List of active United States Air Force aircraft
The following is a list of currently active military aircraft in the United States Air Force.
Article
List of active United States Air Force aircraft
Emblem of the USAF
The following is a list of currently active military aircraft in the United States Air Force.
Aircraft
List of active United States Air Force aircraft
<table><thead><tr><th>Aircraft</th><th>Origin</th><th>Type</th><th>Variant</th><th>In service</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Fighter aircraft (1,616)</td></tr><tr><td>F-15 Eagle</td><td>United States</td><td>air superiority</td><td>F-15C</td><td>108</td><td>108 F-15C total force as of September 2024 108 F-15C - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>F-15E Strike Eagle</td><td>United States</td><td>multirole</td><td></td><td>218</td><td>218 F-15E total force as of March 2026 218 F-15E - Active</td></tr><tr><td>F-15EX Eagle II</td><td>United States</td><td>multirole</td><td></td><td>27</td><td>27 F-15EX total force as of September 2024 27 F-15EX - Active (program of record increased to 129 aircraft in June 2025)</td></tr><tr><td>F-16 Fighting Falcon</td><td>United States</td><td>multirole</td><td>F-16C</td><td>657</td><td>657 F-16C total force as of September 2024 400 F-16C - Active 257 F-16C - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>F-22 Raptor</td><td>United States</td><td>stealth air superiority</td><td>F-22A</td><td>185</td><td>185 F-22A total force as of September 2024 165 F-22A - Active 20 F-22A - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>F-35 Lightning II</td><td>United States</td><td>stealth multirole</td><td>F-35A</td><td>443</td><td>443 F-35A total force as of September 2024 (USAF Visual in May 2025 indicates 471 aircraft) 400 F-35A - Active 43 - Air National Guard (program of record of 1,763 aircraft), between 161 and 189 aircraft on order</td></tr><tr><td>Attack aircraft (202)</td></tr><tr><td>A-10 Thunderbolt II</td><td>United States</td><td>attack / CAS</td><td>A-10C</td><td>172</td><td>172 A-10C total force as of September 2024 141 A-10C - Active 31 A-10C - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>AC-130 Ghostrider</td><td>United States</td><td>ground attack / CAS</td><td>AC-130J</td><td>30</td><td>30 AC-130J total force as of September 2024 30 AC-130J - Active</td></tr><tr><td>Bomber (142)</td></tr><tr><td>B-1 Lancer</td><td>United States</td><td>strategic bomber</td><td>B-1B</td><td>46</td><td>46 B-1B total force as of September 2024 46 B-1B - Active</td></tr><tr><td>B-2 Spirit</td><td>United States</td><td>strategic stealth bomber</td><td>B-2A</td><td>20</td><td>20 B-2A total force as of September 2024 18 B-2A - Active</td></tr><tr><td>B-52 Stratofortress</td><td>United States</td><td>strategic bomber</td><td>B-52H</td><td>76</td><td>76 B-52H total force as of September 2024 58 B-52H - Active 18 B-52H - Reserve</td></tr><tr><td>AWACS (26)</td></tr><tr><td>E-3 Sentry</td><td>United States</td><td>AWACS</td><td>E-3B/G</td><td>14</td><td>14 E-3B/G total force as of March 2026 (USAF Almanac). 19 E-3B/G operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>E-4 Nightwatch</td><td>United States</td><td>command and control</td><td>E-4B</td><td>4</td><td>4 E-4B as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 4 E-4B operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>E-9A Widget</td><td>Canada</td><td>SIGINT / ELINT</td><td>E-9A</td><td>2</td><td>2 E-9A as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac).</td></tr><tr><td>E-11A</td><td>Canada</td><td>command and control / BACN</td><td>E-11A</td><td>5</td><td>5 E-11A as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 6 E-11A operational, 4 on order (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>Electronic Warfare (14)</td></tr><tr><td>EA-37B Compass Call</td><td>United States</td><td>SIGINT / PSYOP / attack</td><td>EA-37B</td><td>3</td><td>3 EC-37B operational, 7 on order (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>EC-130H Compass Call</td><td>United States</td><td>radar jamming / PSYOP</td><td></td><td>4</td><td>4 EC-130H as of September 204 (USAF Almanac) 4 EC-130H operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>EC-130 Commando Solo</td><td>United States</td><td>radar jamming / PSYOP</td><td>EC-130J</td><td>5</td><td>5 EC-130J as of September 2024 (USAF Almanac). 