The Austrian Armed Forces is preparing for the succession of its Eurofighter fighter jets. Austria is now the last country that has not yet decided on the replacement of Eurofighter Tranche 1. The current concept envisages the procurement of 36 fighter aircraft for air defense – and thus a fundamental and thus a fundamental further development of the previous operational concept, which was primarily focused on the classic interceptor for airspace surveillance.
Militär Aktuell takes this as an opportunity to present a comprehensive overview of the current inventory and the foreseeable development of fighter aircraft fleets in Europe.
A look at the overarching framework conditions shows: During the Cold War, the focus of European air forces was clearly on alliance and territorial defense. However, with the end of the bloc confrontation and the so-called peace dividend, these capacities were massively reduced or in some cases completely abandoned. The focus shifted towards international crisis management and peacekeeping missions.
At the same time, the most important NATO-partner, the USA, has provided the majority of key military capabilities since the alliance was founded. This applies in particular to means of projecting power. Unlike the USA, Russia or China, Europe has no strategic bombers capable of deploying large quantities of precision-guided munitions over intercontinental distances.
Similar deficits exist in key areas such as C4ISR, i.e. electromagnetic reconnaissance and combat management, airborne command and control platforms, tanker aircraft, strategic transport capacities and space-based systems.
However, the European armed forces are currently in a phase of rethinking and reinvestment. In numerous areas, capability gaps are being closed in a targeted manner – for example, through the almost complete rebuilding of ground-based air defense. At the same time, for the first time in decades, there are also signs of growth in the fighter aircraft fleets, both in terms of quality and quantity.
Europe’s fighter jet fleets from A to Z
Albania (2.8 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Belgium (11.7 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 52 x F-16A/B multi-role fighter aircraft in phase-out
- 34 x F-35 multi-role fighter aircraft in procurement
On October 13, 2025 the first F-35 jets arrived in Belgiumthe government in Brussels is currently considering order further aircraft.
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Paveway-guided bombs (250 pounds, 500 pounds and 2,000 pounds)
- Brimstone, Hellfire and Joint Strike Missile for F-35
- GBU-53B Storm Breaker for F-35
- US B61 nuclear weapons at Kleine Brogel Air Base as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing program
Bosnia-Herzegovina (3.2 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Rheinmetall: Wie sich die Luftbedrohung radikal verändert hat
Bulgaria (6.4 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 12 x MiG-29 multi-role fighters in phase-out
- 5 x Su-25 close air support/ground attack aircraft
- 16 x F-16V Block 70 multi-role fighters in procurement (Manufacturer Lockheed Martin hands over first F-16 to Bulgaria)
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles
- KAB-500Kr guided bombs for MiG-29
- Kh-25/29, Kh-31P, S-5, S-8 and S-13 guided and unguided air-to-ground missiles for MiG-29 and Su-25
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb for F-16V
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile for F-16V
- AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile for F-16V
Denmark (5.9 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 26 x F-16 multi-role combat aircraft in phase-out
- 43 x F-35 multi-role combat aircraft in procurement
Denmark ordered a total of 27 F-35s in 2016 and decided in 2025, to procure a further 16 aircraft.
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile
- GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb, GBU-31 JDAM, BLU-109 guided and unguided bombs
Germany (84.3 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 33 x Eurofighter Tranche 1 fighter aircraft
- 79 x Eurofighter Tranche 2 multi-role combat aircraft
- 31 x Eurofighter Tranche 3 multi-role combat aircraft
- 65 x Tornado IDS, fighter bomber
- 21 x Tornado ECR, SEAD/DEAD aircraft for air defense combat
- 38 x Eurofighter Tranche 4 (Quadriga), multi-role combat aircraft in procurement
- 20 x Eurofighter Tranche 5, multi-role combat aircraft ordered (-> Eurofighter Tranche 5: What we know so far)
- 35 x F-35A multi-role fighter aircraft in procurement
Armament options:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-28/48, GBU-38/54 JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-53B StormBreaker guided glide bombs
- Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile
- AGM-88G AARGM-ER Anti-Radar Air-to-Ground Missiles
In welche Richtung entwickelt sich das Eurofighter-Programm?
