United States Air Force

Key facts

Official Name United States Air Force
Local Name US Air Force
Country🇺🇸 United States
World rank#1
Active aircrafts13042 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order3435
Roundel

Roundel of United States air force

Overview

The United States Air Force (USAF) is structured to project sovereign airpower across the globe. At the highest level, the Department of the Air Force is led by a civilian Secretary and the military Chief of Staff, who oversees the Air Staff. The force is organized into Major Commands (MAJCOMs) based on function, such as Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command, and geographically overseas, like Pacific Air Forces. These MAJCOMs command Numbered Air Forces (NAFs), which in turn control wings, groups, and squadrons, the foundational units of the service. This hierarchical structure ensures a clear chain of command for organizing, training, and equipping airmen.

The strategic doctrine of the USAF has evolved to address the challenges of "Great Power Competition." A central tenet is "centralized command, decentralized execution," which allows for strategic cohesion while giving operational commanders tactical flexibility. Recent doctrinal updates support the "One Force Design," an initiative to create a more lethal and resilient force by integrating the USAF's diverse capabilities. The five core functions underpinning this doctrine are Air Superiority, Global Precision Attack, Rapid Global Mobility, Global Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Command and Control. The concept of "strategic attack," striking an adversary's centers of gravity to achieve strategic effects without necessarily engaging their fielded forces directly, remains a key element of airpower doctrine.

The USAF is in a constant state of operational engagement worldwide. Its activities include Bomber Task Force deployments to Europe to demonstrate Agile Combat Employment concepts, and global health engagement missions in Latin America designed to strengthen partnerships. While specific details of many contemporary combat operations are not always publicly disclosed, the USAF provides air support to land and naval forces and is a key component of joint operations, including those under the U.S. Special Operations Command. The service's history of engagement is extensive, and its current operations are geared towards deterring aggression and maintaining global reach.

To maintain its edge, the USAF is pursuing a wide range of modernization programs. Key initiatives include the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, the B-21 Raider long-range stealth bomber, and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system to recapitalize the nuclear triad. A significant focus is on developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), or autonomous drones, to provide "affordable mass" and support crewed fighters. In addition to these major acquisition programs, the USAF is undertaking extensive modernization of its logistics and IT infrastructure, moving legacy systems to cloud-based platforms to improve agility and reduce costs.

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
🇺🇸 United States 12312
🇫🇷 France 483
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 393
🇮🇹 Italy 115
🇨🇦 Canada 44
🇨🇭 Switzerland 34
🇩🇪 Germany 29
🇪🇸 Spain 13
🇨🇳 Ex-USSR 12
🇮🇩 Indonesia 8

Evolution of United States Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Helicopter Helicopter 5496
Combat Combat 3307
Training Training 1566
Transport Transport 1522
Other Other 1016
Bomber Bomber 135

Recent updates applied

The inventory shown below includes 1 recent update from events that occurred in 2025 to the United States inventory.

Date Aircraft Active Δ Ordered Δ
29 Jan 2025 F-35A -1
One F-35A crashed during an exercise in Alaska [Source]

