Military

This Country Has the Most Military Helicopters, and It's Not Even Close

United States military helicopter. Combat US air force
Cristi Croitoru / Shutterstock.com

For decades, helicopters have played an integral role in modern warfare due to their versatility and firepower. They fill a range of roles outside of combat including transport, reconnaissance as well as search and rescue. The military strength of a nation is significantly enhanced by its fleet of helicopters, with a larger number of helicopters generally indicative of greater national power. (These were the helicopters used in the Vietnam War.)

The United States, recognized as one of the world’s most powerful military nations, boasts the largest fleet of military helicopters. To a degree, this is a reflection of its superior military infrastructure and technological prowess.

Similarly, Russia and China also maintain extensive helicopter fleets, each equipped with unique models that significantly bolster their air force capabilities. There are a number of other nations with formidable helicopter fleets as well.

Here 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at helicopter fleets around the world. To determine the countries with the most military helicopters, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 military strength report from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. We ranked these countries according to which countries have the most military helicopters. We included supplemental information regarding each country’s current air force and overall military strength ranking.

One of the most pervasive helicopters used throughout these fleets is the AH-64 Apache as a result of its advanced avionics and firepower. It has set a benchmark in helicopter design and has found a place in many air forces around the world. (These countries have the most Apache attack helicopters.)

Here is a look at the countries with the largest fleets of military helicopters:

Why Are We Covering This?

guvendemir / E+ via Getty Images

Military helicopters are a vital part of national defense for many countries, playing key roles in both traditional and asymmetric warfare scenarios. Their evolution continues to influence global military strategies, making them indispensable in modern combat. It goes without saying that countries with the most military helicopters at their disposal

30. Canada

  • Total helicopters: 143
  • Total attack helicopters: 0
  • Total military aircraft: 375
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 65
  • Military strength score: 0.3813 – #27 out of 145

29. Israel

  • Total helicopters: 146
  • Total attack helicopters: 48
  • Total military aircraft: 612
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 280
  • Military strength score: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145

28. Jordan

  • Total helicopters: 148
  • Total attack helicopters: 43
  • Total military aircraft: 265
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 50
  • Military strength score: 1.4651 – #80 out of 145

27. Syria

canaran / iStock via Getty Images
  • Total helicopters: 153
  • Total attack helicopters: 27
  • Total military aircraft: 452
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 225
  • Military strength score: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145

26. Mexico

  • Total helicopters: 178
  • Total attack helicopters: 0
  • Total military aircraft: 462
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 36
  • Military strength score: 0.4274 – #31 out of 145

25. Brazil

Scott Nelson / Getty Images
  • Total helicopters: 195
  • Total attack helicopters: 0
  • Total military aircraft: 628
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 118
  • Military strength score: 0.1944 – #12 out of 145

24. Iraq

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Total helicopters: 197
  • Total attack helicopters: 40
  • Total military aircraft: 371
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 61
  • Military strength score: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145

23. North Korea

Friemann / iStock via Getty Images
  • Total helicopters: 205
  • Total attack helicopters: 20
  • Total military aircraft: 951
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 572
  • Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145

22. Indonesia

marine_corps / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 210
  • Total attack helicopters: 15
  • Total military aircraft: 474
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 78
  • Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145

21. Poland

usarmyeurope_images / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 215
  • Total attack helicopters: 30
  • Total military aircraft: 468
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 93
  • Military strength score: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145

20. Thailand

  • Total helicopters: 231
  • Total attack helicopters: 7
  • Total military aircraft: 501
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 91
  • Military strength score: 0.3389 – #25 out of 145

19. Taiwan

  • Total helicopters: 236
  • Total attack helicopters: 91
  • Total military aircraft: 750
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 286
  • Military strength score: 0.3302 – #24 out of 145

18. United Arab Emirates

  • Total helicopters: 246
  • Total attack helicopters: 30
  • Total military aircraft: 560
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 117
  • Military strength score: 0.8083 – #51 out of 145

17. Colombia

Robert Sullivan / Flickr / Public Domain
  • Total helicopters: 258
  • Total attack helicopters: 0
  • Total military aircraft: 434
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 41
  • Military strength score: 0.7347 – #44 out of 145

16. Saudi Arabia

  • Total helicopters: 262
  • Total attack helicopters: 34
  • Total military aircraft: 914
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 364
  • Military strength score: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145

15. United Kingdom

U.S. Department of Defense / Public Domain / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 276
  • Total attack helicopters: 52
  • Total military aircraft: 664
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 149
  • Military strength score: 0.1443 – #6 out of 145

14. Greece

usarmyeurope_images / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 289
  • Total attack helicopters: 29
  • Total military aircraft: 632
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 194
  • Military strength score: 0.4349 – #32 out of 145

13. Algeria

njnationalguard / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 298
  • Total attack helicopters: 75
  • Total military aircraft: 605
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 144
  • Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

12. Germany

  • Total helicopters: 318
  • Total attack helicopters: 55
  • Total military aircraft: 618
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 209
  • Military strength score: 0.2847 – #19 out of 145

11. Egypt

  • Total helicopters: 338
  • Total attack helicopters: 100
  • Total military aircraft: 1,080
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 326
  • Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145

10. Pakistan

  • Total helicopters: 352
  • Total attack helicopters: 57
  • Total military aircraft: 1,434
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 477
  • Military strength score: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145

9. Italy

usnavy / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 402
  • Total attack helicopters: 57
  • Total military aircraft: 800
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 157
  • Military strength score: 0.1863 – #10 out of 145

8. France

VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total helicopters: 447
  • Total attack helicopters: 69
  • Total military aircraft: 972
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 224
  • Military strength score: 0.1878 – #11 out of 145

7. Turkey

usarmyeurope_images / Flickr
  • Total helicopters: 502
  • Total attack helicopters: 111
  • Total military aircraft: 1,069
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 205
  • Military strength score: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145

6. Japan

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
  • Total helicopters: 577
  • Total attack helicopters: 119
  • Total military aircraft: 1,459
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 253
  • Military strength score: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145

5. South Korea

  • Total helicopters: 758
  • Total attack helicopters: 112
  • Total military aircraft: 1,576
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 452
  • Military strength score: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145

4. India

Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
  • Total helicopters: 869
  • Total attack helicopters: 40
  • Total military aircraft: 2,296
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 736
  • Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145

3. China

Peng Chen / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total helicopters: 913
  • Total attack helicopters: 281
  • Total military aircraft: 3,304
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 1,578
  • Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145

2. Russia

  • Total helicopters: 1,547
  • Total attack helicopters: 559
  • Total military aircraft: 4,255
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 1,539
  • Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145

1. United States

  • Total helicopters: 5,737
  • Total attack helicopters: 1,000
  • Total military aircraft: 13,209
  • Total fighter and attack aircraft: 2,750
  • Military strength score: 0.0699 – #1 out of 145

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.