Top 10 strongest Air Forces of the world (TopYaps)

[Surenas]

I agree with the Arabs not having skills to operate them. During Arab Israeli war, there were Pakistani pilots assisting the Arabs.

Interesting read:

Thanks for the link. I've no doubt that Pakistan's air force is much more skilled than Arab or Turkish air forces.

 

[Hashshāshīn]

Thanks for the link. I've no doubt that Pakistan's air force is much more skilled than Arab or Turkish air forces.

I am sure Pakistan air-force is more skilled than the Arabs. I don't know about Turkey. They seem pretty well trained and their equipment is one of the best too...

btw I thought you were an Iranian?

 

[TR.1]

I am sure Pakistan air-force is more skilled than the Arabs. I don't know about Turkey. They seem pretty well trained and their equipment is one of the best too...

He's jealous, he's saying it because after iran isn't on the list or ever mentioned he gets angry and jeloused.

 

[clmeta]

On what basis have you ranked India 2nd?
To be rational the first six positions belong to UNSC permanent members+Israel.

I beg to differ!

It should be:

1. USA

--- big gap also belongs to USAF ---

2. India

-- big gap --

3. Russia
4. France
5. UK
6. Israel
7. Saudi Arabia
8. UAE
9. South Korea
10. China

 

[TR.1]

Proper list.

1) USA
2) Russia
3) China - 2623
4) Israel - 1440
5) S. Arabia - 1425
6) India - 1351
7) Japan - 1254
8) Turkey - 1220
9) Korea - 1107
10) Egypt - 902
11) France - 883
12) UK - 874
13) Greece - 746
14) Germany - 702
15) Pakistan - 667
16) UAE - 559
17) Singapore - 519
18) Sweden - 512
19) Italy - 510
20) Spain - 489
21) Australia - 395
22) Canada - 356

http://www.defence.pk/forums/military-forum/162974-22-top-airforces-based-plane-quality-quantity.html

F-16C = 1/1
F-16A = 0.8/0.8
F-16 block 52+ aka F-16I = 1.1/1.2
F-16 block 60 = 1.3/1.2
F-15A = 1.2/0.5
F-15C = 1.3/0.5
F-15E = 1.4/1.5
F-15S = 1.3/1.4
F-15SG = 1.5/1.5
F-18A = 1/1.1
F-18F = 1.3/1.3
F-2 = 1.3/1.2
F-16AM = 1/08
Mirage 2000 = 1/1
Typhoon (MESA radar) = 1.3/1.1
Rafale (PESA radar) = 1.2/1.2
Tornado IDS = 0.5/1.2
Tornado ADV = 1/0.6
F-4 = 0.4/0.7
F-4 Terminator = 0.6/1
Su-27 = 1.2/0.4
MiG-29 = 0.9/0.5
Su-30MKI = 1.3/1.2
Su-30MKK = 1.2/1.2
MiG-21 aka J7 = 0.3/0.4
MiG-27 = 0.3/0.7
JF-17 = 0.9/0.8
AMX = 0.3/0.5
Mirage F.1 = 0.7/0.8
Mirage 3/5 = 0.3/0.4
Jaguar = 0.2/0.6
F-5 = 0.3/0.4
J-10 = 1/1
J-8 = 0.6/0.4
JH-7 = 0.5/1.1
Q-5 = 0.1/0.4
H-6 = 0/1

E-3, Phalcon, KJ-2000, Boeing 737 = 8/0
Saab, KJ-200 = 6/0
E-2C, ZDK-03 = 4/0

jet tanker = 2/6
KC-130, H-6 tankers = 1/4

Here the results:

