The following is a list of currently active military aircraft in the United States Air Force.
The following is a list of currently active military aircraft in the United States Air Force.
 | This section duplicates the scope of other articles, specifically List of active United States military aircraft#Air Force.(April 2024) |
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter aircraft (1,690) | |||||
| F-15 Eagle | United States | air superiority | F-15C | 145 | 145 F-15C total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 29 F-15C - Active 116 F-15C - Air National Guard Trainer aircraft listed separately. |
| F-15E Strike Eagle | United States | multirole | 218 | 218 F-15E total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac) [1] | |
| F-15EX Eagle II | United States | multirole | 8 (operationals) | As of January 2024: 104(Maximum number of aircraft planned for deployment) | |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | multirole | F-16C | 726 | 726 F-16C total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 418 F-16C - Active 258 F-16C - Air National Guard 50 F-16C - Reserve 708 F-16C operational (WAF 2025). [2] Trainer aircraft listed separately. |
| F-22 Raptor | United States | stealth air superiority | F-22A | 185 | 185 F-22A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 165 F-22A - Active 20 - Air National Guard 178 F-22A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| F-35 Lightning II | United States | stealth multirole | F-35A | 408 | 408 F-35A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 380 F-35A - Active 28 - Air National Guard 385 F-35A operational, 1,350 on order (WAF 2025). [2] |
| Attack aircraft (291) | |||||
| A-10 Thunderbolt II | United States | attack / CAS | A-10C | 261 | 261 A-10C total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 141 A-10C - Active 66 A-10C - Air National Guard 54 A-10C - Reserve 234 A-10C operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| AC-130 Ghostrider | United States | ground attack / CAS | AC-130J | 30 | 30 AC-130J total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac) [1] 30 AC-130J operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| Bomber (141) | |||||
| B-1 Lancer | United States | strategic bomber | B-1B | 45 | 45 B-1B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 40 B-1B operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| B-2 Spirit | United States | stealth strategic bomber | B-2A | 20 | 20 B-2A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 18 B-2A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| B-52 Stratofortress | United States | strategic bomber | B-52H | 76 | 76 B-52H total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 72 B-52H operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| AWACS (26) | |||||
| E-3 Sentry | United States | AWACS | E-3B/G | 15 | 15 E-3B/G total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 19 E-3B/G operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| E-4 Nightwatch | United States | command and control | E-4B | 4 | 4 E-4B as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 4 E-4B operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| E-9A Widget | Canada | SIGINT / ELINT | E-9A | 2 | 2 E-9A as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] |
| E-11A | Canada | command and control / BACN | E-11A | 5 | 5 E-11A as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 6 E-11A operational, 4 on order (WAF 2025). [2] |
| Electronic Warfare (14) | |||||
| EA-37B Compass Call | United States | SIGINT / PSYOP / attack | EA-37B | 3 | 3 EC-37B operational, 7 on order (WAF 2025). [2] |
| EC-130H Compass Call | United States | radar jamming / PSYOP | 6 | 6 EC-130H as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 4 EC-130H operational (WAF 2025). [2] | |
| EC-130 Commando Solo | United States | radar jamming / PSYOP | EC-130J | 5 | 5 EC-130J as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 0 EC-130J - Air National Guard as of September 20, 2024 [3] |
| Reconnaissance | |||||
| IPTN CN-235 | Spain/Indonesia | SIGINT / ELINT | 5 [4] | ||
| MC-12W Liberty | United States | SIGINT / surveillance | W | 40 [5] | |
| OA-1K Sky Warden | United States | armed reconnaissance | 3 [5] | ||
| P-9 Pale Ale | Canada | Maritime patrol | P-9A | 4 | 4 P-9A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] |
| RC-135 Rivet Joint | United States | ELINT / surveillance | S/U/V/W | 22 [4] | The breakdown is as follows: 1 RC-135S Cobra Ball, 2 RC-135U Combat Sent, 1 RC-135V Rivet Joint, 18 RC-135W Rivet Joint. |
| U-2 Dragon Lady | United States | high altitude reconnaissance | U-2S | 27 | 27 U-2S as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 24 U-2S operational (WAF 2025). [2] Trainer aircraft listed separately. |
| U-28A Draco | Switzerland | ISR / SIGINT | U-28A | 26 [4] | |
| Tanker | |||||
| KC-46 Pegasus | United States | aerial refueling | KC-46A | 72 | 72 KC-46A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 88 KC-46A operational, 86 on order (WAF 2025). [2] |
| KC-135 Stratotanker | United States | aerial refueling | KC-135R/T | 376 | 325 KC-135R / 51 KC-135T total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 123 KC-135R / 28 KC-135T - Active 140 KC-135R / 23 KC-135T - Air National Guard 62 KC-135R - Reserve 375 KC-135R / KC-135T operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| KC-130 | United States | aerial refueling / transport | KC-130J | 57 | |
| Transport | |||||
| C-5 Galaxy | United States | strategic airlifter | C-5M | 52 [4] | |
| C-12 Huron | United States | utility / transport | 23 [4] | ||
| C-12J | United States | transport | C-12J | 3 [4] | |
| C-17 Globemaster III | United States | strategic airlifter | 222 | 222 C-17A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 146 C-17A - Active 50 C-17A - Air National Guard 26 C-17A - Reserve 220 C-17A operational (WAF 2025). [2] | |