Full inventory in 2025

United States Air Force

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat F-16C 🇺🇸 1979 708
-30
0
CombatCombat F-35A 🇺🇸 2013 384
+21
1350
CombatCombat F-15C/E/EX 🇺🇸 1986 351
-26
100
CombatCombat A-10C 🇺🇸 1975 234
-36
0
CombatCombat F-22 🇺🇸 2005 178
0
0
CombatCombat F-16D 🇺🇸 1979 133
-4
0
CombatCombat F-15D 🇺🇸 1986 17
-1
0
CombatCombat AT-802 🇺🇸 1991 2
+2
0
BomberBomber B-52H 🇺🇸 1955 72
0
0
BomberBomber B-1B 🇺🇸 1986 40
-2
0
BomberBomber B-2 🇺🇸 1993 18
+1
0
BomberBomber F-117A 🇺🇸 1983 5
+1
0
BomberBomber B-21 🇺🇸 2027 0
0
100
HelicopterHelicopter S-70/HH-60G/U/W/MH-60G 🇺🇸 1979 95
-1
73
HelicopterHelicopter UH-1N 🇺🇸 1959 64
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter UH-1H 🇺🇸 1959 39
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AW139 (MH-139) 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 2003 8
+4
74
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-171 🇨🇳 1977 1
0
0
TransportTransport C-17 🇺🇸 1993 220
-8
0
TransportTransport C-130J 🇺🇸 1956 157
-15
23
TransportTransport C-130H 🇺🇸 1956 153
-5
0
TransportTransport 767 (KC-46A) 🇺🇸 1982 88
+16
86
TransportTransport MC-130J 🇺🇸 1956 57
0
3
TransportTransport C-5M 🇺🇸 1971 52
0
0
TransportTransport CV-22 🇺🇸 2006 51
-1
2
TransportTransport HC-130J 🇺🇸 1956 40
0
6
TransportTransport PC-12 (U-28) 🇨🇭 1994 34
-1
0
TransportTransport Dornier 328 (C-146) 🇩🇪 1993 21
+1
0
TransportTransport Learjet 35 (C-21A) 🇨🇦 1973 19
0
0
TransportTransport Global Express (E-11A) 🇨🇦 1999 6
-1
4
TransportTransport CN235 🇪🇸 🇮🇩 1988 5
0
0
TransportTransport 757 (C-32B) 🇺🇸 1983 4
0
0
TransportTransport Beech 1900 (C-12J) 🇺🇸 1984 3
0
0
TransportTransport C295 (L3Harris) 🇪🇸 🇮🇩 2001 3
0
0
TransportTransport Cessna 208 🇺🇸 1984 2
0
0
TransportTransport DHC-6 🇨🇦 1966 1
0
0
TransportTransport Gulfstream IV 🇺🇸 1987 1
0
0
TransportTransport PA-31 🇺🇸 1967 1
0
0
TransportTransport 737 (E-7A) 🇺🇸 1968 0
0
26
TrainingTraining T-38A/C 🇺🇸 1961 485
-12
0
TrainingTraining T-6 🇺🇸 2001 442
-2
0
TrainingTraining Beechjet T-1A 🇺🇸 1978 98
-33
0
TrainingTraining Dash 8-100/200 🇨🇦 1984 10
0
0
TrainingTraining G550 🇺🇸 2004 4
+3
7
TrainingTraining G120TP 🇩🇪 1999 2
0
0
TrainingTraining T-7A 🇺🇸 1
0
350
TrainingTraining Beechcraft Baron 🇺🇸 1961 1
0
0
OtherOther KC-135R/T 🇺🇸 1957 375
-2
0
OtherOther AC-130J 🇺🇸 1968 30
+1
0
OtherOther King Air 350 🇺🇸 1964 30
-6
0
OtherOther SR20 (T-53A) 🇺🇸 1999 25
0
0
OtherOther U-2S 🇺🇸 1956 24
-2
0
OtherOther King Air 200 🇺🇸 1964 22
-1
0
OtherOther RC-135S/U/V/W 🇺🇸 1961 22
0
0
OtherOther 707 (E-3B/C/G) 🇺🇸 1977 19
-2
0
OtherOther 747 (E-4B) 🇺🇸 1970 4
0
0
OtherOther EC-130H 🇺🇸 1975 4
-3
0
OtherOther AC-130W 🇺🇸 1968 3
0
0
OtherOther TC-135S/W 🇺🇸 1961 3
0
0
OtherOther TU-2S 🇺🇸 1956 3
-1
0

United States Army

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
HelicopterHelicopter S-70/EH/HH/MH/UH-60 🇺🇸 1979 2276
-23
245
HelicopterHelicopter AH-64D/E 🇺🇸 1984 824
0
15
HelicopterHelicopter CH-47D/F/MH-47G 🇺🇸 1962 500
-10
57
HelicopterHelicopter H145 🇫🇷 2002 477
-1
30
HelicopterHelicopter MD500 🇺🇸 1967 47
0
74
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-8/17 🇨🇳 1967 10
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 407 🇺🇸 1967 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H125/AS350 🇫🇷 1990 1
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-24 🇨🇳 1972 1
+1
0
TransportTransport Citation Encore/Ultra 🇺🇸 1971 28
0
0
TransportTransport Merlin IV/Metro (C-26E) 🇺🇸 1972 12
-1
0
TransportTransport C-27J 🇮🇹 1978 7
0
0
TransportTransport C212 (C-41A) 🇪🇸 1974 5
0
0
TransportTransport Beech 1900 (C-12J) 🇺🇸 1984 3
0
0
TransportTransport DHC-7 (EO-5C) 🇨🇦 1978 3
0
0
TransportTransport Gulfstream IV 🇺🇸 1987 1
0
0
TransportTransport Global 6500 (HADES) 🇨🇦 1999 0
0
12
TrainingTraining G120TP 🇩🇪 1999 6
0
0
TrainingTraining T-6D 🇺🇸 2001 4
+4
0
TrainingTraining Dash 8 🇨🇦 1984 2
-7
0
OtherOther King Air 200/350 🇺🇸 1964 144
-24
0
OtherOther King Air 100/200 🇺🇸 1964 11
0
0

