WeaponSpecs

Most widely operated transport aircraft

15 of the 20 transport aircraft in the WeaponSpecs database publish an operator countries figure. Ranked on the published number alone, highest first, with no weighting and no composite score. The 5 transport aircraft with no published figure are not ranked, absent data is never treated as a low value.

4 of the 15 entries below (Russia, China) rest on manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, marked † in the table. Treat their position in this ranking as directional, not tested.
Most widely operated transport aircraft, ranked by published operator countries
# System Operator countries Source
1 C-295

Spain flag Airbus Defence and Space

40 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

2 C-130J Super Hercules

United States flag Lockheed Martin

25 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

3 Il-76MD-90A

Russia flag Ilyushin

15 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

4 A330 MRTT

Spain flag Airbus Defence and Space

10 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-26

5 A400M Atlas

France flag Airbus Defence and Space

9 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

6 C-17 Globemaster III

United States flag Boeing

8 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

7 Embraer C-390 Millennium

Brazil flag Embraer Defense & Security

6 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-05

8 Il-78M

Russia flag Ilyushin

2 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

9 C-5M Super Galaxy

United States flag Lockheed Martin

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

10 KC-46 Pegasus

United States flag Boeing

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

11 Y-9

China flag Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC)

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

12 Y-20

China flag Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC)

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

13 Kawasaki P-1

Japan flag Kawasaki Heavy Industries

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

14 AC-130J Ghostrider

United States flag Lockheed Martin

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

15 Kawasaki C-2

Japan flag Kawasaki Heavy Industries

1 reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

Compiled from public manufacturer, defense-ministry and reference sources. Published defense figures are approximations and are often stated under different conditions, so treat this ordering as directional rather than a tested result. A board is only generated where at least 5 systems in the class publish the figure. How we compile specs →

Other transport aircraft rankings

Operator countries in other classes