List of equipment of the United States Air Force

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

Munitions

Name	Type	Versions	Picture
Missiles
AGM-114	Air-to-surface
AGM-65	Air-to-surface
AGM-86	Air-to-surface cruise missile
AGM-88	Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile
AGM-154	Glide bomb
AGM-158	Air-to-surface cruise missile
AIM-7	Medium-range air-to-air missile
AIM-9	Short-range air-to-air missile
AIM-120	Medium-range air-to-air missile
LGM-30	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Bombs
B61	Thermonuclear bomb
B83	Thermonuclear bomb
BLU-109	Bunker buster
BLU-116	Bunker buster
CBU-87	Cluster bomb
CBU-89	Cluster bomb
CBU-97	Cluster bomb
GBU-10	Laser-guided bomb
GBU-12	Laser-guided bomb
GBU-15	Television guidance - Infrared homing
GBU-24	Laser-guided bomb
GBU-27	Laser-guided bomb
GBU-28	Laser-guided bomb
Mk-82	General-purpose bomb
Mk-84	General-purpose bomb

Weapons

Name	Type	Versions	Picture	Ammunition	Used by
Mounted Weapons
GAU-8 Avenger	Seven-barrelled Rotary cannon			30 mm	A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II
GAU-22/A	Four-barrelled Rotary cannon			25 mm	F-35 Lightning II
M61	Six-barrelled Rotary cannon			20 mm	F-15 Eagle F-16 Fighting Falcon F-22 Raptor B-52 Stratofortress
GAU-23/A	Chain gun autocannon			30 mm	AC-130
M102	Howitzer			105 mm	AC-130
GAU-16				12.7 mm	UH-1 Iroquois
GAU-17	Six-barrelled Minigun/Rotary machine gun			7.62 mm	HH-60 Pave Hawk UH-1 Iroquois
M240 Mounted				7.62 mm	UH-1 Iroquois
Guns
Beretta M9	Pistol			9×19mm Parabellum
M11 pistol	Pistol			9×19mm Parabellum
M18 pistol	Pistol			9×19mm Parabellum
M4/M4A1	Assault rifle, Carbine			5.56×45mm NATO
M16A2 rifle	Assault Rifle			5.56×45mm NATO
MP5 submachine gun	Submachine gun			Multiple (9×19mm Parabellum, 10mm Auto MP5/10, or .40 S&W M5/40)
M249 machine gun	Light machine gun, Squad automatic weapon			5.56×45mm NATO
M240 machine gun	General purpose medium machine gun			7.62×51mm NATO
M2 machine gun	Heavy machine gun			.50 BMG
M82	Anti materiel sniper rifle			.50 BMG

Vehicles

Aircraft

• List of active United States Air Force aircraft
• List of active United States military aircraft

