NATO aircraft strength by type 2023 | Statista (2024)

FAQs

Who has the strongest Air Force in NATO? ›

As of 2024, the United States was estimated to have 13,209 aircraft in its armed forces, more than the other 31 member states of NATO combined.

The United States had the highest number of military ships among NATO allies in 2023, at 472, compared with Sweden, which had 353, the second-highest in the military alliance. Several countries in the alliance have no military ships, the majority of which are landlocked countries, such as Hungary and Czechia.

NATO members collectively had approximately 22,308 military aircraft units in 2024, with 7,490 of these being non-combat helicopters. A further 3,275 units were fighter jets or interceptors.

As of 2024, NATO countries were estimated to have 323 patrol boats under their command, compared with 16 aircraft carriers.

In the air, Nato has four times as many military helicopters and eight times as many transport aircraft compared with Russia. Significantly, it has triple the amount of fighter jets that Russia has. Furthermore, Russia is thought to be losing aircraft 20 times faster than they can be replaced during the war in Ukraine.

Bhutan has the weakest military in the world, followed by Moldova and Suriname, according to Global Firepower's Military Strength Rankings for 2024, which has assessed 145 countries.

The Turkish Armed Forces is the second largest standing military force in NATO, after the U.S. Armed Forces. Turkey is one of five NATO member states which are part of the nuclear sharing policy of the alliance, together with Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

About 253 MiG-29/35 combined in service according to World Air Forces. As of 2016, the Russian Armed Forces has 247 MiG-31B/MiG-31BS/MiG-31BM/MiG-31BSM in service. 129 MiG-31BM in service as of 2022. As of 10 May 2024 at least one MiG-31BM has been lost in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

How many fighter jets does China have? ›

The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates a large and varied fleet of some 4,000 aircraft, of which around 2,566 are combat aircraft (fighter, attack, and bombers). According to FlightGlobal, China has the second-largest active combat aircraft fleet and the third-largest total aircraft fleet in the world.

There are a number of formidable navies within NATO, not just Sweden. The United States is by far considered the strongest naval power in the world, boasting 11 aircraft carriers.

In recent years, Greek pilots have been achieving the highest distinction between crews from Nato countries in the school TLP (Tactical Leadership Program) of NATO in Spain. This year, pilot Vasilis Kalogeridis has been named NATO's best pilot according to a voting amongst his peers.

The Turkish Armed Forces is the second largest standing military force in NATO, after the U.S. Armed Forces. Turkey is one of five NATO member states which are part of the nuclear sharing policy of the alliance, together with Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The Supreme Allied

The SACEUR is responsible to NATO's Military Committee, the highest military authority in NATO, for the overall direction and conduct of military operations for NATO.

Today, 16 May 2024, NATO's highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, meets in Chiefs of Defence format at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.