WORLD AIR FORCES 2020 IN ASSOCIATION WITH 1 | FlightGlobal WORLD AIR FORCES 2020 Mission success is no CONTENTS coincidence. Rely on aircraft and components ANALYSIS 4 Worldwide top 10 active aircraft types 5 maintained by us. Worldwide active fleet per region 6-7 Fleet size for leading countries by role 8-9 WORLD AIR FORCES World air forces directory 10-33 The information contained in our databases and used in this presentation has been assembled from many sources, and whilst reasonable care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the information is supplied on the understanding that no legal liability whatsoever shall attach to FlightGlobal, its offices, or employees in respect of any error or omission that may have occurred. ©2019 FlightGlobal, part of DVV Media International Ltd 2 | FlightGlobal FlightGlobal | 3 www.ruag.com Ins_World_Air_Forces_2020_197x267mm_Comp.indd 1 17.12.19 10:49 WORLD AIR FORCES WORLD AIR FORCES WORLDCover story AIR FORCES 2020 WORLD AIR FORCESDirectory 2020 WORLDWIDE TOP 10 ACTIVE AIRCRAFT TYPES Combat aircraft Combat helicopter Transport Type Active fleet Share Type Active fleet Share Type Active fleet Share 1 F-16 2,280 16% 1 S-70/SH/UH-60 3,913 19% 1 C-130/L-100 869 20% Political 2 Su-27/30 1,067 7% 2 Mi-8/17 2,865 14% 2 King Air 281 7% 3 F-15 949 7% 3 UH-1 1,289 6% 3 C295/CN235 278 7% 4 F-18 869 6% 4 AH-64 1,211 6% 4 C-17 275 7% 5 MiG-29 791 5% 5 Mi-24/35 969 5% 5 An-24/26 260 6% powerplays 6 Eurofighter Typhoon 500 3% 6 CH-47 906 5% 6 Il-76 195 5% 6 Su-25 487 3% 7 MD500/530 697 3% 7 An-30/32 140 3% 8 J-7 418 3% 8 AH-1 549 3% 8 Cessna 208 139 3% 9 Su-24 391 3% 9 SA341/342 483 2% 9 Y-8 100 2% 10 F-5 391 3% 10 H145 390 2% 10 C212 91 2% Other 6,453 44% Other 7,217 35% Other 1,634 38% Total 14,596 100% Total 20,489 100% Total 4,262 100% Japan and Norway both declared initial aircraft and the asset will initially support by the airframer, it has handed over 23 to operational capability with their A-model training activities at NAS Jacksonville in date this year. Our data also shows a year-on- fleets in 2019, Singapore confirmed its inten- Florida. The service will follow the USN, year increase in the number of Airbus De- tion to buy at least four for evaluation pur- Australia and India in fielding the 737NG- fence & Space A400Ms now available to per- poses, and Poland advanced a request to buy derived platform operationally, with Norway form air-to-air refuelling tasks with 32 to meet its fleet renewal needs. UK-owned also having ordered the type, and New fixed-wing receivers. The French air force F-35Bs also made their first landings aboard Zealand and South Korea intending to also welcomed its first of two Lockheed KC- the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen follow suit. 130J tankers during the year. Elizabeth. Due to be delivered from 2020, the United Embraer’s delivery of a first C/KC-390 Lockheed’s venerable F-16 also continues Arab Emirates’ Bombardier Global 6000- transport/tanker to the Brazilian air force US inventory dominates our to secure business, with orders from Bahrain, based GlobalEye surveillance aircraft fleet was another significant milestone recorded World Air Forces listing, Bulgaria, Morocco and Slovakia on its books. appears set to grow further, with the nation in 2019. India, meanwhile, flew the last with a 25% share of total US Air Force Air US Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet line is also revealing at the Dubai air show that it could production example of Boeing’s C-17 to its healthy, with the USN having signed for a increase its current orders for three to five. home base. CRAIG HOYLE LONDON Foreign policy clashes reshaped defence procurement in further 78. Tanker numbers are also on the rise, large- Rotorcraft sales during the year included The global Rafale operators club now num- ly resulting from the introduction of the US steps among eastern European NATO nations perations at home and inter­ 2019 as international tension between the USA and Turkey bers four members, with Dassault having Air Force’s (USAF’s) 767-based KC-46A. De- to renew their fleets, such as the Czech nationally remained the key grew. Our annual review looks at military fleets worldwide delivered its first examples to India and Qatar spite teething problems still being addressed Republic selecting Bell’s AH-1Z and UH-1Y, ❯❯ focus for military air arms of all during the year. The nations follow France sizes in 2019, while geopolitics and lead export customer Egypt in introduc- France has taken Oand seemingly shifting alliances also also launched the formal process of removing Communist Party rule. Its fleet of Chengdu ing the type. delivery of its first prompted notable alterations to some of their Turkish companies from Lockheed’s indust­ J­20 fighters also continues to grow, with Saab