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]	270[3]
A-29C Super Tucano	Sierra Nevada Corporation[4]	Brazil	Jet	CAS / Attack	Manned		3[3]	Operated by Air Force Special Operations Command. Delivered in 2021. Planned to divest.[4]
AC-130J Ghostrider	Lockheed	USA	Propeller	CAS / Attack	Manned	2017 (AC-130J)[5]	31[6]	Final aircraft delivered in 2022.[6]
B-1B Lancer	Rockwell International	USA	Jet	Bomber	Manned	1986[7]	42[3]	Long-range conventional bomber. Employs variable-sweep wing design. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider around 2032.[7]
B-2A Spirit	Northrop Grumman	USA	Jet	Bomber	Manned	1997[7]	17[3]	Stealth long-range nuclear-capable heavy bomber. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider around 2032.[7]
B-21 Raider	Northrop Grumman	USA	Jet	Bomber	Manned		1[8]	Stealth long-range nuclear-capable heavy bomber. The first B-21 test aircraft made its maiden flight in November 2023.[9] To replace the B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer around 2032.[8]
B-52H Stratofortress	Boeing	USA	Jet	Bomber	Manned	1961 (B-52H)[8]	76[10]	Currently undergoing re-engining. Expected to serve into the 2050s.[8]
C-5M Super Galaxy	Lockheed	USA	Jet	Strategic airlifter	Manned	2014 (C-5M)[11]	52[3]
C-12C/D/H/J Huron	Beechcraft	USA	Propeller	Transport	Manned	c. 1974[11]	23[3]	32 aircraft are used for reconnaissance
C-130H Hercules	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Tactical airlifter	Manned	c. 1974[12]	158[3]
C-130J Super Hercules/J-30 Super Hercules	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Tactical airlifter	Manned	2006[12]	172[3]
C-146A Wolfhound[13]	Fairchild-Dornier	Germany	Propeller	Transport	Manned	c. 2011[5]	20[3]	Delivered 2011–2017.[5] Flown with the 524th Special Operations Squadron[14]
C-147A	De Havilland Canada	Canada	Propeller	Transport	Manned			For the U.S. Army Parachute Team[15]
C-17A Globemaster III	McDonnell Douglas/Boeing	USA	Jet	Strategic airlifter	Manned	1995[16]	228[3]	Were produced by McDonnell-Douglas prior to the merger with Boeing.
C-20H	Gulfstream	USA	Jet		Manned		1[17]
C-21A Learjet 35	Learjet	USA	Jet	VIP transport	Manned	1984[16]	19[3]
C-32A/B Air Force Two	Boeing	USA	Jet	VIP transport	Manned	1998[18]	4/2[17]
C-37A/B Gulfstream V	Gulfstream	USA	Jet	VIP transport	Manned	1998[18]	16[17]
C-40B/C	Boeing	USA	Jet	VIP transport	Manned	2003[18]	11[17]
CN-235	CASA	Spain	Propeller	Reconnaissance	Manned	1988	5[3]	Flown with the 427th Special Operations Squadron
CV-22B Osprey	Bell, Boeing	USA	Tiltrotor	CSAR / transport	Manned	2006[19]	52[3]	2 on order[20]
E-3B/C/G Sentry (AWACS)	Boeing	USA	Jet	AWACS	Manned	1977; 2014 (Block 40/45)[21]	21[3]
E-4B (NAOC)	Boeing	USA	Jet	Command and control	Manned	1978 (E-4B)[22]	4[3]	Assigned to the 595th Command and Control Group
E-8C Joint STARS	Northrop Grumman	USA	Jet	Command and control	Manned	1997[22]	12[17] E-8C, 1 TE-8A
E-9A Widget	De Havilland Canada	Canada	Propeller	Surveillance	Manned	1988[22]	2[17]	Military surveillance version of the DHC-8-100, used for missile range control
E-11A (BACN)[23]	Northrop Grumman	USA / Canada	Jet	Command and control / BACN	Manned	c. 2011[24]	11[3]	1 ordered[20]
EA-37B Compass Call	Gulfstream	USA	Jet	Radar jamming / PSYOP	Manned	2026[24]	1[25]	2 ordered[20] Replacement for EC-130H Compass Call.[25]
EC-130H Compass Call	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Radar jamming / PSYOP	Manned	1983; Block 35, 2011[26]	5[25]	To be replaced by EA-37B Compass Call.[25]
EC-130J Super-J	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Radar jamming / PSYOP	Manned	2004[19]	7[3]	All Commando Solos retired. Super-J's to be replaced by MC-130s.[19]
F-117 Nighthawk	Lockheed	USA	Jet	Aggressor aircraft/research and development	Manned	1983[4]	4[3]
F-15C/D Eagle	McDonnell Douglas	USA	Jet	Air superiority	Manned	1979 (F-15C/D)[27]	149[28]	18 D variants[3] are used for training. To be retired by 2030.
F-15E Strike Eagle	McDonnell Douglas/Boeing	USA	Jet	Multirole, primarily strike	Manned	1989[27]	218[29]
F-15EX Eagle II	McDonnell Douglas/Boeing	USA	Jet	Multirole, primarily strike	Manned	2024 (planned)[30]	4[31]	F-15C/D Eagle replacement.[32]