0 EC-130J - Air National Guard as of September 20, 2024</td></tr><tr><td>Reconnaissance</td></tr><tr><td>IPTN CN-235</td><td>Spain/Indonesia</td><td>SIGINT / ELINT</td><td></td><td>5</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OA-1K Skyraider II</td><td>United States</td><td>armed reconnaissance</td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>P-9 Pale Ale</td><td>Canada</td><td>Maritime patrol</td><td>P-9A</td><td>4</td><td>4 P-9A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac).</td></tr><tr><td>RC-135 Rivet Joint</td><td>United States</td><td>ELINT / surveillance</td><td>S/U/V/W</td><td>22</td><td>The breakdown is as follows: 1 RC-135S Cobra Ball, 2 RC-135U Combat Sent, 1 RC-135V Rivet Joint, 18 RC-135W Rivet Joint.</td></tr><tr><td>U-2 Dragon Lady</td><td>United States</td><td>high altitude reconnaissance</td><td>U-2S</td><td>27</td><td>27 U-2S as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 24 U-2S operational (WAF 2025). Trainer aircraft listed separately.</td></tr><tr><td>U-28A Draco</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>ISR / SIGINT</td><td>U-28A</td><td>26</td><td>Special Operations Surveillance aircraft.</td></tr><tr><td>Tanker</td></tr><tr><td>KC-46 Pegasus</td><td>United States</td><td>aerial refueling</td><td>KC-46A</td><td>77</td><td>77 KC-46A total force as of September 2024 58 KC-46A - Active 19 KC-46A - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>KC-135 Stratotanker</td><td>United States</td><td>aerial refueling</td><td>KC-135R/T</td><td>314</td><td>325 KC-135R / 51 KC-135T total force as of September 2024 123 KC-135R / 28 KC-135T - Active 140 KC-135R / 23 KC-135T - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>HC-130J Super Hercules</td><td>United States</td><td>SAR / transport / tanker</td><td></td><td>39</td><td>39 total force as of September 2024 21 HC-130J - Active 12 HC-130J - Air National Guard 6 HC-130J - Reserve</td></tr><tr><td>MC-130J Commando II</td><td>United States</td><td>EW / transport / tanker</td><td></td><td>62</td><td>62 MC-130J total force as of September 2024 60 MC-130J - Active 2 MC-130J - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>Transport</td></tr><tr><td>C-5 Galaxy</td><td>United States</td><td>strategic airlifter</td><td>C-5M</td><td>52</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C-12 Huron</td><td>United States</td><td>utility / transport</td><td></td><td>23</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C-12J</td><td>United States</td><td>transport</td><td>C-12J</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C-17 Globemaster III</td><td>United States</td><td>strategic airlifter</td><td></td><td>196</td><td>222 C-17A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 146 C-17A - Active 50 C-17A - Air National Guard 196 C-17A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>C-21A</td><td>United States</td><td>VIP transport</td><td>C-21A</td><td>19</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C-32</td><td>United States</td><td>VIP transport</td><td></td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C-37A/B</td><td>United States</td><td>VIP transport</td><td>C-37A C-37B</td><td>13</td><td>The breakdown is 12 C-37As and one C-37B (based on the Gulfstream G550).</td></tr><tr><td>C-40 Clipper</td><td>United States</td><td>VIP transport</td><td>C-40B/C</td><td>12</td><td>The breakdown is four C-40Bs (USAF) and seven C-40Cs (4-USAFR, 3-DC ANG).</td></tr><tr><td>C-130 Hercules</td><td>United States</td><td>transport</td><td>C-130H</td><td>91</td><td>91 C-130H total force as of September 2024 0 C-130H - Active 91 C-130H - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>C-130J Super Hercules</td><td>United States</td><td>tactical airlifter</td><td>C-130J</td><td>142</td><td>142 C-130J total force as of September 2024 102 C-130J - Active 40 C-130J - Air National Guard (program of record for 198 aircraft)</td></tr><tr><td>C-146 Wolfhound</td><td>Germany</td><td>transport</td><td>C-146A</td><td>20</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>U-27A Caravan</td><td>United States</td><td>transport / utility</td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>UV-18B Twin Otter</td><td>Canada</td><td>utility transport</td><td></td><td>3</td><td>STOL capable aircraft. Supports parachute training for USAFA and AFROTC Cadets.