How Russia Became Asia’s Leading Helicopter Power

VaselineOctober 5, 2024

0 12 minutes read

How Russia Became Asia’s Leading Helicopter Power

24/7 Wall St. Insights:

The Soviet Union built up a sizable force of helicopters during the Cold War, investing heavily in the technological development and production of these assets
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Soviets launched iconic models like the Mi-8 and Mi-24, which remain in use today
The key to Russia’s dominance lies in its massive production capacity, and then this combined with the country’s strategic emphasis on helicopters has made for the largest helicopter fleet in Asia
Also: Dividend legends to hold forever

It’s no secret that Russia is one of the preeminent military powers of Asia. The Red Army built to this position over the years with its tanks, artillery, and aircraft. One major factor in its dominance is Russia’s understanding of the strategic importance of helicopters and the investment put into these aircraft.

The Soviet Union built up a sizable force of helicopters during the Cold War, investing heavily in the technological development and production of these assets. This early commitment laid the groundwork for Russia’s current leadership in helicopter numbers across Asia. (If there was a helicopter-only war, this superpower would win by a long shot.)

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Soviets launched iconic models like the Mi-8 and Mi-24, which remain in use today. These helicopters became the backbone of Soviet air power. Even later, the Russian’s would continue to develop the Kamov series like the new Ka-52 or the Ka-31.

Ultimately, the key to Russia’s dominance lies in its massive production capacity, and then this combined with the country’s strategic emphasis on helicopters has made for a massive helicopter fleet. Withstanding significant helicopter losses in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russia has bounced back by producing even newer helicopters to replace those shot down. (Russia orders even more combat helicopters to keep up war demand.)

Currently, Russia operates the largest military helicopter fleet in Asia, outpacing other regional powers like China and India. However, that is not to say these other forces are lacking. Countries like China, India, and South Korea each have formidable helicopter forces. 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the helicopter fleets across the Asian continent.

To determine the Asian 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 helicopters. We included supplemental information regarding each country’s current air force and overall military strength ranking. We excluded any nations that did not have any helicopters.

Here is a look at the largest helicopter armies in Asia:

Why Are We Covering This?

How Russia Became Asia’s Leading Helicopter Power

Understanding the military dynamics of Asia is important considering the region’s complex geopolitical landscape and its growing strategic significance. Historically, Asia has been shaped by internal conflicts, border disputes, and great power competition. Today, its military forces play an important role in determining regional stability. As tensions rise over territorial claims and political influence, military power is the law of the land, from disputes in the South China Sea to the contested borders in South Asia.

45. Bhutan

Total helicopters: 2
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 2
Military strength score and world rank: 6.3704 – #145 out of 145

Bhutan has a total population of 876,000, and of these only 7,500 are in active service.

44. Kyrgyzstan

Total helicopters: 6
Total attack helicopters: 2
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 6
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0057 – #100 out of 145

Kyrgyzstan has a total population of 6.1 million, and of these only 23,000 are in active service.

43. Mongolia

Total helicopters: 6
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 11
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1079 – #105 out of 145

Mongolia has a total population of 3.3 million, and of these only 35,000 are in active service.

42. Nepal

Total helicopters: 10
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 15
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8962 – #128 out of 145

Nepal has a total population of 30.9 million, and of these only 95,000 are in active service.

41. Afghanistan

Total helicopters: 11
Total attack helicopters: 2
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 17
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2715 – #115 out of 145

Afghanistan has a total population of 39.2 million, and of these only 0 are in active service.

40. Tajikistan

Total helicopters: 20
Total attack helicopters: 6
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 25
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1265 – #107 out of 145

Tajikistan has a total population of 9.2 million, and of these only 9,500 are in active service.

39. Cambodia

Total helicopters: 20
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 24
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1725 – #111 out of 145

Cambodia has a total population of 16.9 million, and of these only 221,000 are in active service.

38. Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan artillery | military strength theme, motion blur tank with Turkmenistan flag

Total helicopters: 26
Total attack helicopters: 10
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 24
Total strike and attack aircraft: 28
Total military aircraft: 90
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4906 – #83 out of 145

Turkmenistan has a total population of 5.7 million, and of these only 36,500 are in active service.

37. Laos

Total helicopters: 27
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 34
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2071 – #112 out of 145

Laos has a total population of 7.9 million, and of these only 100,000 are in active service.