Estonia (1.3 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
The country has no combat aircraft. A permanent air surveillance mission has been carried out since 2004 as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing. NATO partner countries station aircraft at the bases in Ämari (Estonia) and Šiauliai (Lithuania) for this purpose.
Finland (5.6 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 35 x Hawk 51/66 armed jet trainers
- 60 x F-18C/D multi-role fighter aircraft in phase-out
- 64 x F-35A multi-role fighters in procurement (-> First F-35 presented to the Finnish Air Force)
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-32/38/B JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb, AGM-154C JSOW guided glide bombs
- AGM-158 JASSM-ER cruise missile
- AARGM-ER anti-radar air-to-ground missile
France (68.4 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 25 x Mirage 2000-5F multi-role combat aircraft
- 52 x Mirage 2000D fighter-bomber
- 218 x Rafale B/C multi-role combat aircraft (of which 100+ in procurement)
- 42 x Rafale M multi-role combat aircraft
Armament options:
- MICA IR/EM short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- AASM Hammer guided bombs
- SCALP-EG cruise missile
- ASMP-A(-R) nuclear-armed cruise missile
Greece (10.4 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 17 x F-4E fighter-bombers in phase-out
- 159 x F-16C/D/V multi-role fighter aircraft
- 24 x Mirage 2000-5/Mk.II multi-role combat aircraft
- 24 x Rafale F3R multi-role fighter aircraft
- 20 x F-35A in procurement
Armament options:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- MICA IR/EM short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-10/12/16/24/31/50, BLU-109/B guided bombs
- AGM-154C JSOW guided glide bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
- AGM-88G anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
- SCALP-EG cruise missile
- AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles
Ireland (5.3 million inhabitants, EU)
The country has no combat aircraft and is co-supervised by the United Kingdom. Ireland is currently planning to procure its own fighter aircraft for the first time in decadesto strengthen the sovereignty of its own airspace and free itself from its current dependence on the United Kingdom. At least 16 fighter aircraft are to be procured.
Iceland (0.4 million inhabitants, NATO)
The country has no combat aircraft, but has been monitored by NATO fighter aircraft since 2008 as part of the NATO Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities (formerly Air Policing Iceland) – although not continuously. On average, three to four contingents are stationed at Keflavík Air Base in southwest Iceland for several weeks each year.
Italy (58.9 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 28 x Eurofighter Tranche 1 fighter aircraft
- 47 x Eurofighter Tranche 2 multi-role combat aircraft
- 21 x Eurofighter Tranche 3a multi-role combat aircraft
- 24 x Eurofighter Tranche 4 multi-role combat aircraft ordered (replacement Tranche 1)
- 92 x F-35A/B multi-role fighters in delivery (-> Italy: Spectacular F-35 landing goes viral)
- 23 x Tornado IDS fighter-bomber
- 11 x AV-8B+ fighter-bomber
Armament options:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-12/16/31/32/38 guided bombs
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bomb
- SCALP-EG cruise missile
- JASSM-ER cruise missile
- Brimstone air-to-ground missile
- AGM-88 anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
- US B61 nuclear weapons at the Aviano and Ghedi bases as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing program
Kosovo (1.8 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Croatia (3.8 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 12 x Rafale multi-role fighters (-> Croatia will receive the last of its ordered Rafale fighter jets in April 2025)
Armament options:
- AASM Hammer guided bombs
- MICA IR short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles
- MICA EM short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
Latvia (1.8 million inhabitants, NATO, EU) & Lithuania (2.8 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
The two countries have no combat aircraft. However, a permanent air surveillance mission has been carried out locally since 2004 as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing. The NATO partner countries station aircraft at the bases in Ämari (Estonia) and Šiauliai (Lithuania) for this purpose.
Luxembourg (0.7 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
The country has no combat aircraft and airspace surveillance is provided by NATO partners.
Malta (0.5 million inhabitants, EU)
The country has no fighter aircraft and airspace surveillance is provided by Italy.
Republic of Moldova (2.5 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Montenegro (0.6 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Netherlands (17.8 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 46 x F-35A multi-role fighters (12 more ordered)
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-31/32/38 JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- JASSM-ER cruise missile
- AARGM-ER anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
- US B61 nuclear weapons at Volkel Air Base as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing program
North Macedonia (1.8 million inhabitants)
The country has no combat aircraft.
