ranked by number of active duty pilots

Japan's air force relies on a small group of around 2,000 men and women qualified for flight duties within a total workforce nearing 50,000. Training typically begins at Hamamatsu on T-7 trainers before progressing through advanced stages and eventually into operational units flying Mitsubishi F-15J Eagles or Lockheed Martin-derived F-2 Vipers. Increasingly more Japanese aviators are being trained directly for the F-35A stealth fighter.

In India, there is a shortfall between authorized cockpit billets (4,239) and available pilots (about 3,834). About half of India's fighters and most trainers are based on Russian designs. Challenges such as delayed spare parts from Russia have forced squadron commanders to rotate fewer flyable jets among more pilots. Squadron Leader Mohana Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to fly India’s Tejas jet last September in what was described as a significant milestone for gender equality.

China's People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is expanding rapidly with about 4,000 active-duty pilots supporting both land-based operations and naval aviation needs. Chinese training programs include institutions like the Air Force Aviation University in Changchun and Naval Aviation University in Yantai. The ex-US Marine Daniel Duggan faces extradition from Australia over allegations he assisted Chinese military pilot training between 2008 and 2012; he denies these charges.

Russia's air force maintains about 4,000 aviators but faces increasing difficulty replenishing losses due to ongoing combat operations since the start of conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Losses among experienced officers have created personnel gaps despite efforts to shorten training cycles.

Pilot numbers fluctuate worldwide as countries respond differently: some like China expand their fleets while others like Russia and the US struggle with recruitment shortages.