36. Oman

Total helicopters: 31
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 29
Total strike and attack aircraft: 10
Total military aircraft: 128
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4448 – #78 out of 145

Oman has a total population of 3.8 million, and of these only 42,600 are in active service.

35. Armenia

Total helicopters: 36
Total attack helicopters: 20
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 4
Total strike and attack aircraft: 10
Total military aircraft: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0583 – #102 out of 145

Armenia has a total population of 3.0 million, and of these only 57,500 are in active service.

34. Georgia

Total helicopters: 42
Total attack helicopters: 11
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 52
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6969 – #84 out of 145

Georgia has a total population of 4.9 million, and of these only 55,000 are in active service.

33. Malaysia

Total helicopters: 52
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 26
Total strike and attack aircraft: 12
Total military aircraft: 143
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5992 – #42 out of 145

Malaysia has a total population of 34.2 million, and of these only 113,000 are in active service.

32. Sri Lanka

Total helicopters: 55
Total attack helicopters: 9
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 5
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 86
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3459 – #75 out of 145

Sri Lanka has a total population of 23.6 million, and of these only 346,000 are in active service.

31. Kuwait

Kuwait+apache+helicopter | Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.7_151103-N-CJ186-153

Total helicopters: 60
Total attack helicopters: 16
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 36
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 144
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4261 – #77 out of 145

Kuwait has a total population of 3.1 million, and of these only 72,000 are in active service.

30. Yemen

Total helicopters: 61
Total attack helicopters: 14
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 53
Total strike and attack aircraft: 23
Total military aircraft: 177
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4692 – #81 out of 145

Yemen has a total population of 31.6 million, and of these only 66,700 are in active service.

29. Qatar

Total helicopters: 67
Total attack helicopters: 24
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 92
Total strike and attack aircraft: 6
Total military aircraft: 228
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0789 – #63 out of 145

Qatar has a total population of 2.5 million, and of these only 66,550 are in active service.

28. Lebanon

Lebanon | Flag of Lebanon at Byblos Castle

Total helicopters: 69
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 9
Total military aircraft: 81
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4283 – #118 out of 145

Lebanon has a total population of 5.3 million, and of these only 60,000 are in active service.

27. Bangladesh

Total helicopters: 73
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 44
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 216
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5419 – #37 out of 145

Bangladesh has a total population of 167.2 million, and of these only 163,000 are in active service.

26. Bahrain

Total helicopters: 74
Total attack helicopters: 28
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 18
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 120
Military strength score and world rank: 1.7163 – #86 out of 145

Bahrain has a total population of 1.6 million, and of these only 18,400 are in active service.

25. Kazakhstan

Total helicopters: 75
Total attack helicopters: 22
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 81
Total strike and attack aircraft: 38
Total military aircraft: 243
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145

Kazakhstan has a total population of 19.5 million, and of these only 110,000 are in active service.

24. Myanmar

Total helicopters: 80
Total attack helicopters: 9
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 58
Total strike and attack aircraft: 26
Total military aircraft: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145

Myanmar has a total population of 58.0 million, and of these only 150,000 are in active service.

23. Azerbaijan

Total helicopters: 86
Total attack helicopters: 16
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 12
Total strike and attack aircraft: 11
Total military aircraft: 144
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9934 – #59 out of 145

Azerbaijan has a total population of 10.4 million, and of these only 126,400 are in active service.

22. Singapore

Total helicopters: 87
Total attack helicopters: 18
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 100
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 247
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4087 – #30 out of 145

Singapore has a total population of 6.0 million, and of these only 51,000 are in active service.

21. Vietnam

Total helicopters: 99
Total attack helicopters: 0
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
Total strike and attack aircraft: 33
Total military aircraft: 226
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3158 – #22 out of 145

Vietnam has a total population of 104.8 million, and of these only 600,000 are in active service.

20. Uzbekistan

Total helicopters: 100
Total attack helicopters: 33
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 58
Total strike and attack aircraft: 13
Total military aircraft: 191
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1069 – #65 out of 145

Uzbekistan has a total population of 31.4 million, and of these only 48,000 are in active service.

19. Philippines

Total helicopters: 115
Total attack helicopters: 2
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 0
Total strike and attack aircraft: 25
Total military aircraft: 195
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4691 – #34 out of 145

Philippines has a total population of 116.4 million, and of these only 150,000 are in active service.