UK

86 Typhoon
136 Tornado GR4
AEW&C: 7 E-3
tanker: 4 Tristar, 12 VC-10

260 air to air points/354 air to ground points

France

59 Rafale
158 Mirage 2000
AEW&C: 4 E-3
tanker: 14 KC-135

285/313

Germany

55 Typhoon
177 Tornado IDS
45 F-4
tanker: 4 A310

187/328

Israel

25 F-15I
30 F-15 C/D
30 F-15 A/B
101 F-16I
135 F-16C/D
100 F-16A/B
AEW&C: 4 G550
tanker: 7 KC-707, 5 KC-130

487/466=1440

India

146 Su-30MKI
45 Mirage 2000
68 MiG-29
88 MiG-27ML
152 MiG-21Bis
120 Jaguar
AEW&C: 3 Phalcon
tanker: 7 IL-78MKI

430/491

Turkey

240 F-16 C/D
52 F-4 Terminator 2020
110 F-4
87 F-5
AEW&C: 4 Boeing 737 AEW&C
tanker: 7 KC-135

387/446

Korea

60 F-15K
169 F-16C/D
84 F-4E
170 F-5E
AEW&C: 2 Boeing 737

354/399

Japan

82 F-2
180 F-15C/D
117 F-4E
AEW&C: 4 E-767, 13 E-2C
tanker: 4 KC-767

480/294

Saudi Arabia

72 Typhoon
109 F-15C/D
72 F-15S
87 Tornado IDS
24 Tornado ADV
120 F-5
AEW&C: 5 E-3
tanker: 8 KE-3

488/449

China

190 J-10
100 Su-30MKK
189 Su-27 and J-11
180 J-8
280 J-7 (MiG-21)
60 JH-7
180 Q-5
110 H-6 (Tu-16)
AEW&C: 5 KJ-2000, 2 KJ-200
tanker: 8 IL-78, 10 H-6

859/905

Italy

55 Typhoon
78 Tornado IDS
14 F-16A ADF
55 AMX
tanker: 2 KC-767, 2 KC-130

148/214=510

Spain

32 Typhoon
86 F-18A
24 Mirage F.1
tanker: 2 KC-707, 5 KC-130

154/181

Greece

126 F-16C/D
30 F-16C block 52+
44 Mirage 2000
57 F-4E
AEW&C: 4 Erieye

250/246

Pakistan

50 JF-17
45 F-16A/B
18 F-16C block 52+
75 Mirage III
83 Mirage V
144 F-7
AEW&C: 4 Erieye, 2 ZDK-03

224/219

Egypt

40 F-16A
178 F-16C
18 Mirage 2000
32 F-4E
115 MiG-21 & J-7
60 Mirage V
AEW&C: 8 E-2C

291/320

UAE

79 F-16E
68 Mirage 2000
AEW&C: 2 Saab 340
tanker: 3 Airbus 330

189/181

Canada

103 F-18A
tanker: 2 A-310, 5 KC-130

112/145

Australia

71 F-18A
21 F-18F
AEW&C: 4 Boeing 737
tanker: 3 A330

136/123=395

Singapore

24 F-15SG
54 F-16C
20 F-16C block 52+
49 F-5
AEW&C: 4 G550
tanker: 4 KC-135, 5 KC-130

171/177

Sweden

158 Gripen
AEW&C: 4 Saab 340
tanker: 1 KC-130

183/146

Final points I calculated air-air points*2 + ground points

 

[Surenas]

I am sure Pakistan air-force is more skilled than the Arabs. I don't know about Turkey. They seem pretty well trained and their equipment is one of the best too...

Well unlike Turkey, Pakistan has a greater operational history, and are continuously facing a strong 'enemy' on their borders (India) while Turkey is fully supported by NATO, the US and other Western countries. I've more respect for Pakistan than for Turkey.

 

[clmeta]

We might have a more realistic picture of Turkish airforce in Syria some time in near future.
Turkey is assisted by NATO but being a NATO member, they must have very well trained pilots.

Well unlike Turkey, Pakistan has a greater operational history, and are continuously facing a strong 'enemy' on their borders (India) while Turkey is fully supported by NATO, the US and other Western countries. I've more respect for Pakistan than for Turkey.

 

[Surenas]

We might have a more realistic picture of Turkish airforce in Syria some time in near future.
Turkey is assisted by NATO but being a NATO member, they must have very well trained pilots.

Syria has been damaged a lot, and their air force is no threat to Turkey's. Air defense probably is, but remember that Turkey is being supported by NATO (Patriot missiles). Syria's missiles are the biggest threat.

 

[Hashshāshīn]

Proper list.

1) USA
2) Russia
3) China - 2623
4) Israel - 1440
5) S. Arabia - 1425
6) India - 1351
7) Japan - 1254
8) Turkey - 1220
9) Korea - 1107
10) Egypt - 902
11) France - 883
12) UK - 874
13) Greece - 746
14) Germany - 702
15) Pakistan - 667
16) UAE - 559
17) Singapore - 519
18) Sweden - 512
19) Italy - 510
20) Spain - 489
21) Australia - 395
22) Canada - 356

Pretty accurate list, but Greece and Egypt over Pakistan??