United States Marine Corps

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat F-35B/C 🇺🇸 2013 160
+15
164
CombatCombat F/A-18A/C/D 🇺🇸 1983 137
-3
0
CombatCombat AV-8B/+ 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 1983 84
-3
0
CombatCombat F/A-18B/C/D 🇺🇸 1983 45
-1
0
CombatCombat F-5F/N 🇺🇸 1965 12
0
0
CombatCombat TAV-8B 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 1983 12
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AH-1Z 🇺🇸 1967 178
+2
0
HelicopterHelicopter CH-53E 🇺🇸 1966 131
-4
0
HelicopterHelicopter UH-1Y 🇺🇸 1959 127
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter CH-53K 🇺🇸 1966 17
+6
187
TransportTransport MV-22 🇺🇸 2006 310
+22
5
TransportTransport Citation Encore/Sovereign/Ultra 🇺🇸 1971 10
0
2
TransportTransport 737 (C-40A) 🇺🇸 1968 2
+1
0
TransportTransport Gulfstream IV 🇺🇸 1987 1
0
0
TrainingTraining T-34 🇺🇸 1953 2
0
0
OtherOther KC-130J 🇺🇸 1962 74
+5
1
OtherOther King Air 200/350 🇺🇸 1964 15
0
2

United States Navy

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat F/A-18E/F 🇺🇸 1983 533
-16
93
CombatCombat EA-18G 🇺🇸 1983 153
0
0
CombatCombat F-35C 🇺🇸 2013 56
+11
193
CombatCombat F/A-18A/B/C/D 🇺🇸 1983 43
0
0
CombatCombat F-16A/B 🇺🇸 1979 34
+12
0
CombatCombat F-5F/N 🇺🇸 1965 31
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter S-70/MH-60R/S 🇺🇸 1979 452
-2
3
HelicopterHelicopter AW119 (TH-73A) 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 2000 100
+41
30
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 206 (TH-57) 🇺🇸 1967 100
-13
0
HelicopterHelicopter MH-53E 🇺🇸 1966 26
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 407 🇺🇸 1967 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H145 🇫🇷 2002 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter S-70/EH/UH-60A/L 🇺🇸 1979 4
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter OH-58 🇺🇸 1967 3
0
0
TransportTransport 737 (P-8A) 🇺🇸 1968 122
+4
3
TransportTransport CV/MV-22 🇺🇸 2006 29
+2
17
TransportTransport C-2 🇺🇸 1966 25
-1
0
TransportTransport 737 (C-40A) 🇺🇸 1968 17
0
0
TransportTransport C-130T 🇺🇸 1956 17
0
0
TransportTransport Merlin IV/Metro (C-26D) 🇺🇸 1972 7
-1
0
TransportTransport G100/1125 Astra 🇺🇸 1985 2
0
0
TransportTransport C-130J 🇺🇸 1956 1
0
0
TransportTransport Gulfstream IV 🇺🇸 1987 1
-1
0
TransportTransport Merlin IV/Metro (C-26A) 🇺🇸 1972 1
0
0
TrainingTraining T-6A/B/C 🇺🇸 2001 294
0
29
TrainingTraining T-45C 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 1992 189
0
0
TrainingTraining T-34 🇺🇸 1953 15
0
0
TrainingTraining T-38 🇺🇸 1961 10
0
0
TrainingTraining DHC-3 🇨🇦 1953 1
0
0
OtherOther E-2C/D 🇺🇸 1964 86
+3
16
OtherOther King Air 90/200/260 🇺🇸 1964 67
+11
53
OtherOther 707 (E-6B) 🇺🇸 1989 16
0
0
OtherOther King Air 200 🇺🇸 1964 13
0
0
OtherOther KC-130T 🇺🇸 1962 11
0
0
OtherOther P-3C 🇺🇸 1962 7
-1
0
OtherOther EP-3E 🇺🇸 1962 6
-3
0
OtherOther DHC-2 (U-6A) 🇨🇦 1948 2
0
0
Various public data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.