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China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has surpassed Russia to become the world’s second most powerful air force, marking a major shift in the global military balance. Backed by a decade of investments in advanced fighter jets, stealth technology and electronic warfare, China now boasts the largest modern combat aircraft fleet outside the US. But where does India stand in the global air power rankings?
China overtakes Russia to become world’s No. 2 air force
China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has emerged as the world’s second most powerful air force, pushing Russia to third place. The development reflects Beijing’s long-term efforts to modernize its military capabilities.
China has up to 2500 fighterjJets in its fleet
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According to open-source military estimates, China operates between 2,000 and 2,500 fighter aircraft and has around 110-130 fighter formations. It also possesses more than 2,184 combat-capable platforms.
A decade of military modernization
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China’s rise has been driven by massive investments in domestic aerospace production, stealth fighter development, electronic warfare systems and integrated sensor networks, particularly with the Indo-Pacific region in mind.
Russia falls behind after years of war
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Russia currently has an estimated 1,300-1,500 fighter aircraft. Years of operational losses, industrial challenges, Western sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine have weakened its air power advantage.
Where does India rank?
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According to the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA), the Indian Air Force is the fourth most powerful air force globally. The ranking is based on its True Value Rating (TvR), which factors in technology, pilot training, logistics and indigenous capabilities.
India operates up to 1900 military aircraft
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Data from WDMMA and FlightGlobal suggest that India has between 1,700 and 1,900 military aircraft, including fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and trainers. The Indian Air Force has more than 500 fighter aircraft in service.
