10 Largest Combat Air Forces in the World

5. Egyptian Air Force: 900 combat aircraft

The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) is, in general, very large; it operates over 1,300 aircraft in total and has over 50,000 personnel. Amongst its combat aircraft is a huge number of F-16 Fighting Falcons: the EAF has 240 of them. With 321 armed helicopters also at its disposal, the EAF is a force to be reckoned with.

4. Indian Air Force: 1,080 combat aircraft

Dating back to 1932, the Indian Air Force is massive, with an estimated 127,000 personnel looking after the aircraft. India can even assemble its own aircraft, producing hundreds of Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighters under license from Russia. The Indian Air Force also uses a fighter that was used to fly many successful sorties during the Gulf War, the SEPECAT Jaguar (France/UK).

3. People’s Liberation Army Air Force (China): 1,500 combat aircraft

Taking a huge leap over India’s air force is the might of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), with approximately 1,500 combat aircraft. Statistics for the PLAAF are staggering: 330,000 active personnel operating over 2,500 aircraft. The Chinese also build their own fighters and bombers, such as the Mach 2.35-capable Shenyang J-11 and the Xian H-6 that can carry over 20,000 lbs of free-fall bombs. In direct conflict, there would be very few nations that could contain, never mind overpower, the Chinese Air Force.

2. Russian Air Force: 1,900 combat aircraft

Formed in 1992 from the old Soviet Air Forces (which had 6,100 fighters, bombers and attack aircraft in 1990), the Russian Air Force has had to slim down because of financial constraints. However, more money has been given to this combat arm in the last few years and now it can operate with some fearsome aircraft. The Mikoyan MiG-31 “Foxhound” can fly at speeds of Mach 2.83 (1,860 mph) and has a service ceiling of 67,600 ft. The huge Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber can carry 88,185 lbs of weapons and fly at an impressive 1,380 mph.

1. United States Air Force: 3,318 combat aircraft

The USAF’s 1,245 F-16 Fighting Falcons alone could occupy fourth place on this list – and that’s just one type of combat aircraft! There are also the hundreds of F-15E Strike Eagles and the dozens of F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs. If that wasn’t enough, there are the giant strategic bombers the USAF has at its disposal, such as the famous Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the futuristic Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, better known as the Stealth Bomber. The USAF has an amazing array of aircraft in its fleet, not forgetting the utterly terrifying Lockheed AC-130 (variant names: AC-130 Spectre/Spooky/ Ghostrider/Stinger II). This beast, with its capability to even operate a 105mm M102 howitzer amongst its multiple armaments, is enough to send many air forces packing on its own. Only the USAF operates them, and they have over 30 of them.