| C-21A | United States | VIP transport | C-21A | 19 [4] | |
| C-32 | United States | VIP transport | 4 [4] | ||
| C-37A/B | United States | VIP transport | C-37A C-37B | 13 [6] | The breakdown is 12 C-37As and one C-37B (based on the Gulfstream G550). |
| C-40 Clipper | United States | VIP transport | C-40B/C | 12 [7] | The breakdown is four C-40Bs and seven C-40Cs. |
| C-130 Hercules | United States | transport | C-130H | 153 [2] | |
| C-130J Super Hercules | United States | tactical airlifter | C-130J | 198 aircraft (maximum number of aircraft planned for deployment) | Of these, 172 are in active service and the remaining 26 are on order. [4] |
| C-146 Wolfhound | Germany | transport | C-146A | 20 [4] | |
| HC-130J Super Hercules | United States | SAR / transport / tanker | 40 [2] | ||
| MC-130J Commando II | United States | EW / transport / tanker | 57 [2] | ||
| U-27A Caravan | United States | transport / utility | 2 [4] | ||
| U-28A Draco | Switzerland | transport / utility | U-28A | 35 [4] | It is primarily used as a small transport aircraft by Air Force Special Operations Command. |
| UV-18B Twin Otter | Canada | utility transport | 3 [5] | STOL capable aircraft.It is primarily used as a training aircraft for parachute troops at the military academy. | |
| VC-25 | United States | Presidential transport | 2 [7] | ||
| Helicopter | |||||
| HH-60 Pave Hawk | United States | CSAR | UH-60A/HH-60G/U/W | 223(UH-60A x 10, MH-60G x 19, HH-60U x 82, HH-60W x 112) | As of January 2024, four HH-60Ws have been delivered out of a planned total of 112. |
| MH-139 Grey Wolf | Italy | utility | MH-139 | 79 aircraft (maximum number of aircraft planned for deployment) | Of these, 4 are deployed and the remaining 75 are on order. [4] |
| UH-1N Iroquois | United States | utility | 63 | 63 UH-1N total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 64 UH-1N operational (WAF 2025). [2] | |
| V-22 Osprey | United States | CSAR | CV-22B | 52 | 52 CV-22B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 51 CV-22B operational, 2 on order (WAF 2025). [2] |
| Trainers | |||||
| A-29 Super Tucano | Brazil | assessment trainer | A-29C | 3 [4] | |
| F-117 Nighthawk | United States | trainer | 4 [4] | stealth OPFOR trainer | |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | trainer | F-16D | 136 | 136 F-16D total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 98 F-16D - Active 37 F-16D - Air National Guard 1 F-16D - Reserve 133 F-16D operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| F-15 Eagle | United States | trainer | F-15D | 24 | 12 F-15D total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 1 F-15D - Active 11 F-15D - Air National Guard 17 F-15D operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| G120TP | Germany | basic trainer | 2 [4] | contracted by JPAG Aviation | |
| T-1A Jayhawk | United States | multi-engine trainer | T-1A | 127 | 127 T-1A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 98 T-6A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| T-6 Texan II | United States | advanced trainer | T-6A | 442 | 442 T-6A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 442 T-6A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| T-7 Red Hawk | United States | advanced trainer | T-7A | 351 units (maximum number of units planned for deployment) | Of these, one unit is deployed and the remaining 350 units are on order. [4] |
| T-38 Talon | United States | jet trainer | T-38A/C | 495 | 495 T-38A / T-38C / AT-38B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 52 T-38A / 6 AT-38B / 437 T-38C - Active 485 C-17A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| T-41 Mescalero | United States | basic trainer | T-41D | 4 | 4 total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] |
| T-51 Cessna | United States | basic trainer | T-51A | 3 | 3 total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] |
| T-53A Kadet II | United States | basic trainer | T-53A | 24 | 24 T-53A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 25 T-53A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| TC-135 Stratolifter | United States | multi-engine trainer | TC-135W | 3 | 3 TC-135W total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 3 TC-135W operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| TH-1 Iroquois | United States | rotorcraft trainer | UH-1H | 28 | 28 UH-1H total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 39 T-53A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| TU-2 Dragon Lady | United States | high altitude reconnaissance trainer | TU-2S | 4 | 4 TU-2S total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 3 TU-2S operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| UAV | |||||
| MQ-9 Reaper | United States | multi-mission | MQ-9A | 244 | 244 MQ-9A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] 220 MQ-9A - Active 24 MQ-9A - Air National Guard 244 MQ-9A operational (WAF 2025). [2] |
| RQ-4 Global Hawk | United States | ISTAR / SIGINT | RQ-4B | 9 | 9 RQ-4B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). [1] |
| RQ-11 Raven | United States | ISR | RQ-11B | 3,000 [8] | |
| RQ-20 Puma | United States | ISR | RQ-20B | 60 [9] | Puma 3 AE variant is on order [10] [11] |
| RQ-170 Sentinel | United States | ISTAR / SIGINT | 20 [12] [13] | ||
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the United States Armed Forces in 1947 with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the second youngest branch of the United States Armed Forces and the fourth in order of precedence. The United States Air Force articulates its core missions as air supremacy, global integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the Predator carries cameras and other sensors. It was modified and upgraded to carry and fire two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or other munitions. The aircraft entered service in 1995, and saw combat in the war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the NATO intervention in Bosnia, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the Iraq War, Yemen, the 2011 Libyan civil war, the 2014 intervention in Syria, and Somalia.
