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The equipment of the United States Air Force can be subdivided into: aircraft, ammunition, weapons, and ground vehicles. [1]
Aircraft | Manufacturer | Origin | Propulsion | Role | Control | Introduced/IOC | Inventory | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A-10C Thunderbolt II | Fairchild Republic | USA | Jet | CAS / Attack | Manned | 2007 (A-10C) [2] | 261 [3] | The Air Force is seeking to divest 56 A-10s in FY2025. [4] |
A-29C Super Tucano | Sierra Nevada Corporation [5] | Brazil | Propeller | CAS / Attack | Manned | 3 [3] | Operated by Air Force Special Operations Command. Delivered in 2021. Planned to divest. [5] | |
AC-130J Ghostrider | Lockheed | USA | Propeller | CAS / Attack | Manned | 2017 (AC-130J) [6] | 31 [7] | Final aircraft delivered in 2022. [7] |
B-1B Lancer | Rockwell International | USA | Jet | Bomber | Manned | 1986 [8] | 45 [3] | Long-range conventional bomber. Employs variable-sweep wing design. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider around 2032. [8] 9 to be divested in FY2027. [9] |
B-2A Spirit | Northrop Grumman | USA | Jet | Bomber | Manned | 1997 [8] | 20 [3] | Stealth long-range nuclear-capable heavy bomber. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider around 2032. [8] One aircraft to be divested in FY2025. [10] |
B-21 Raider | Northrop Grumman | USA | Jet | Bomber | Optionally piloted [11] | 1 [3] | Stealth long-range nuclear-capable heavy bomber. The first B-21 test aircraft made its maiden flight in November 2023. [12] To replace the B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer around 2032. [11] | |
B-52H Stratofortress | Boeing | USA | Jet | Bomber | Manned | 1961 (B-52H) [11] | 76 [13] | Currently undergoing re-engining. Expected to serve into the 2050s. [11] |
C-5M Super Galaxy | Lockheed | USA | Jet | Strategic airlifter | Manned | 2014 (C-5M) [14] | 52 [3] | |
C-12C/D/F/J Huron | Beechcraft | USA | Propeller | Transport | Manned | c. 1974 [14] | 29 [3] | |
C-130H Hercules | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Tactical airlifter | Manned | c. 1974 [15] | 126 [3] | The C-130J is replacing the C-130H on a one-for-one basis. The Air Force has Congressionally mandated floor of 271 C-130 aircraft. 6 to be divested in FY2025. [16] |
C-130J Super Hercules/J-30 Super Hercules | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Tactical airlifter | Manned | 2006 [15] | 151 [3] | |
C-146A Wolfhound [17] | Fairchild-Dornier | Germany | Propeller | Transport | Manned | c. 2011 [6] | 20 [18] | Delivered 2011–2017. [6] Flown with the 524th Special Operations Squadron [19] |
C-147A | De Havilland Canada | Canada | Propeller | Transport | Manned | For the U.S. Army Parachute Team [20] | ||
C-17A Globemaster III | McDonnell Douglas/Boeing | USA | Jet | Strategic airlifter | Manned | 1995 [21] | 222 [3] | These were produced by McDonnell-Douglas prior to the merger with Boeing. |
C-21A Learjet 35 | Learjet | USA | Jet | VIP transport | Manned | 1984 [21] | 19 [3] | |
C-32A/B Air Force Two | Boeing | USA | Jet | VIP transport | Manned | 1998 [22] | 4/2 [3] | |
C-37A/B Gulfstream V | Gulfstream | USA | Jet | VIP transport | Manned | 1998 [22] | 9/7 [3] | VIP transport. 16 planned. [23] |
C-40B/C | Boeing | USA | Jet | VIP transport | Manned | 2003 [22] | 4/7 [3] | |
CN-235 | CASA | Spain | Propeller | Reconnaissance | Manned | 1988 | 5 [18] | Flown with the 427th Special Operations Squadron |
CV-22B Osprey | Bell, Boeing | USA | Tiltrotor | CSAR / transport | Manned | 2006 [24] | 52 [3] | 2 on order. [25] Two aging CV-22Bs will be divested in FY2025 and be replaced with new aircraft. [26] |
E-3B/G Sentry (AWACS) | Boeing | USA | Jet | AWACS | Manned | 1977; 2014 (Block 40/45) [27] | 15 [3] | To be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail [28] |
