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The equipment of the United States Air Force can be subdivided into: aircraft, ammunition, weapons, and ground vehicles.[1]
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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. |