Norway (5.5 million inhabitants, NATO)
- 52 x F-35A multi-role combat aircraft
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile
- Kongsberg Penguin anti-ship guided missile
Austria (9.1 million inhabitants, EU)
- 15 x Eurofighter Tranche 1 fighter aircraft
- 12 x M-346FA armed jet trainers (ordered, -> Purchase of the M-346 jets in the bag)
Arming option:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile
Poland (36.8 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 48 x FA-50GF/PL light multi-role combat aircraft in delivery
- 29 x MiG-29 fighter aircraft in phase-out
- 47 x F-16C/D multi-role combat aircraft
- 32 x F-35A multi-role fighters in delivery (-> Two more F-35A Husarz completed for Poland)
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles for MiG-29s
- R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium-range air-to-air missiles for MiG-29s
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39B/GBU-53B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-158 JASSM-ER cruise missile
- AARGM-ER anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
- AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship guided missile
Portugal (10.3 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
25 x F-16A/B multi-role fighters
12 x EMB-314 (A-29N) COIN/ground attack aircraft (in delivery, -> Portugal takes delivery of first Embraer A-29N Super Tucano)
Armament options:
- AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-10/12/31/38/49 guided bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
Romania (19 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 34 x F-16A/B multi-role fighter aircraft (another 15 on order)
- 32 x F-35A multi-role combat aircraft ordered
Armament options:
- AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Paveway II/III, JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
- SPEAR-EW air-to-ground missiles
Lockheed Martin vervierfacht Produktion von Präzisionsraketen
Russia (144.4 million inhabitants)
- 123 x Yak-130 armed jet trainers
- 273 x MiG-29/35 fighters/multi-role combat aircraft
- 128 x MiG-31 air superiority fighter/guided missile carrier
- 296 x Su-24 fighter bomber
- 174 x Su-25 ground attack aircraft
- 488 x Su-27/30/35 fighters/multi-role combat aircraft
- 130 x Su-34 fighter bomber
- 30 x Su-57 multi-role combat aircraft (46 ordered)
- 56 x Tu-22M strategic bombers
- 44 x Tu-95 strategic bombers
- 17 x Tu-160 strategic bombers (38 ordered)
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles
- R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium-range air-to-air missiles
- R-77 (AA-12 Adder) medium-range air-to-air missiles
- R-37M (AA-13 Arrow) long-range air-to-air missiles
- UPAB-500/1500 guided glide bombs
- Kh-101/102, Kh-555 cruise missile
- Kh-47 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles
The figures shown represent maximum orders of magnitude; in some cases, decommissioned or non-serviceable aircraft are also included. For comparison: Russia dropped a total of 5,700 glide bombs in January 2026. This corresponds to around 1,425 missions and around 46 fighter-bomber flights per day. In addition, there are missions for fighter protection, flights with ground attack aircraft and around 25 missions with strategic bombers per month as well as training flights. The low frequency of Ukrainian drone flights indicates that there is not a very high frequency of missions in the hinterland either. The Russian air force therefore has a large number of aircraft, but comparatively low flight activity.
The Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S, Su-57 and Tu-160 are definitely in production – all in moderate numbers. With the exception of the Tu-160, all types currently in production are also exported.
Sweden (10.6 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 94 x Gripen C/D multi-role fighter aircraft
- 2 x Gripen E multi-role fighter aircraft (68 more ordered)
Armament options:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-12, 49 guided bombs
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) guided glide bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
Switzerland (8.8 million inhabitants)
- 19 x F-5E/F light multi-role combat aircraft
- 30 x F/A-18C/D multi-role fighter aircraft
- 36 x F-35A multi-role fighters ordered (will probably be reduced to 30 for budget reasons)
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-12, 38 JDAM guided bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
Informationskrieg erklärt: Der nächste Krieg beginnt im Netz
Serbia (6.7 million inhabitants)
- 17 x J-22 light ground attack aircraft
- 14 x MiG-29 multi-role combat aircraft
- 12 x Rafale multi-role combat aircraft (ordered)
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles for MiG-29s
- R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium-range air-to-air missiles for MiG-29s
- R-77 (AA-12 Adder) medium-range air-to-air missiles for MiG-29s
- CM-400AKG air-launched ballistic missiles (-> Serbian MiGs armed with Chinese hypersonic missiles)
- KAB-500KR/S, LS-6-500 guided bombs
Slovak Republic (5.4 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 14 x F-16V multi-role combat aircraft
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C/D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs
- GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-158 JASSM-ER cruise missile
Slovenia (2.1 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
The country does not have any combat aircraft; Slovenia’s airspace is monitored by NATO partner Italy.
