The World’s Largest Air Forces By Fighter Jet Numbers

US air superiority has been unsurpassed for 30 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The numbers are staggeringly in favor of the United States, but the introduction of new aircraft systems and varying force readiness levels around the world reveal more to the story. Washington and Moscow struggle with recruitment shortages that result in undercrewed squadrons, while Beijing is pushing to expand both its fleet and ranks rapidly, as historical trend data from World Population Review reveals.

Thanks to long-range missiles, sophisticated networking, and uncrewed systems, smaller near-peer adversary forces are a greater threat than ever before to their numerically superior American counterparts. Some sources, such as the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft, attempt to address qualitative air power through rating systems. However, this ranking will not delve into that aspect.

Japan’s Growing Shield: 253 Fighters

Credit: US Air Force

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force fields roughly 49,900 uniformed and civilian personnel. Its inventory features a balanced force of helicopters, fighters, transports, tankers, and trainers. In total, there are 1,459 aircraft of all types, according to WDMMA figures. On the tip of the spear are F-35A Lightning IIs, Mitsubishi F-2s, and upgraded Mitsubishi F-15Js. The newest is the F-35A Lightning II.

This stealth aircraft was built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works with help from a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries final-assembly line in Nagoya. Its smooth, radar-defeating design and powerful onboard computers let pilots see threats first and strike from long range. The Joint Strike Fighter, or JSF as the F-35 is also known, will be the country’s front line air defense fighter for years to come. Backing it up is the home-grown Mitsubishi F-2.

This jet is a slightly larger, Japan-tailored cousin of the F-16. It was designed with the nation’s island geography in mind, so it can patrol vast stretches of open ocean, hunt ships, or defend airspace. Although it first flew in the 1990s, steady upgrades keep it ready for the latest threats. However, the workhorse of Japan’s air defense remains the F-15J Eagle, even as the F-35 is introduced. These twin-engine fighters are based on the Boeing design and built by Mitsubishi under license.

Relying on superior performance in speed, altitude, and weapons loadout, the Eagle is a force to be reckoned with. Many are being modernized so they can share data more easily with the newer F-35s on the battlefield of the future. Looking ahead, Japan has ordered the carrier-capable, short and vertical take off or landing F-35B. It will fly from its large helicopter carrier, the Izumo, to project power at sea. Japan is the world’s largest F-35 operator after the US, with 147 delivered or on order.

India’s Evolving Force: 578 Fighters

Credit: US Air Force

India’s combined air forces showcase an unusually diverse inventory spanning three continents of origin with domestic designs, Russian imports, and Western platforms. The fighter fleet demonstrates this eclectic procurement strategy well. It has Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKIs and Mikoyan MiG-29s flying alongside French Dassault Rafales and Mirage 2000s, as well as SEPECAT Jaguars from the United Kingdom, and the indigenous HAL Tejas.

Following recent skirmishes with Pakistan, India’s military has accelerated its push to modernize and indigenize its fighter jet fleet. The domestic Light Combat Aircraft, the HAL Tejas, is central to the vision for the future force of the IAF. A more advanced variant, the Tejas Mark 1A, is entering full-scale production to replace the retiring MiG-21s and bolster the IAF’s squadron strength. The IAF’s Dassault Mirage 2000s have also undergone modernization programs.

Credit: US Air Force

These will ensure that they remain relevant in the air-to-ground mission. The SEPECAT Jaguar is a vintage strike aircraft, designated for retirement following the iconic MiG-21 Bison, which was finally retired in September 2025. Lockheed Martin has proposed establishing an Indian production line for the F-21 (a customized F-16 variant), Russia is offering an export version of its Su-57 stealth fighter, and US President Donald Trump reportedly extended an offer to supply F-35s.

India is reportedly investing heavily in a ‘Super Sukhoi’ upgrade for many of the existing aircraft, aiming to enhance their radar, avionics, and weapons systems. The IAF is also considering purchasing additional Rafales to augment its fleet. Alongside these front-line fighters, India still operates the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UPG, an upgraded variant with improved avionics and radar for the air-superiority role.