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon	General Dynamics	USA	Jet	Multirole	Manned	1981 (Block 25-32); 1989 (Block 40/42); 1994 (Block 50/52)[33]	875[3]
F-22A Raptor	Lockheed Martin	USA	Jet	Air superiority	Manned	2005[34]	195	Stealth capable aircraft. To be replaced by NGAD
F-35A Lightning II	Lockheed Martin	USA	Jet	Multirole	Manned	2016[34]	363[3]	7 on order[20]
HC-130J Combat King II	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Search and rescue	Manned	2013[35]	40[3]
HH-60G/U Pave Hawk	Sikorsky	USA	Helicopter	CSAR	Manned	1982[36]	77[17]	To be replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II
HH-60W Jolly Green II	Sikorsky	USA	Helicopter	CSAR	Manned	2022[36]	24[17]	To replace the HH-60G/U Pave Hawk. 85 planned.[36]
KC-10A Extender	McDonnell Douglas	USA	Jet	Aerial refueling	Manned	1982[37]	20[3]	Last combat mission flown in 2023. Retirement scheduled for 2024.[38]
KC-135R/T Stratotanker	Boeing	USA	Jet	Aerial refueling	Manned	1957[11]	377[3]
KC-46A Pegasus	Boeing	USA	Jet	Aerial refueling	Manned	FY24 (planned)[37]	72[3]	48 on order[20]
LC-130H Hercules	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Cargo aircraft	Manned	c. 1984[39]	10[40]	Assigned to 109th Airlift Wing
MC-12W Liberty	Beechcraft	USA	Propeller	Multi-mission/Special Operations	Manned	2009[19]	36[3]	To be replaced by AT-802U Sky Warden[26]
MC-130J Commando II	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Multi-mission/Special Operations	Manned	2012[41]	57[3]
MH-139A Grey Wolf	AgustaWestland			Utility helicopter	Manned	2023 (planned)[42]	4[3]	13 on order
MQ-9A Reaper	General Atomics	USA	Propeller	Multi-mission[43]	Unmanned	2007, 2015 (ER)[44]	338[17]
BQM-167 Skeeter	Composite Engineering		Jet	Target drone	Unmanned	2008[44]	37[44]	Subscale aerial target[44]
P-9A Pale Ale	Bombardier	Canada	Propeller	Manned	Maritime patrol		3[17]	Government-owned contractor-operated fleet tasked with monitoring drug trafficking.[26]
QF-16A/C	Boeing	USA	Jet	Target drone[45]	Manned/Unmanned[45]	2016[45]	74[17]	Conversion of an F-16 Fighting Falcon to full-scale aerial target. Final deliveries will take place 2024–2025.[45]
RC-135S/U/V/W Cobra Ball/Combat Sent/Rivet Joint	Boeing	USA	Jet	Reconnaissance / ELINT / surveillance	Manned	1972	22[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)[44]	9[46]
T-1A Jayhawk	Raytheon	USA	Jet	Trainer	Manned	1993[42]	131[3]	Multi-engine trainer
T-38A/C/AT-38B Talon	Northrop	USA	Jet	Trainer	Manned	1961[47]	497[3]
T-41D Mescalero	Cessna	USA	Propeller	Basic trainer	Manned	1964	4[17]
T-51A Cessna	Cessna	USA	Propeller	Basic trainer	Manned	1957	3[17]
T-53A Kadet II	Cirrus	USA	Propeller	Basic trainer	Manned	1995	25[3]	USAFA flight training aircraft
T-6A Texan II	Raytheon/Beechcraft	USA	Propeller	Trainer	Manned	2000[48]	444[3]
T-7 Red Hawk	Boeing / Saab	USA	Jet	Trainer	Manned	2026 (planned)[48]	1[3]	Replacement for the T-38 Talon. 4 on order.[20]
TC-135S/W	Boeing	USA	Jet	Trainer	Manned	1961	3[3]
TE-8A Joint STARS	Northrop Grumman	USA	Jet	Trainer	Manned	1991	1[3]
TH-1H Iroquois	Bell	USA	Helicopter	Trainer	Manned	c. 2009[42]	39[3]	Light lift training helicopter[42]
TU-2S Dragon Lady	Lockheed	USA	Jet	Conversion trainer	Manned		4[3]
U-2S Dragon Lady	Lockheed	USA	Jet	Reconnaissance	Manned	c. 1981 (U-2R)[49]	26[3]
U-28A Draco	Pilatus	Switzerland	Propeller	Utility	Manned	1991	12[3]	Used for reconnaissance. To be replaced in SOCOM by the OA-1K Sky Warden.[50]
UH-1N Twin Huey	Bell	USA	Helicopter	Utility	Manned	1970[42]	64[3]	Light lift helicopter. To be replaced by the MH-139 Grey Wolf.[42]
UV-18B Twin Otter	De Havilland Canada	Canada	Propeller	Utility	Manned	1988	1[3]	USAFA parachute training aircraft
VC-25A Air Force One	Boeing	USA	Jet	VIP transport	Manned	1990[39]	2[17]	Presidential Transport, operated by 89th Airlift Wing[51]
WC-130J Hercules	Lockheed Martin	USA	Propeller	Weather reconnaissance	Manned	2006[49]	10[17]	Assigned to 403d Wing
WC-135R Constant Phoenix	Boeing	USA	Jet	Atmospheric research	Manned	2022 (WC-135R)[35]	3[17]
X-62 VISTA	General Dynamics	USA	Jet	In-flight simulator[47]	Manned	1992[47]	1[47]	A highly modified version of the F-16D used by the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School[47]