18. Iran

Total helicopters: 129
Total attack helicopters: 13
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 186
Total strike and attack aircraft: 23
Total military aircraft: 551
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2269 – #14 out of 145

Iran has a total population of 87.6 million, and of these only 610,000 are in active service.

17. Israel

Total helicopters: 146
Total attack helicopters: 48
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 241
Total strike and attack aircraft: 39
Total military aircraft: 612
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145

Israel has a total population of 9.0 million, and of these only 170,000 are in active service.

16. Jordan

Total helicopters: 148
Total attack helicopters: 43
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 44
Total strike and attack aircraft: 6
Total military aircraft: 265
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4651 – #80 out of 145

Jordan has a total population of 11.1 million, and of these only 100,500 are in active service.

15. Syria

Total helicopters: 153
Total attack helicopters: 27
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 168
Total strike and attack aircraft: 57
Total military aircraft: 452
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145

Syria has a total population of 22.9 million, and of these only 170,000 are in active service.

14. Iraq

Total helicopters: 197
Total attack helicopters: 40
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 26
Total strike and attack aircraft: 35
Total military aircraft: 371
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145

Iraq has a total population of 41.3 million, and of these only 193,000 are in active service.

13. North Korea

Total helicopters: 205
Total attack helicopters: 20
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 440
Total strike and attack aircraft: 132
Total military aircraft: 951
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145

North Korea has a total population of 26.1 million, and of these only 1.3 million are in active service.

12. Indonesia

Total helicopters: 210
Total attack helicopters: 15
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 41
Total strike and attack aircraft: 37
Total military aircraft: 474
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145

Indonesia has a total population of 279.5 million, and of these only 400,000 are in active service.

11. Thailand

Total helicopters: 231
Total attack helicopters: 7
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 73
Total strike and attack aircraft: 18
Total military aircraft: 501
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3389 – #25 out of 145

Thailand has a total population of 69.8 million, and of these only 360,850 are in active service.

10. Taiwan

Total helicopters: 236
Total attack helicopters: 91
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 286
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 750
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3302 – #24 out of 145

Taiwan has a total population of 23.6 million, and of these only 215,000 are in active service.

9. United Arab Emirates

Total helicopters: 246
Total attack helicopters: 30
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 99
Total strike and attack aircraft: 18
Total military aircraft: 560
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8083 – #51 out of 145

United Arab Emirates has a total population of 10.0 million, and of these only 65,000 are in active service.

8. Saudi Arabia

Total helicopters: 262
Total attack helicopters: 34
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 283
Total strike and attack aircraft: 81
Total military aircraft: 914
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145

Saudi Arabia has a total population of 36.0 million, and of these only 257,000 are in active service.

7. Pakistan

Total helicopters: 352
Total attack helicopters: 57
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 387
Total strike and attack aircraft: 90
Total military aircraft: 1,434
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145

Pakistan has a total population of 247.7 million, and of these only 654,000 are in active service.

6. Turkey

Total helicopters: 502
Total attack helicopters: 111
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 205
Total strike and attack aircraft: 0
Total military aircraft: 1,069
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145

Turkey has a total population of 83.6 million, and of these only 355,200 are in active service.

5. Japan

Total helicopters: 577
Total attack helicopters: 119
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 217
Total strike and attack aircraft: 36
Total military aircraft: 1,459
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145

Japan has a total population of 123.7 million, and of these only 247,150 are in active service.

4. South Korea

Total helicopters: 758
Total attack helicopters: 112
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 354
Total strike and attack aircraft: 98
Total military aircraft: 1,576
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145

South Korea has a total population of 52.0 million, and of these only 600,000 are in active service.

3. India

Total helicopters: 869
Total attack helicopters: 40
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 606
Total strike and attack aircraft: 130
Total military aircraft: 2,296
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145

India has a total population of 1.4 million, and of these only 1.5 million are in active service.

2. China

Total helicopters: 913
Total attack helicopters: 281
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 1,207
Total strike and attack aircraft: 371
Total military aircraft: 3,304
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145

China has a total population of 1.4 million, and of these only 2.0 million are in active service.

1. Russia

Mil+Mi-2435+Hind | Mil' Mi-24 35 "Hind"

Total helicopters: 1,547
Total attack helicopters: 559
Total fighter and interceptor aircraft: 809
Total strike and attack aircraft: 730
Total military aircraft: 4,255
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145

Russia has a total population of 141.7 million, and of these only 1.3 million are in active service.

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