Attack and strike aircraft are designed to strike on the ground or the sea from above. Unlike fighter jets, they are not designed to engage in combat in the air. Attack aircraft can support ground troops or target enemy assets. Speed and agility is critical since these planes need to strike their target, and get out of the area quickly. (Also see the most widely used fighter jets in the world.)
To determine the countries with the most attack and strike aircraft, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. We included supplemental information regarding total military aircraft and helicopters. We included the overall military strength score as well, which is a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value, the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is.
This post was updated on December 1, 2025 to clarify why 24/7 Wall St. is covering this topic.
Why Are We Covering This?
Americans should understand which countries possess the most attack and strike aircraft because it offers valuable insight into several aspects of global power, including international military balance, potential hotspots, and shifting geopolitical power. Air forces equipped with large fleets of strike-capable jets can communicate power far beyond their borders. These impressive aircraft can influence regional stability and play decisive roles in modern conflicts. Knowing which nations hold these capabilities helps U.S. citizens better understand American defense priorities, international alliances, and where military spending may be most critical. Ultimately, awareness of global airpower isn’t just for defense analysts; it provides everyday Americans with context for world events of all kinds, such as national security decisions and how conflicts over seas could impact U.S. interests.
Here is a look at the countries with the most attack and strike aircraft.
30. Myanmar
- Attack and strike aircraft: 26
- Total military aircraft: 293
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 58
- Total helicopters: 80
- Attack helicopters: 9
- Military strength score: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145
29. Turkmenistan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 28
- Total military aircraft: 90
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 24
- Total helicopters: 26
- Attack helicopters: 10
- Military strength score: 1.4906 – #83 out of 145
28. United Kingdom
- Attack and strike aircraft: 29
- Total military aircraft: 664
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 120
- Total helicopters: 276
- Attack helicopters: 52
- Military strength score: 0.1443 – #6 out of 145
27. Norway
- Attack and strike aircraft: 30
- Total military aircraft: 102
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
- Total helicopters: 37
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.5664 – #41 out of 145
26. Ukraine
- Attack and strike aircraft: 30
- Total military aircraft: 321
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 72
- Total helicopters: 130
- Attack helicopters: 33
- Military strength score: 0.2598 – #18 out of 145
25. Sudan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 32
- Total military aircraft: 170
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 45
- Total helicopters: 64
- Attack helicopters: 35
- Military strength score: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145
24. Mexico
- Attack and strike aircraft: 33
- Total military aircraft: 462
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 3
- Total helicopters: 178
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.4274 – #31 out of 145
23. Vietnam
- Attack and strike aircraft: 33
- Total military aircraft: 226
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
- Total helicopters: 99
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.3158 – #22 out of 145
22. Poland
- Attack and strike aircraft: 34
- Total military aircraft: 468
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 59
- Total helicopters: 215
- Attack helicopters: 30
- Military strength score: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145
21. Iraq
- Attack and strike aircraft: 35
- Total military aircraft: 371
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 26
- Total helicopters: 197
- Attack helicopters: 40
- Military strength score: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145
20. Japan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 36
- Total military aircraft: 1,459
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 217
- Total helicopters: 577
- Attack helicopters: 119
- Military strength score: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145
19. Indonesia
- Attack and strike aircraft: 37
- Total military aircraft: 474
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
- Total helicopters: 210
- Attack helicopters: 15
- Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145
18. Kazakhstan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 38
- Total military aircraft: 243
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 81
- Total helicopters: 75
- Attack helicopters: 22
- Military strength score: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145
17. Israel
- Attack and strike aircraft: 39
- Total military aircraft: 612
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 241
- Total helicopters: 146
- Attack helicopters: 48
- Military strength score: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145
16. Algeria
- Attack and strike aircraft: 42
- Total military aircraft: 605
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 102
- Total helicopters: 298
- Attack helicopters: 75
- Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145
15. Belarus
- Attack and strike aircraft: 51
- Total military aircraft: 183
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 37
- Total helicopters: 64
- Attack helicopters: 25
- Military strength score: 1.0901 – #64 out of 145
14. Syria
- Attack and strike aircraft: 57
- Total military aircraft: 452
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 168
- Total helicopters: 153
- Attack helicopters: 27
- Military strength score: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145
13. Australia
- Attack and strike aircraft: 60
- Total military aircraft: 325
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 24
- Total helicopters: 79
- Attack helicopters: 22
- Military strength score: 0.2515 – #16 out of 145
12. Italy
- Attack and strike aircraft: 67
- Total military aircraft: 800
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 90
- Total helicopters: 402
- Attack helicopters: 57
- Military strength score: 0.1863 – #10 out of 145
11. Brazil
- Attack and strike aircraft: 72
- Total military aircraft: 628
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 46
- Total helicopters: 195
- Attack helicopters: 0
- Military strength score: 0.1944 – #12 out of 145
10. Germany
- Attack and strike aircraft: 76
- Total military aircraft: 618
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 133
- Total helicopters: 318
- Attack helicopters: 55
- Military strength score: 0.2847 – #19 out of 145
9. Saudi Arabia
- Attack and strike aircraft: 81
- Total military aircraft: 914
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 283
- Total helicopters: 262
- Attack helicopters: 34
- Military strength score: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145
8. Egypt
- Attack and strike aircraft: 88
- Total military aircraft: 1,080
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 238
- Total helicopters: 338
- Attack helicopters: 100
- Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145
7. Pakistan
- Attack and strike aircraft: 90
- Total military aircraft: 1,434
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 387
- Total helicopters: 352
- Attack helicopters: 57
- Military strength score: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145
6. South Korea
- Attack and strike aircraft: 98
- Total military aircraft: 1,576
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 354
- Total helicopters: 758
- Attack helicopters: 112
- Military strength score: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145
5. India
- Attack and strike aircraft: 130
- Total military aircraft: 2,296
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 606
- Total helicopters: 869
- Attack helicopters: 40
- Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145
4. North Korea
- Attack and strike aircraft: 132
- Total military aircraft: 951
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 440
- Total helicopters: 205
- Attack helicopters: 20
- Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145
3. China
- Attack and strike aircraft: 371
- Total military aircraft: 3,304
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 1,207
- Total helicopters: 913
- Attack helicopters: 281
- Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145
2. Russia
- Attack and strike aircraft: 730
- Total military aircraft: 4,255
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 809
- Total helicopters: 1,547
- Attack helicopters: 559
- Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145
1. United States
- Attack and strike aircraft: 896
- Total military aircraft: 13,209
- Fighter and interceptor aircraft: 1,854
- Total helicopters: 5,737
- Attack helicopters: 1,000
- Military strength score: 0.0699 – #1 out of 145
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