also made its first Gripen E deliveries KC-130J tanker procurement plans. rial supply chain for the Lightning II. Cirium fleets data showing 15 as now in to the air forces of Sweden and Brazil, to sup- In what was one of the biggest defence Erdogan’s response was belligerent, active use. port their respective evaluations and service developments of the year, a period of describing Ankara’s procurement decisions as Beyond ongoing campaigns over Iraq and preparations for the new-generation fighter. brinkmanship between Turkish President a wholly sovereign matter. His next move will Syria and within Afghanistan, international In the special mission sector, the UK Royal Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his counterpart be of intrigue, but also could prove more dam­ focus was placed on new tensions in the Mid­ Air Force (RAF) has received its first Boeing Donald Trump’s US administration came to a aging to the country’s NATO credentials. dle East. These included a Saudi Arabian oil P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol spectacular conclusion in July. While Turkish Aerospace is working on its refinery being attacked by unmanned air vehi­ Having repeatedly warned Ankara that it own TF­X fighter design, Erdogan toured the cles in response to its continuing offensive in Global military fleet would not tolerate a NATO ally purchasing MAKS Moscow air show with Russian Presi­ Yemen, and Iran shooting down a US Navy Almaz­Antey S­400 Triumf long­range air­de­ dent Vladimir Putin in August, and was (USN) Northrop Grumman RQ­4C Triton over Country Active fleet Share fence systems from Russia, Washington made offered co­operation on the Sukhoi Su­35 and the Persian Gulf. 1 USA 13,266 25% good with its threat and for the first time eject­ Su­57 fighters. 2 Russia 4,163 8% ed a partner nation from Lockheed Martin’s Russia, meanwhile, provided its own boost F-35 ADVANCES 3 China 3,210 6% F­35 programme. to the Su­57 programme in June, by signing a Despite its orders reversal with Turkey, the 4 India 2,123 4% With four examples having already been deal to acquire 76 production examples. It has F­35 programme had a good year, with Lock­ 5 South Korea 1,649 3% handed over to the Turkish customer to sup­ also accelerated its service plans for the heed and the US Department of Defense 6 Japan 1,561 3% port multinational training activities in the aircraft, which now call for three full agreeing a multi­year contract worth $34 bil­ 7 Pakistan 1,372 2% USA, Ankara’s plans to field an eventual 100 regiments to be operating the type by 2028. lion for up to 478 examples. The airframer 8 France 1,229 2% conventional take­off and landing F­35As Other notable developments in the combat and its suppliers have made further progress 9 Turkey 1,055 2% were denied immediately after the first S­400 aircraft sphere during 2019 included China with driving down the fifth­generation type’s 10 Egypt 1,054 2% system elements arrived on Turkish soil. flying upgraded Harbin H­6K strategic bomb­ acquisition costs, and the global operational Other 23,208 43% In addition to blocking any future purchases ers during a show of strength above Beijing on fleet is now only three shy of 400 units, in­ Total 53,890 100% of its stealthy combat aircraft, this measure 1 October to mark the 70th anniversary of cluding 165 examples dedicated to training. Martin Lockheed 26 | Flight International | 10-16 December 2019 flightglobal.com flightglobal.com 10-16 December 2019 | Flight International | 27 4 | FlightGlobal FlightGlobal | 5 FIN_101219_026-031.indd 26 05/12/2019 11:47:28 FIN_101219_026-031.indd 27 05/12/2019 13:02:42 WORLD AIR FORCES WORLD AIR FORCES WORLDCover story AIR FORCES 2020 WORLD AIR FORCESDirectory 2020 Worldwide active Russia & CIS fleet by region % Year-on-year 2 fleet change Middle East Europe % North America % Year-on-year 1 fleet change % Year-on-year0 fleet change Year-on-year-1 fleet change Asia-Pacific 0% Year-on-year Africa fleet change % Our data provides the regional split in Latin America -1 active aircraft by type category, along Year-on-year % fleet change with the year-on-year percentage shift - 4 in air power fleets around the globe Year-on-year fleet change North America Latin America Europe Africa Middle East Russia & CIS Asia-Pacific Combat aircraft 2,719 Combat aircraft 480 Combat aircraft 2,066 Combat aircraft 888 Combat aircraft 1,441 Combat aircraft 1,964 Combat aircraft 5,038 Special mission 765 Special mission 148 Special mission 246 Special mission 60 Special mission 91 Special mission 127 Special mission 514 Tanker 620 Tanker 11 Tanker 62 Tanker 5 Tanker 44 Tanker 19 Tanker 41 Transport 983 Transport 497 Transport 631 Transport 415 Transport 258 Transport 470 Transport 1,011 Combat helicopter 5,594 Combat helicopter 1,228 Combat helicopter 3,525