E-4B (NAOC) | Boeing | USA | Jet | Command and control | Manned | 1978 (E-4B) [29] | 4 [3] | Assigned to the 595th Command and Control Group. To be replaced by the Survivable Airborne Operations Center. [30] |
E-9A Widget | De Havilland Canada | Canada | Propeller | Surveillance | Manned | 1988 [29] | 2 [3] | Military surveillance version of the DHC-8-100, used for missile range control |
E-11A (BACN) [31] | Northrop Grumman | USA / Canada | Jet | Command and control / BACN | Manned | c. 2011 [32] | 5 [3] | 2 aircraft to be divested in FY2025. [33] Nine planned. [34] |
EA-37B Compass Call | Gulfstream | USA | Jet | Radar jamming / PSYOP | Manned | 2026 [34] | 1 [35] | 2 ordered [25] Replacement for EC-130H Compass Call. [35] 10 planned. [34] |
EC-130H Compass Call | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Radar jamming / PSYOP | Manned | 1983; Block 35, 2011 [36] | 5 [35] | To be replaced by EA-37B Compass Call in FY2025. [37] [35] |
EC-130J & Super-J | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Radar jamming / PSYOP | Manned | 2004 [24] | 5 [3] | All Commando Solos retired. Super-J's to be replaced by MC-130s. [24] |
F-117 Nighthawk | Lockheed | USA | Jet | Aggressor aircraft/research and development | Manned | 1983 [5] | 4 [18] | Although officially retired in 2008, the aircraft has been involved in various exercises beginning around 2020. [5] The Air Force possesses 45 F-117s, some in flyable condition, As of 2023 [update] . The Air Force plans to operate the type through 2034. [38] |
F-15C/D Eagle | McDonnell Douglas | USA | Jet | Air superiority | Manned | 1979 (F-15C/D) [39] | 149 [40] | 12 D variants [3] are used for training. The Air Force is seeking to divest 65 F-15s in FY2025. [41] |
F-15E Strike Eagle | McDonnell Douglas/Boeing | USA | Jet | Multirole, primarily strike | Manned | 1989 [39] | 218 [42] | The Air Force is seeking to divest 26 F-15Es with -220 engines in FY2025. [41] |
F-15EX Eagle II | McDonnell Douglas/Boeing | USA | Jet | Multirole, primarily strike | Manned | 2024 (planned) [43] | 8 [44] | F-15C/D Eagle replacement. [45] 104 planned. [46] |
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon | General Dynamics | USA | Jet | Multirole | Manned | 1981 (Block 25-32); 1989 (Block 40/42); 1994 (Block 50/52) [47] | 862 [3] | The Air Force is seeking to divest 11 older F-16C/Ds in FY2025. [48] |
F-22A Raptor | Lockheed Martin | USA | Jet | Air superiority | Manned | 2005 [49] | 185 [3] | Stealth capable aircraft. To be replaced by NGAD. The Air Force is seeking to divest 32 Block 20 F-22s in FY2025. [50] |
F-35A Lightning II | Lockheed Martin | USA | Jet | Multirole | Manned | 2016 [49] | 408 [3] | 7 on order [25] 1,763 planned. [51] |
HC-130J Combat King II | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Search and rescue | Manned | 2013 [52] | 39 [3] | |
HH-60G/U Pave Hawk | Sikorsky | USA | Helicopter | CSAR | Manned | 1982 [53] | 64 [3] | To be replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II.The Air Force is seeking to divest 12 HH-60G in FY2025. [54] |
HH-60W Jolly Green II | Sikorsky | USA | Helicopter | CSAR | Manned | 2022 [53] | 32 [3] | To replace the HH-60G/U Pave Hawk. 85 planned. [55] |
KC-10A Extender | McDonnell Douglas | USA | Jet | Aerial refueling | Manned | 1982 [56] | 21 [3] | Last combat mission flown in 2023. Retirement scheduled for 2024. [57] |
KC-135R/T Stratotanker | Boeing | USA | Jet | Aerial refueling | Manned | 1957 [14] | 376 [3] | The Air Force is seeking to divest 16 KC-135R/T in FY2025. [58] |
KC-46A Pegasus | Boeing | USA | Jet | Aerial refueling | Manned | FY24 (planned) [59] | 86 [60] | 179 planned. [34] |
