List of active United States Air Force aircraft explained

The following is a list of currently active military aircraft in the United States Air Force.

Aircraft

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat Aircraft
F-22 RaptorUnited Statesstealth air superiority186
F-35 Lightning IIUnited Statesstealth multiroleF-35A2341,372 planned. Another 129 F-35A variants are used for training
F-16 Fighting FalconUnited Statesmultirole738Another 137 F-16D variants are used for training
F-15 EagleUnited Statesair superiorityF-15C149[1] 18 D variants are used for training
F-15E Strike EagleUnited Statesmultirole219[2]
F-15EX Eagle IIUnited Statesmultirole2102 on order
A-10 Thunderbolt IIUnited Statesattack / CASA-10C270[3]
AC-130 GhostriderUnited Statesground attack / CAS29
B-1 LancerUnited Statesstrategic bomberB-1B42employs variable-sweep wing design
B-2 SpiritUnited Statesstealth strategic bomber19
B-52 StratofortressUnited Statesstrategic bomberB-52H72
AWACS
E-3 SentryUnited StatesAWACSE-3B/C/G21
E-4 NightwatchUnited Statescommand and controlE-4B4
E-11ACanadacommand and control / BACNE-11A74 on order
Electronic Warfare
EA-37BUnited StatesSIGINT / PSYOP / attackEA-37B19 on order
EC-130 Commando SoloUnited Statesradar jamming / PSYOPEC-130J7
EC-130H Compass CallUnited Statesradar jamming / PSYOP7
Reconnaissance
IPTN CN-235SIGINT / ELINT5
E-9A WidgetCanadaSIGINT / ELINT9[4]
MC-12W LibertyUnited StatesSIGINT / surveillanceW40
OA-1K Sky WardenUnited Statesarmed reconnaissance6 on order
RC-135 Rivet JointUnited StatesELINT / surveillanceS/U/V/W22
U-2 Dragon LadyUnited Stateshigh altitude reconnaissanceU-2S26
U-28A DracoSwitzerlandISR / SIGINTU-28A26
Tanker
KC-10 ExtenderUnited Statesaerial refueling20
KC-46 PegasusUnited Statesaerial refueling8499 on order
KC-135 StratotankerUnited Statesaerial refueling KC-135R/T377
MC-130J Commando IIUnited States574 on order
Transport
C-5 GalaxyUnited Statesstrategic airlifterC-5M52
C-12 HuronUnited Statesutility / transport23
C-12JUnited StatestransportC-12J3
C-17 Globemaster IIIUnited Statesstrategic airlifter228
C-21AUnited StatesVIP transportC-21A19
C-32United StatesVIP transport4
C-37A/BUnited StatesVIP transportC-37A
C-37B		13[5] 1 is the C-37B variant, based on the Gulfstream G550
C-40 ClipperUnited StatesVIP transportC-40B/C12[6]
C-130 HerculesUnited Statestransport C-130H158
C-130J Super HerculesUnited Statestactical airlifterC-130J17226 on order
GermanytransportC-146A20
HC-130J Super HerculesUnited StatesSAR / transport381 on order
U-27A CaravanUnited Statestransport / utility2
U-28A DracoSwitzerlandtransport / utilityU-28A12
UV-18B Twin OtterCanadautility transport1STOL capable aircraft
VC-25United StatesPresidential transport2
Helicopter
HH-60 Pave HawkUnited StatesCSARHH-60G/U96
MH-139 Grey WolfItalyutilityMH-139475 on order
UH-1N Twin HueyUnited Statesutility64
V-22 OspreyUnited StatesCSARCV-22B522 on order
Trainers
A-29 Super TucanoBrazilA-29C3
F-117 NighthawkUnited Statestrainer4stealth OPFOR trainer
G120TPGermanybasic trainer2contracted by JPAG Aviation
T-1 JayhawkUnited Statesmulti-engine trainer 131
T-6 Texan IIUnited Statesadvanced trainerT-6A444
T-7 Red HawkUnited Statesadvanced trainerT-7A1350 on order
T-38 TalonUnited Statesjet trainerT-38A/C497
T-53A Kadet IIUnited States basic trainerT-53A25
TC-135 StratolifterUnited Statesmulti-engine trainer3
TH-1 IroquoisUnited Statesrotorcraft trainerUH-1H39
TU-2 Dragon LadyUnited Stateshigh altitude reconnaissance trainerTU-24
UAV
MQ-9 ReaperUnited Statesmulti-missionMQ-9A50[7]
RQ-4 Global HawkUnited StatesISTAR / SIGINTRQ-4B33[8]
RQ-11 RavenUnited StatesISRRQ-11B3,000[9]
RQ-20 PumaUnited StatesISRRQ-20B60[10] Puma 3 AE variant is on order[11] [12]
RQ-170 SentinelUnited StatesISTAR / SIGINT20[13] [14]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Defense bill would let Air Force retire A-10s, F-15s — but not F-22s . defensenews.com . 7 December 2023.
  2. Web site: F-15E Strike Eagle . af.mil . 1 April 2019.
  3. Web site: Embraer . In association with . 2024 World Air Forces directory . 2023-12-23 . Flight Global . en.
  4. News: 2023 . World Air Forces 2023 . Flight Global . Flightglobal Insight . 17 July 2023 .
  5. Web site: C-37A/B. www.af.mil . 15 August 2023.
  6. Web site: C-40B/C . www.af.mil . 16 June 2018.
  7. Web site: USAF Fact Sheet - MQ-9. af.mil. March 2021. 12 May 2022.
  8. Web site: USAF Fact Sheet - RQ-4. af.mil. October 2014. 12 May 2022.
  9. Web site: RQ-11B Raven Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). airforce-technology.com. 12 October 2018. 12 May 2022.
  10. Web site: Unclassified - Exhibit P-40, Budget Line Item Justification: PB 2020 Air Force. 2. dacis.com. February 2019. 12 May 2022.
  11. Order announced July 2021. Number of units to be determined, order for Puma 3 AEs, Ravens and spares, totalling USD$15.9 million.
  12. Web site: AeroVironment Receives Puma 3 AE and Raven Unmanned Aircraft System Orders Totaling $15.9 Million from United States Air Force. businesswire.com. 22 July 2021. 12 May 2022.
  13. Web site: Declassified Docs Offer New Details About A Growing RQ-170 "Wraith" Force. thedrive.com. 3 May 2021. 12 May 2022.
  14. Web site: Introducing the RQ-170 Wraith. medium.com. 6 February 2014. 12 May 2022.

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