Top 10 powerful air forces of the world

1. United States Air Force (USA)

 

The USAF was founded on September 11, 1947, with the motto No One Comes Close. The undisputed magnet of air, space and cyberspace in the current scenario, this air force owns the largest number of warplanes in the world which almost equals to the rest of the world put together.

As of 2010, the UASF operates 5,573 manned aircraft in service, approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles, thus being the owner of the largest number of warplanes in the world.

The United States has been involved in many wars, conflicts using military air operations.

The members of USAF are very health conscious. They adopt a more stringent physical fitness assessment.

 2. Russian Air Force (Russia)

With amazingly effective doctrine and mechanized defense, the Russian Air Force possesses the ability to maneuver in any kind of terrain. 

Notable for implementing beyond-the-limit strategy with weirdest technologies, this air force founded after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991-92 and soon became one of the strongest air forces in the world.

The Russian Air Force operates more than 3,000 strategic bombers, 4,500 fighter planes like the MiG-29 Fulcrum, MiG-25 Foxbat.

The Russian Air Force has about 3,400 attack aircraft like Su-24 Fencer, Su-25 Frogfoot and Su-17 Fitter, thus making them as the second strongest air force of the world.

3. Israeli Air Force (Israel)

Israeli Air Force is one of the most technologically advanced air forces in the world.

 Equipped with Boeing F-15 E Strike Eagle and a bevy of fighter, patrol, trainer and transport aircrafts, Israel is one nation no one will like to mess with.

The strength of character of IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s which were purchased from Czechoslovakia and 62 Supermarine Spitfire.

Creativity and resourcefulness were the early foundations of Israeli military success in the air. The IAF is considered to be one of the most effective air forces in the world.

4. Royal Air Force (United Kingdom)

RAF is the oldest air force of the world which is renowned for its strategic bombing. 

RAF was founded during the World war I, on April 1, 1918, by the unification of the Royal Naval Air Services and Royal Flying Corps.

As of January 2012, it operated 826 aircraft, making it the largest air force in the European Union, and the second largest in terms of aircraft in NATO, only after United States Air Force.

Elementary flying training is conducted on Tutor 1, a kind of aircraft where the basic training is provided to the pilots.

More sophisticated aircrafts are used for training these pilots once they complete various stages in training.

As of June 2011, the RAF has been planning the introduction of various new aircrafts like the Airbus A400M, the ageing aerial refueling fleet of VC 10s and Tri Stars will be replaced with the Airbus A330 MMRT.

5. People’s Liberation Army Air Force (China)

With a long list of more than 330,000 personnel and 2,500+ aircrafts, PLAAF is the largest air force in Asia and is better known for comprising some of the deadliest self-reliance combat aircrafts. 

Officially founded on November 11, 1949, the Chinese air force consists qualitative edge with lethal approach in the modern arena of air striking.

6. Armee de I’ Air (France)

Founded in 1909 as the air force of the French Armed Forces, Armée de l’Air is considered as the world’s first professional air force. 

Buff of technological developments, methodical defensive strategies and straightforward doctrine of ruling skies, this air force is better known for comprising new generation multirole combat airplanes.

The French Air Force has 234 combat aircraft with the majority being 158 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 59 Dassault Rafale.

The French Air Force has about 300 combat aircraft in service.

7. Indian Air Force (India)

Considered as one of the best equipped air force across the world along with professional standards, the IAF was founded on October 8, 1932, and since then it has been in the limelight of mainstream media for its logical expansion and modernization. 

The Indian Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world with approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,500 aircrafts.

8. Luftwaffe (Germany)

One of the most striking air force with the trail of top-notch pilots, Luftwaffe was established in 1935, after violating the Treaty of Versailles. 

During the World War II, this air force overshadowed the skies of Europe and defeated its foreign counterparts with much more advancements.

Most of the pilots of Luftwaffe are trained either in United States or in Canada.

The tactical training centers of this air force are located at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and Canadian Forces Air Command base at Goose Bay.

9. Royal Australian Air Force (Australia)

Comparatively small but tremendously deadly, RAAF was established on March 31, 1921, and till date it has majorly participated in some of the deadliest conflicts of 20th century. 

Comprising a powerful fighter fleet along with sophisticated technology, RAAF is credited for immediately implementing the kinetic and non-kinetic air

10. Japan Air Self Defense Force (Japan)

The aviation branch of Japan Self-Defense Force, JASDF is one of the sharpest tool, made for the defense-oriented policy of Japan. 

After World War II, JASDF was planted in 1954, as an unified form of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

With an impeccable array of ultramodern radar systems and combat air patrols, JASDF is widely known for its assaulter squadrons in the list of strongest air forces of the world.