LC-130H Hercules | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Cargo aircraft | Manned | c. 1984 [61] | 10 [62] | Assigned to 109th Airlift Wing |
MC-12W Liberty | Beechcraft | USA | Propeller | Multi-mission/Special Operations | Manned | 2009 [24] | 36 [18] | USSOCOM and Air National Guard. To be replaced in USSOCOM by OA-1K Sky Warden [24] |
MC-130J Commando II | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Multi-mission/Special Operations | Manned | 2012 [63] | 57 [3] 64 planned. [64] | |
MH-139A Grey Wolf | AgustaWestland | Utility helicopter | Manned | 2023 (planned) [65] | 7 | 6 test aircraft and 1 production aircraft have been delivered. 20 on order. 42 planned. [66] | ||
MQ-1B Predator | General Atomics | USA | Propeller | Multi-mission | Unmanned | 1 [3] | ||
MQ-9A Reaper | General Atomics | USA | Propeller | Multi-mission [67] | Unmanned | 2007, 2015 (ER) [68] | 224 [3] | |
BQM-167 Skeeter | Composite Engineering | Jet | Target drone | Unmanned | 2008 [68] | 37 [68] | Subscale aerial target. 800+ planned. [69] | |
P-9A Pale Ale | Bombardier | Canada | Propeller | Maritime patrol | Manned | 4 [3] | Government-owned contractor-operated fleet tasked with monitoring drug trafficking. [36] | |
QF-16A/C | Boeing | USA | Jet | Target drone [70] | Optionally piloted [70] | 2016 [70] | 73 [3] | Conversion of an F-16 Fighting Falcon to full-scale aerial target. Final deliveries will take place 2024–2025. [70] 126 planned. [71] |
RC-135S/U/V/W Cobra Ball/Combat Sent/Rivet Joint | Boeing | USA | Jet | Reconnaissance / ELINT / surveillance | Manned | 1972 | 25 [3] | |
RQ-170 Sentinel | Lockheed Martin | USA | Jet | Multi-Mission | Unmanned | 2007[ citation needed ] | ||
RQ-20 Puma | AeroVironment | USA | Propeller | Patrol | Unmanned | 2008 | ||
RQ-4B Global Hawk | Northrop Grumman | USA | Jet | ISTAR | Unmanned | 2011 (Block 30), 2016 (Block 40) [68] | 9 [72] | |
Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft | DZYNE Technologies | USA | Propeller | Surveillance | Unmanned | c. 2024 | ||
T-1A Jayhawk | Raytheon | USA | Jet | Trainer | Manned | 1993 [65] | 127 [3] | Multi-engine trainer. The Air Force is seeking to divest 22 T-1s in FY2025. [73] |
T-38A/C/AT-38B Talon | Northrop | USA | Jet | Trainer | Manned | 1961 [74] | 495 [3] | To be replaced by the T-7A. The Air Force is seeking to divest 17 T-38A/Cs in FY2026. [75] |
T-41D Mescalero | Cessna | USA | Propeller | Basic trainer | Manned | 1964 | 4 [3] | |
T-51A Cessna | Cessna | USA | Propeller | Basic trainer | Manned | 1957 | 3 [3] | |
T-53A Kadet II | Cirrus | USA | Propeller | Basic trainer | Manned | 1995 | 24 [3] | USAFA flight training aircraft |
T-6A Texan II | Raytheon/Beechcraft | USA | Propeller | Trainer | Manned | 2000 [76] | 442 [3] | |
T-7 Red Hawk | Boeing / Saab | USA | Jet | Trainer | Manned | 2028 (planned) [76] | 2 [77] | Replacement for the T-38 Talon. The first five test aircraft will be production representative. 351 planned. [78] |
TC-135S/W | Boeing | USA | Jet | Trainer | Manned | 1961 | 3 [3] | |
TG-15A | Glider | Trainer | Manned | 2 [3] | ||||
TG-15B | Glider | Trainer | Manned | 3 [3] | ||||
TG-16A | Glider | Trainer | Manned | 19 [3] | ||||
TG-17A | Glider | Trainer | Manned | 1 [3] | MDM MDM-1 Fox donated to the 94th Flying Training Squadron. [79] | |||
TH-1H Iroquois | Bell | USA | Helicopter | Trainer | Manned | c. 2009 [65] | 28 [3] | Light lift training helicopter [65] To be replaced by the MH-139A. [80] |
TU-2S Dragon Lady | Lockheed | USA | Jet | Conversion trainer | Manned | 4 [3] | The Air Force is seeking to divest all U-2s and TU-2s in FY2026. [81] | |
U-2S Dragon Lady | Lockheed | USA | Jet | Reconnaissance | Manned | c. 1981 (U-2R) [82] | 27 [81] | The Air Force plans to divest all U-2s and TU-2s in FY2026. [81] |