Spain (47.5 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 19 x F-5M, light multi-role combat aircraft
- 15 x Eurofighter Tranche 1 fighter aircraft
- 32 x Eurofighter Tranche 2 multi-role combat aircraft
- 20 x Eurofighter Tranche 3 multi-role combat aircraft
- 45 x Eurofighter Tranche 4 multi-role combat aircraft ordered (Halcon I and Halcon II)
- 81 x EF-18A/B/M, multi-role combat aircraft
- 13 x EAV-8B+, multi-role combat aircraft
Armament options:
- AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air guided missiles
- IRIS-T, short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM Medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor, long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-12,16, 38 JDAM guided bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air/ground guided missiles
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radar air-to-ground guided missiles
- AGM-84 Hatpoon anti-ship guided missiles
- Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile
Czech Republic (10.5 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 16 x L-159A light combat aircraft (-> Czech Republic extends service life of L-159A)
- 14 x Gripen C/D multi-role fighter aircraft (-> Czech Republic extends Gripen leasing until 2035)
- 24 x F-35A multi-role fighter aircraft ordered to replace the Gripen C/D
Armament options:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-53/B, JDAM, BLU-109, Mk-84 guided and unguided bombs
Ukraine (36.7 million inhabitants)
- F-16A fighter planes (-> Dutch and US veterans fly F-16s for Ukraine)
- Mirage 2000-5 multi-role combat aircraft
- MiG-29 multi-role combat aircraft
- Su-27 fighter aircraft
- Su-24 fighter bomber
- Su-25 ground attack aircraft
Current unit numbers are limited due to the war with Russia cannot be determined.
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles
- R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- Magic-2 short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- JDAM, AASM Hammer-guided bombs
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
- SCALP-EG, Storm Shadow cruise missile
Hungary (9.6 million inhabitants, NATO, EU)
- 4 x L-39NG armed jet trainers (-> Hungary takes over further L-39NG Skyfox)
- 18 x Gripen C/D multi-role fighters (4 of them in delivery)
Armament options:
- IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- GBU-49 guided bombs
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb guided glide bombs
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
United Kingdom (67.7 million inhabitants, NATO)
- 4 x Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 fighter aircraft (1435 Flight, RAF Mount Pleasant, Falklands until 2027)
- 67 x Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 2 multi-role combat aircraft
- 40 x Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3 multi-role combat aircraft
- 38 x F-35A/B multi-role fighters (another 99 on order)
Armament options:
- AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles
- Paveway IV, GBU-31, 38 guided bombs
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, JDAM-ER guided glide bombs
- Brimstone, SPEAR-3 air-to-ground missiles
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radar air-to-ground missiles
Belarus (9.2 million inhabitants)
- 11 x Yak-130 armed jet trainers
- 31 x MiG-29 fighter aircraft
- 16 x Su-30SM/SM2 multi-role combat aircraft
- 55 x Su-25 close air support/ground attack aircraft
Armament options:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles
- R-77 (AA-12 Adder) medium-range air-to-air missiles
- Ch-29, Ch-31 and Ch-59 air-to-ground missiles
- Guided and unguided bombs
A small part (presumably 12 units) of the Su-25 fleet was modified to be able to use Russian nuclear weapons.
F-16: „MiG-Killer” übersiedelt ins Militärmuseum Soesterberg
Cyprus (1.4 million inhabitants, EU)
The country has no combat aircraft of its own. However, Cyprus has very close security cooperation with Greece. Immediately after British bases in Cyprus were attacked with drones during the Iran war, Greece deployed a swarm of F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus. The fighter jets are “actively involved in the protection of Cypriot airspace”, according to the statement.
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