 

[mehmeTcc]

Are there any significant historical events Turkey's air force operated in? Unlike the US, Israel or even Iran, Turkey's has no significant experience in air warfare. And don't mention Turkey's air force history in correlation with fighting PKK rebels, or joint NATO exercises. What distinguishes good air forces from bad forces are their operation history in stressful moments, complex air operations and their ability to adapt to new situations. I even hold Netherland's air force in a higher regard.

So? TuAF is not good enough because Turks are peace loving hippies and didn't wage a war in the past 10 years, am I correct?

So, let's compare the air forces you've mentioned:

Only USAF and TuAF have advanced Test and Training Ranges which also hosts huge multinational exercises like Anatolian Tiger and Red Flag.
Turkey, Israel and US have the night operation capability. Iran uses junks for that.
Turkey and Israel have up-to-date F-16s, Israel also has F-15s and their planes are superior to Turkish ones. Iran uses Cold War era unmodified F-14s and MiG-29s as 4th gen aircraft. I really don't want to mention USAF capabilites, they have hell of a firepower.
Turkish simulators and training systems proved themselves and exported to many countries as well.
Comparing with Iranian pilots, TuAF boys' have more flight hours.
Not to mention Turkish aerial refueling capabilities.

If that's not enough:
Ottoman Air Forces' engagements:
Italo-Turkish War
Balkan Wars
WWI
TuAF's engagements:
Engagements Turkish War of Independence
Ararat Rebellion
Dersim Rebellion
Korean War
Battle of Tylliria
Invasion of Cyprus
Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Deliberate Force
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Allied Force
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Northern Iraq
Operation Sun
August 2011 Turkey-Iraq cross-border raids

In 2025s, Turkey will have operational 120+ F-35s and will begin to start the serial production of TF-X. What about Iran then? We are talking about an air force which couldn't find spare parts and canibalize half of its fleet to maintain the other half.

 

[clmeta]

Well, the key is not taking out an equally powerfully enemy but also, removing a weaker enemy with very surgical strikes.
I'm not disputing your claims, but being a NATO member, Turkey has access to world class technology and training and that gives edge to their air force. Don't you think?

Syria has been damaged a lot, and their air force is no threat to Turkey's. Air defense probably is, but remember that Turkey is being supported by NATO (Patriot missiles). Syria's missiles are the biggest threat.

 

[Hashshāshīn]

Well unlike Turkey, Pakistan has a greater operational history, and are continuously facing a strong 'enemy' on their borders (India) while Turkey is fully supported by NATO, the US and other Western countries. I've more respect for Pakistan than for Turkey.

What you are referring to is how battle hardened they are. Pakistan and Iran are more battle hardened that Turkey, I will admit. (Pakistan has had major wars with India. Iran had 8 year long war with Iraq), but still, the Turks have better equipment and NATO standard training, so that makes them really good.

 

[mehmeTcc]

As of 2012 the Turkish Air Force ranks third in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. According to the Flight International (Flightglobal.com) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Turkish Air Force has an active strength of 60,000 military personnel and operates around 700 manned aircraft.[6][5]

So, according to Surenas, even Netherlands is better than TuAF, while TuAF maintains one of the biggest fleet in the NATO (which bigger than Dutch Air Force also).
Extreme trolling at its best.

 

[Rocky rock]

Turkey's air force is overestimated. Certainly not worth to mention it. The same counts for Arab countries, who have high quality fighter jets, but no real skills to operate them.

i am not talkin about Arab countries i know they got some nyc babies but they havn't much exp but turkey is is really a good AF with lot's of nyc babz n flyin exp...i think...

 

[Surenas]

What about Iran then? We are talking about an air force which couldn't find spare parts and canibalize half of its fleet to maintain the other half.

First of all, Iran's pilot have showed greater skills in combat than Turkish pilots. If you don't agree or believe me, read Tom Cooper's book about it. Second, in all those events you mention, Turkish elements in it were small, insignificant and they were even backed by other NATO countries. Perhaps do something on your own, and than we can talk. We didn't canalized half our fleet; we are actually producing spare parts on our own too. The F-14 was a maintenance nightmare, and we managed to control it. All by our own. Without NATO, or your strategical importance for the US, your capabilities would be half of todays.