U-28A Draco/PC-12 | Pilatus | Switzerland | Propeller | Utility | Manned | 1991 | 30 U-28A/5 PC-12 [27] | PC-12 used for training. Used by SOCOM for reconnaissance. To be replaced in SOCOM by the OA-1K Sky Warden. [83] |
UH-1N Twin Huey/UH-1N Operational Support Airlift | Bell | USA | Helicopter | Utility | Manned | 1970 [65] | 63 [3] | Light lift helicopter. To be replaced by the MH-139 Grey Wolf. [65] The Air Force is seeking to divest 5 UH-1N and UH-1N OSA in FY2026. [84] |
UV-18B Twin Otter | De Havilland Canada | Canada | Propeller | Utility | Manned | 1988 | 3 [3] | USAFA parachute training aircraft |
VC-25A Air Force One | Boeing | USA | Jet | VIP transport | Manned | 1990 [61] | 2 [3] | Presidential Transport, operated by 89th Airlift Wing [85] To be replaced by the VC-25B. The Air Force is seeking to divest the VC-25A in FY2028. [86] |
WC-130J Hercules | Lockheed Martin | USA | Propeller | Weather reconnaissance | Manned | 2006 [82] | 10 [3] | Assigned to 403d Wing |
WC-135R Constant Phoenix | Boeing | USA | Jet | Atmospheric research | Manned | 2022 (WC-135R) [52] | 3 [3] | |
X-62 VISTA | General Dynamics | USA | Jet | In-flight simulator [74] | Optionally piloted [87] | 1992 [74] | 1 [74] | A highly modified version of the F-16D incorporating artificial intelligence used by the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School [74] |
Name | Type | Versions | Quantity | Picture |
---|---|---|---|---|
Humvee | Armored car | ? | ||
R-5 Refueler | Aircraft refueling vehicle | ? | ||
R-9 Refueler | Aircraft refueling vehicle | ? | ||
R-11 Refueler | Aircraft refueling vehicle | ? | ||
C300 | Ground refuel vehicle | ? |
Current attire [88] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Full pattern | Notes | |||
Army Combat Uniform | Uses Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP). Airman Battle Uniform phased out April 2021 [89] | ||||
Flight suit | Pilots, air crews and missile crews wear olive green or desert tan one-piece flight suits made of Nomex for fire protection. | ||||
Physical Training Uniform | Consists of shorts, T-shirt, jacket and pants. | ||||
Service dress uniform | Consists of a three-button coat, similar to that of a men's "sport jacket" (with silver "U.S." pins on the lapels), matching trousers, and either a service cap or flight cap, all in Shade 1620, "Air Force Blue" (a darker purplish-blue). This is worn with a light blue shirt (Shade 1550) and Shade 1620 herringbone patterned necktie. Enlisted members wear sleeve insignia on both the jacket and shirt, while officers wear metal rank insignia pinned onto the coat, and Air Force Blue slide-on epaulet loops on the shirt. | ||||
Mess dress | Consists of a dark blue mess jacket and matching trousers with antiqued silver buttons, miniature medals, blue bow-tie and cummerbund, and shoulder boards and silver wrist braids for officers. When wearing the blue tie and cummerbund, the uniform is considered equivalent to black-tie formal wear. For white-tie occasions, a white bow-tie and waistcoat are worn. |
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 Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American twin-engine, all-weather, supersonic stealth fighter aircraft developed and produced for the United States Air Force (USAF). As a product of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also incorporates ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22 airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while program partner Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The Lockheed Martin EC-130 series comprises several slightly different versions of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules that have been and continue to be operated by the U.S. Air Force and, until the 1990s, the U.S. Navy.
