US vs China: Who Would Dominate in a War? A Deep Dive into Their Military Strength

US vs China: The rivalry between the United States and China has been widely known, with both nations having powerful air forces and military forces. This tension has increased further since Donald Trump took office in the US. People around the world are curious about which country’s military is more powerful, and if war were to break out, who would come out on top. Let’s explore the power of both countries' militaries based on the latest data.
According to the Global Firepower 2025 report, the United States ranks 1st, while China is ranked 3rd in terms of military strength.
US vs China:
Active Military Personnel:
The United States currently has 1,328,000 active-duty soldiers. In comparison, China has 2,035,000 active-duty soldiers, a much higher number.
Reserve Military Personnel:
The US has 799,500 reserve soldiers, while China has 510,300 reserve personnel.
Air Force:
According to the report, the United States has a total of 13,043 aircraft, whereas China has 3,309 aircraft.
Fighter Aircraft:
The US Air Force operates 1,790 fighter aircraft, while China has 1,212 fighter aircraft.
Dedicated Attack Aircraft:
The United States has 889 dedicated attack aircraft, while China operates 371.
Transport Aircraft:
The US has 918 transport aircraft, compared to China’s 289.
Aerial Tanker Aircraft:
The US has 605 aerial tanker aircraft, while China has only 10.

The United States has a total of 5,843 helicopters, while China has 913.
Attack Helicopters:
The US possesses 1,002 attack helicopters, while China has 281.
Tanks:
The US Army has 4,640 tanks, whereas China has 6,800 tanks.
Armored Vehicles:
The United States has 391,963 armored vehicles, while China has 144,017 armored vehicles.