The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft introduced in 2001. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical, and known as Tier II+ during development. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors with long loiter times over target areas.
The IAI RQ-5 Hunter is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) originally intended to serve as the United States Army's Short Range UAV system for division and corps commanders. It took off and landed on runways. It used a gimbaled EO/IR sensor to relay its video in real time via a second airborne Hunter over a C-band line-of-sight data link. The RQ-5 is based on the Hunter UAV that was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It, along with the Army National Guard component of each state, district, commonwealth or territory, makes up the National Guard of each region as applicable.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the special operations component of the United States Air Force. An Air Force major command (MAJCOM), AFSOC is also the U.S. Air Force component command to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a unified combatant command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. AFSOC provides all Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified combatant commands.
The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an American high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed for and flown by the United States Navy and Royal Australian Air Force as a surveillance aircraft. Together with its associated ground control station, it is an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, the Triton is intended to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions, continuous maritime surveillance, conduct search and rescue missions, and to complement the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074 Regular Force and 1,969 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles. Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff.
The Republic of Korea Air Force, also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, is the aerial and space warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.
Harrisburg Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Harrisburg International Airport, Pennsylvania. It is located 1.7 miles (2.7 km) west-southwest of Middletown, Pennsylvania.
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a small hand-launched remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle developed for the United States military, but now adopted by the military forces of many other countries.
The 193rd Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Middletown, Pennsylvania. The wing is gained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when in a "state" status, as well as by the United States Air Force and Air Force Special Operations Command in its Federal capacity as part of the Air National Guard. The wing was organized as a group, the 193rd Tactical Electronic Warfare Group. Although it has never been mobilized as a unit, most of its equipment and personnel have been individually called up to serve in Southeast Asia and in Desert Storm.
The United States Marine Corps Aviation (USMCA) is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps. Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, as the aviation combat element, by providing six functions: assault support, antiair warfare, close air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance. The Corps operates rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces. Other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles. All Marine Corps aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation, especially acquisition of new assets, conversions of current aircraft, maintenance, operation, and command.
Naval Air Warfare Center is a research organization within Naval Air Systems Command to test and evaluate air warfare for the United States Navy. The center combines the following divisions:
Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) is a NATO programme to acquire an airborne ground surveillance capability (Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program on the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk). The NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force (NAGSF) was activated in September 2015, after it was formally agreed on the configuration of the unit responsible for operating the remotely piloted aircraft.
The Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel, nicknamed Wraith, is an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Lockheed Martin and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While the USAF has released few details on the UAV's design or capabilities, defense analysts believe that it is a stealth aircraft fitted with aerial reconnaissance equipment. Introduced in 2007, it was deployed to Afghanistan in late 2007, and to South Korea two years later, in September 2009. Some images and details of the aircraft were released after Iran captured an RQ-170 in 2011. It has a flying wing design, and uses a single engine, speculated to be either a General Electric TF34 turbofan or a Garrett TFE731.
The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is an American unmanned aircraft system which is small, battery powered, and hand-launched. Its primary mission is surveillance and intelligence gathering using an electro-optical and infrared camera. It is produced by AeroVironment.
The Boeing MQ-25 Stingray is an aerial refueling drone that resulted from the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) program, which grew out of the earlier Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program. The MQ-25 first flew on 19 September 2019.