Recently, Ukraine announced it had launched a major attack against a key target in Russia, destroying multiple fighter jets. The Ukrainians used drones to target the Russian airbase in the Rostov region this April. In May, Ukraine again claimed to have caused damage to a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Fighter Jet. The reason for Ukraine’s focus on removing Russian military aircraft is clear. Russia has the third most fighter jets of any country in the world, and Russia’s military has been attacking strategic sites across Ukraine via its formidable air force.
24/7 Wall St. is bringing you a list of the top 21 countries with the most fighter jets in the world, and the country at number one is way ahead of the pack. We used data from the 2023 report, World Air Forces, from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website to bring you this list. We based our rankings on the number of fighter jets in each country’s active military fleet. Additionally, we’re providing you with information on t the overall fleet size and the most common fighter jet (via FlightGlobal.) We’ve added military expenditure amounts from 2022 using data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Database.
You may not be surprised to hear the United States and China are in the lead, both vying for air dominance in the Pacific. Both countries have extensive defense budgets which they use to invest in their impressively large, and technologically advanced air forces.
Russia, as we mentioned above, is another prominent global contender, recognized for its fighter jet fleet, which includes over 1,500 aircraft. While smaller in total quantity compared to the U.S., Russia has earned praise for specific fighter jets. The Russian Su-57 and the well-established and dependable MiG-29 and Su-30, represent the foundation of the Russian fighter fleet.
Countries like the United States, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan feature prominently on the list. Notably, nations with the largest aircraft fleets typically own more fighter jets and allocate higher amounts to their military budgets.
As these nations strive to maintain or expand their strategic influence, the importance of fighter aircraft in modern warfare will continue to be significant. Here’s an overview of the 21 countries with the largest fighter jet fleets.
Here are the countries with the largest fighter jet fleets:
Why Are We Covering This?
The first fighter jets changed the course of warfare during World War II when the German Me 262 attacked a British aircraft in 1944. Since then, fighter jets have evolved tremendously, with the U.S. currently testing jets piloted by artificial intelligence. Driven by the competition with China, these new technologies are sure to lead the shift of what’s to come with fighter jets around the world. 24/7 wants you to be aware of which countries are leading the race to have the airforce with the most fighter jets in its arsenal.
21. Singapore
Singapore has 100 fighter jets in its military (22.1% of the total fleet.) With 453 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 40 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16C/D (with 60 aircraft). Singapore’s defense expenditure is not listed in Stokholm’s database.
20. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has 145 fighter jets in its military (21.9% of the total fleet.) With 663 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 16 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Eurofighter Typhoon (with 119 aircraft). The UK’s defense expenditure is $68.5 billion (6 out of 172).
19. Spain
Spain has 152 fighter jets in its military (29.4% of the total fleet.) With 517 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 23 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the EF-18M/F/A-18A (with 72 aircraft). Spain’s defense expenditure is $20.3 billion (16 most of 172).
18. Greece
Greece has 193 fighter jets in its military (30.4% of the total fleet.) With 635 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 17 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16C (with 114 aircraft). The Greek defense expenditure is $8.1 billion (31 most of 172).
17. Germany
Germany has 209 fighter jets in its military (34.8% of the total fleet.) With 601 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 18 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Eurofighter (with 134 aircraft). Germany’s defense expenditure is $55.8 billion (7 most of 172).
16. Iran
Iran has 219 fighter jets in its military (40.5% of the total fleet.) With 541 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 22 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Eurofighter F-4D/E/RF-4E (with 63 aircraft). Iran’s defense expenditure is $6.8 billion (34 most of 172).
15. Turkey
Turkey has 225 fighter jets in its military (21.1% of the total fleet.) With 1,065 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 9 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16C (with 157 aircraft). Turkey’s defense expenditure is $10.6 billion (23 most of 172).
14. France
France has 226 fighter jets in its military (22.5% of the total fleet.) With 1,004 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 10 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Rafale B/C (with 94 aircraft). France’s defense expenditure is $53.6 billion (8 most of 172).
13. Syria
Syria has 226 fighter jets in its military (49.9% of the total fleet.) With 453 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 29 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the MiG-23 (with 87 aircraft). Syria’s defense expenditure was not listed in the Stockholm database.
12. Japan
Japan has 244 fighter jets in its military (16.8% of the total fleet.) With 1,451 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 6 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-15J (with 155 aircraft). Japan’s defense expenditure is $46.0 billion (10 out of 172).
11. Israel
Israel has 273 fighter jets in its military (45.4% of the total fleet.) With 601 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 19 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16C/I (with 175 aircraft). Israel’s defense expenditure is $23.4 billion (15 out of 172).
10. Taiwan
Taiwan has 285 fighter jets in its military (38.7% of the total fleet.) With 737 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 14 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16A/V (with 110 aircraft). Taiwan’s defense expenditure is $12.5 billion (21 out of 172).
9. Egypt
Egypt has 333 fighter jets in its military (31.2% of the total fleet.) With 1,069 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 8 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16A/C (with 168 aircraft). Egypt’s defense expenditure is $4.6 billion (46 out of 172).
8. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has 364 fighter jets in its military (40.6% of the total fleet.) With 897 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 12 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-15C/S/SA (with 211 aircraft). Egypt’s defense expenditure is $75.0 billion (5 out of 172).
7. Pakistan
Pakistan has 453 fighter jets in its military (32.1% of the total fleet.) With 1,413 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 7 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-7 (with 135 aircraft). Pakistan’s defense expenditure is $10.3 billion (24 out of 172).
6. South Korea
South Korea has 500 fighter jets in its military (31.2% of the total fleet.) With 1,602 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 5 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-5E (with 156 aircraft). South Korea’s defense expenditure is $46.4 billion (9 out of 172).
5. North Korea
North Korea has 572 fighter jets in its military (60.4% of the total fleet.) With 947 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 11 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-7 (with 120 aircraft). North Korea’s defense expenditure is not listed in the Stockholm database.
4. India
India has 707 fighter jets in its military (32.0% of the total fleet.) With 2,210 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 4 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Su-30 (with 248 aircraft). India’s defense expenditure is $81.4 billion (4 out of 172).
3. Russia
Russia has 1,517 fighter jets in its military (36.3% of the total fleet.) With 4,182 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 2 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the Su-27/30/35 (with 353 aircraft). Russia’s defense expenditure is $86.4 billion (3 out of 172).
2. China
China has 1,570 fighter jets in its military (49.6% of the total fleet.) With 3,166 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 3 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the J-7 (with 387 aircraft). China’s defense expenditure is $292.0 billion (2 out of 172).
1. United States
The United States has 2,757 fighter jets in its military (20.7% of the total fleet.) With 13,300 total military aircraft in the fleet, the country ranks 1 out of 145 overall. The most common fighter jet in the fleet is the F-16C (with 775 aircraft). The U.S. defense expenditure is $876.9 billion (1 out of 172).
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