The US boasts approximately 13,000 military aircraft. Comparatively, China and Russia, the world’s next-largest aerial powers, have a total of only 2,000 to 3,000 military aircraft each.

But this map is only a quantitative measurement of air power, and there are several additional factors beyond total aircraft that need to be taken into account when measuring countries’ air forces against one another.

For instance, the map does not display the presence of various countries’ air-force bases. Overseas bases are critical for US force projection, as they allow America to station its various military aircraft in locations all throughout the world.

Read more at Business Insider

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