The Russian Federation: 1,147 Fighters

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Russia retains one of the world’s largest fighter fleets, but the conflict in Ukraine has exposed the gap between numbers on paper and real combat power. Advanced jets like the Sukhoi Su-57 remain more showcases than game-changers, while older but more numerous Su-30s, Su-34s, and Su-35s carry the burden. The war has also ignited interest in drones, with Russia testing the S-70 ‘Okhotnik-B‘ large stealth drone. However, The War Zone notes that it was shot down by friendly forces.

Ukrainian long-range drones and sabotage teams have successfully struck Russian bases with high-value fighter and bomber airframes. The unexpected attack deep behind the borders prompted increased dispersal of fighters to more remote airfields. Roughly 170,000 personnel, including pilots, maintenance crews, support specialists, and administrators, serve in Russia’s Aerospace Force, which is one of the largest components of the nation’s 1.32-million-strong total military staffing.

As detailed above, Russia’s tactical air inventory is a mix of Soviet legacy planes, modernized jets, and next-generation platforms. The war in Ukraine has changed the VVS with attrition for both planes and crews, and losses have forced Russian fighters to operate from behind the front line, reducing the ability to provide close-air support. Instead of deep penetration, Russian crews now release long-range air-launched missiles or glide bombs from inside Russia or airspace over occupied land.

Production delays have been exacerbated by sanctions, which have cut the supply of microelectronics, radar components, and composites. Naval aviation has hit its lowest point in history with the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov stuck in dock, as the National Interest reported. It has suffered multiple fires and crippling mechanical issues. The Blue Water Navy and its air wing have essentially been abandoned, and the pilots and planes have been retasked to support land-based squadrons.

China’s PLAAF: 2,157 Fighters

Credit: PLAAF

China’s fighter fleet is stocked with a mix of home-grown designs and aircraft inspired by Russian blueprints. The star of the show is the J-20, a sleek stealth fighter that debuted publicly in 2016 and is seen in growing numbers every day. It is designed to be a 5th-Gen fighter, much like America’s F-22 Raptor, and represents China’s bid to join the exclusive club of nations fielding truly advanced stealth fighters. Its capability is likely less of a true fighter, however.

Indeed, the J-20 is more of a hunter that targets high-value assets like airborne command planes or tankers. Beijing releases precious little information about its military, but there has been remarkable growth of both the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and the aviation arm of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. These two branches, together, form the aerial backbone of the overall People’s Liberation Army.

First, the Kusnetsov’s sister-ship, the ski-jump Liaoning, was inducted. Then the home-built Shandong, and soon the catapult-equipped Fujian, will make China’s naval aviation arm second only to the US Navy. The lighter J-10 fills out the fleet as China’s homegrown answer to jets like the F-16. Single-engine and nimble, it handles air-defense patrols and close-support missions. The J-16 is a heavy, twin-seat fighter-bomber that can haul bombs or missiles over long distances.

It was made with Russian Flanker DNA but outfitted with Chinese-made electronics. The J-16 serves as the first option for strikes against ships, ground targets, or enemy aircraft. Rounding out the inventory are J-11s, which are essentially Chinese-built versions of the Russian Su-27, and older types like the J-7 and J-8 that are gradually being retired.

American Air Superiority: 2,651 Fighters

Credit: US Air Force

The US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, all have their own fighter component forces with unique specializations, and the Air Force alone operates nearly 2,000 of the total fighters America possesses in an airworthy state. The F-22 Raptor is starting to show its age, but will retain the crown of the world’s most lethal air superiority fighter until the Boeing sixth-generation fighter arrives.

The stunning production of F-35 Lightning II stealth light fighters has filled the flightline with more fifth-generation fighters than ever seen before, but the venerable F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon still serve on. The force is transitioning to a level of technology that is unequalled by any other nation and doing so on a scale unheard of. The forthcoming Collaborative Combat Aircraft advanced drone will further augment the crewed jet force as well.

The US Navy has the largest bluewater carrier fleet in the world, and each vessel’s capability far surpasses any rival ship in an adversary’s dock. With its fleet of massive warships divided between the Nimitz and Ford classes, no opposing or allied navy has yet to match it. With the addition of the F-35B vertical-takeoff-or-landing and F-35C carrier variants, the fleet now has fifth-generation stealth fighters as well.