The McDonnell DouglasF-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic-warfare aircraft. United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles can be generally distinguished from other US Eagle variants by darker aircraft camouflage, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) mounted along the engine intake ramps and a tandem-seat cockpit.
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forces.
The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system introduced in 1962 by the United States Department of Defense for designating all U.S. military aircraft. Previously, the U.S. armed services used separate nomenclature systems.
The 142nd Wing is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard and the United States Air Force, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon.
The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is a low detection standoff air-launched cruise missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Armed Forces. It is a large, stealthy long-range weapon with a 1,000-pound (450 kg) armor piercing warhead. It completed testing and entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 2009, and has entered foreign service in Australia, Finland, and Poland as of 2014. An extended range version of the missile, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, entered service in 2014 as well as an anti-ship derivative, the AGM-158C LRASM in 2018. By September 2016, Lockheed Martin had delivered 2,000 total JASSMs comprising both variants to the USAF. In August 2024 the US was reportedly considering supplying JASSM missiles to Ukraine.
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The Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, initially known as the Boeing T-X, is an American–Swedish subsonic advanced jet trainer produced by Boeing with Saab. In September 2018, the United States Air Force (USAF) selected it for the T-X program to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon as the service's advanced jet trainer.
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The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) under development by Lockheed Martin. Designed to address advanced threats, the missile is expected to replace or supplement the AIM-120 AMRAAM currently in US service. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) considers the AIM-260A JATM program to be the number one air-delivered weapon priority for both the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the Navy (USN); and its acquisition out-prioritizes other weapon system improvements and modernization efforts on any fielded aircraft. As of May 2024, the House Armed Services Committee was investigating whether more late-variant AMRAAMs would be required in light of the AIM-260 JATM not having entered full-scale production, though the USAF insisted in May 2023 that AIM-260 development and production was on-schedule.
The AGM-183 ARRW is a hypersonic air-to-ground ballistic missile planned for use by the United States Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the boost-glide vehicle is propelled to a maximum speed of more than Mach 5 by a rocket motor before gliding toward its target. The program was cancelled in March 2023 after multiple failed tests. The program, however, continued despite the cancellation and was announced to still be in development following additional, undisclosed testing. However in 2024 it was announced that in the fiscal year 2025 budget, no funding would be provided for procurement or further research and development.
The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) is a United States Air Force (USAF) sixth-generation air superiority initiative with a goal of fielding a "family of systems" that is to succeed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. A crewed fighter aircraft is the centerpiece program of NGAD and has been referred to as the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA) platform and is to be supported by uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), or loyal wingman platforms, through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft resulted from the U.S. Department of Defense's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation study in 2018 to recapitalize the aging F-15C/D fleet due to inadequate numbers of F-22s, delays in the F-35 program, and maintaining diversity in the U.S. fighter industrial base through Boeing's St. Louis division. The F-15EX is expected to replace the F-15C/D in performing homeland and air defense missions and also serve as an affordable platform for employing large stand-off weapons to augment the frontline F-22 and F-35. The aircraft was first delivered in 2021 and entered operational service in July 2024.
Collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) is a US program for unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that is considered broadly equivalent to a loyal wingman. CCAs are intended to operate in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Unlike the conventional UCAVs, the CCA incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), denoted an "autonomy package", increasing its survivability on the battlefield. It is still expected to cost much less than a manned aircraft with similar capabilities. The US Air Force plans to spend more than $8.9 billion on its CCA programs from fiscal years 2025 to 2029, with an additional $661 million planned for fiscal year 2024. The success of the CCA program may lessen the need for additional manned squadrons.
The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is a tactical air-to-surface missile under development for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Northrop Grumman.
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