Ground vehicles

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		?

Attire

Current attire[52]
Type	Name	Pattern	Full pattern	Notes
Camouflage pattern	Army Combat Uniform	Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP)		Airman Battle Uniform phased out April 2021[53]
	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.

Other equipment

• CMU – 33A/P22P-18 - Air Force issue personal flotation device
• Distributed Common Ground System- A weapons system which delivers information to Unmanned aerial vehicles

See also

1. ^ "USAF Fact Sheets".
2. ^ Church 2023, p. 122.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap} Flight Global 2023, p. 33.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 126.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 127.
6. ^ ^{a b} Premo, Capt. Alicia (3 November 2022). "AFSOC receives final AC-130J". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Church 2023, p. 119.
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Church 2023, p. 120.
9. ^ Gordon, Chris (10 November 2023). "New B-21 Bomber Takes First Flight". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Air & Space Forces Association. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
10. ^ Losey, Stephen (12 February 2024). "The new B-52: How the Air Force is prepping to fly century-old bombers". Defense News. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
11. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 138.
12. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 142.
13. ^ C-146A Wolfhound Archived 16 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine af.mil
14. ^ "524th Special Operations Squadron | 524th SOS". Airforce.americanspecialops.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
15. ^ "The Golden Knights". recruiting.army.mil. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
16. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 140.
17. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p} "2023 USAF & USSF Almanac: Equipment". Air & Space Forces Magazine. 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
18. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 141.
19. ^ ^{a b c d} Church 2023, p. 128.
20. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Flight Global 2023, p. 33-34.
21. ^ Church 2023, p. 130.
22. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 131.
23. ^ Tamir Eshel (2011-09-21). "U.S. Air Force Extends BACN Com-Relay Biz Jets Operations in Kandahar". defense-update.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
24. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 132.
25. ^ ^{a b c d} Mabeus-Brown, Courtney (22 March 2024). "Air Force to add 5 new Compass Call electronic-attack planes in 2025". Air Force Times. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
26. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 133.
27. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 123.
28. ^ "Defense bill would let Air Force retire A-10s, F-15s — but not F-22s". defensenews.com. 7 December 2023.
29. ^ By Brian W. Everstine (2021-05-23). "F-35 Is Now the Air Force's Second-Largest Fighter Fleet". Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
30. ^ Tirpak, John (4 October 2023). "New Acquisition Report: F-15EX Unit Cost Will Be $94 Million". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
31. ^ Tirpak, John (2 January 2024). "New F-15EX Fighters—Nos. 3 and 4—Arrive at Eglin for Testing". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
32. ^ Tirpak, John (4 October 2023). "New Acquisition Report: F-15EX Unit Cost Will Be $94 Million". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
33. ^ Church 2023, p. 124.
34. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 125.
35. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 136.
36. ^ ^{a b c} Church 2023, p. 144.
37. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 137.
38. ^ Cohen, Rachel (6 October 2023). "KC-10 tanker flies last combat mission as retirement looms". Air Force Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
39. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 143.
40. ^ Finnerty2024-03-22T21:30:00+00:00, Ryan. "US lawmakers call for recapitalisation of LC-130 Arctic transport fleet". Flight Global. Retrieved 2 April 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
41. ^ Church 2023, p. 129.
42. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Church 2023, p. 145.
43. ^ "MQ-9 Reaper". af.mil. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
44. ^ ^{a b c d e} Church 2023, p. 148.
45. ^ ^{a b c d} Church 2023, p. 149.
46. ^ Losey, Stephen (29 February 2024). "Northrop Grumman modifying Global Hawk drones for hypersonic tests". Defense News. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
47. ^ ^{a b c d e} Church 2023, p. 147.
48. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 146.
49. ^ ^{a b} Church 2023, p. 135.
50. ^ Hadley, Greg (19 March 2024). "SOCOM Cuts Armed Overwatch Buy from 75 to 62 Aircraft". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
51. ^ Shalal, Andrea (29 January 2016). "Boeing wins contract to build new Air Force One presidential jets". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
52. ^ "USAF Dress and Appearance standards".
53. ^ "ABU phase out guidelines".

LeadershipStructure

Commands	Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations
Direct Reporting Units	District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy
Major commands	ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA
Numbered Air Forces	First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second
Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
trainingUniforms and
equipmentHistory and
traditions