</td></tr><tr><td>VC-25</td><td>United States</td><td>Presidential transport</td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Helicopter</td></tr><tr><td>HH-60G Pave Hawk</td><td>United States</td><td>CSAR</td><td>HH-60G</td><td>24</td><td>24 HH-60W total force as of September 2024 8 HH-60G - Active 16 HH-60G - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>HH-60W Pave Hawk</td><td>United States</td><td>CSAR</td><td>HH-60GW</td><td>47</td><td>47 HH-60W total force as of September 2024 32 HH-60W - Active 15 HH-60W - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>MH-139 Grey Wolf</td><td>Italy</td><td>utility</td><td>MH-139</td><td>8</td><td>8 MH-139 total force as of September 2024 8 MH-139 - Active (Maximum order volume of 79 aircraft)</td></tr><tr><td>UH-1N Iroquois</td><td>United States</td><td>utility</td><td></td><td>63</td><td>63 UH-1N total force as of September 2024</td></tr><tr><td>V-22 Osprey</td><td>United States</td><td>CSAR</td><td>CV-22B</td><td>52</td><td>52 CV-22B total force as of September 2024 52 CV-22B - Active</td></tr><tr><td>Trainers</td></tr><tr><td>A-29 Super Tucano</td><td>Brazil</td><td>assessment trainer</td><td>A-29C</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F-117 Nighthawk</td><td>United States</td><td>trainer</td><td></td><td>4</td><td>stealth OPFOR trainer</td></tr><tr><td>F-16 Fighting Falcon</td><td>United States</td><td>trainer</td><td>F-16D</td><td>134</td><td>136 F-16D total force as of September 2024 98 F-16D - Active 36 F-16D - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>F-15 Eagle</td><td>United States</td><td>trainer</td><td>F-15D</td><td>24</td><td>12 F-15D total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 1 F-15D - Active 11 F-15D - Air National Guard 17 F-15D operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>G120TP</td><td>Germany</td><td>basic trainer</td><td></td><td>2</td><td>contracted by JPAG Aviation</td></tr><tr><td>T-1A Jayhawk</td><td>United States</td><td>multi-engine trainer</td><td>T-1A</td><td>127</td><td>127 T-1A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 98 T-6A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>T-6 Texan II</td><td>United States</td><td>advanced trainer</td><td>T-6A</td><td>442</td><td>442 T-6A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 442 T-6A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>T-7 Red Hawk</td><td>United States</td><td>advanced trainer</td><td>T-7A</td><td>351 units (maximum number of units planned for deployment)</td><td>Of these, one unit is deployed and the remaining 350 units are on order.</td></tr><tr><td>T-38 Talon</td><td>United States</td><td>jet trainer</td><td>T-38A/C AT-38B</td><td>495</td><td>495 T-38A / T-38C / AT-38B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 52 T-38A / 6 AT-38B / 437 T-38C - Active 485 C-17A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>T-41 Mescalero</td><td>United States</td><td>basic trainer</td><td>T-41D</td><td>4</td><td>4 total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac).</td></tr><tr><td>Cessna T-51</td><td>United States</td><td>basic trainer</td><td>T-51A</td><td>3</td><td>3 total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac).</td></tr><tr><td>T-53A Kadet II</td><td>United States</td><td>basic trainer</td><td>T-53A</td><td>24</td><td>24 T-53A total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 25 T-53A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>TG-16</td><td>Germany</td><td>basic trainer</td><td>TG-16A</td><td>18</td><td>17 TG-16A total force as of November 2025.</td></tr><tr><td>TC-135 Stratolifter</td><td>United States</td><td>multi-engine trainer</td><td>TC-135W</td><td>3</td><td>3 TC-135W total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 3 TC-135W operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>TH-1 Iroquois</td><td>United States</td><td>rotorcraft trainer</td><td>UH-1H</td><td>28</td><td>28 UH-1H total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 39 T-53A operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>TU-2 Dragon Lady</td><td>United States</td><td>high altitude reconnaissance trainer</td><td>TU-2S</td><td>4</td><td>4 TU-2S total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac). 3 TU-2S operational (WAF 2025).</td></tr><tr><td>UAV</td></tr><tr><td>MQ-9 Reaper</td><td>United States</td><td>multi-mission</td><td>MQ-9A</td><td>230</td><td>230 MQ-9A total force as of September 2024 206 MQ-9A - Active 24 MQ-9A - Air National Guard</td></tr><tr><td>RQ-4 Global Hawk</td><td>United States</td><td>ISTAR / SIGINT</td><td>RQ-4B</td><td>9</td><td>9 RQ-4B total force as of September 2023 (USAF Almanac).</td></tr><tr><td>RQ-11 Raven</td><td>United States</td><td>ISR</td><td>RQ-11B</td><td>3,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>RQ-20 Puma</td><td>United States</td><td>ISR</td><td>RQ-20B</td><td>60</td><td>Puma 3 AE variant is on order</td></tr><tr><td>RQ-170 Sentinel</td><td>United States</td><td>ISTAR / SIGINT</td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Images
List of active United States Air Force aircraft
• An A-10 Thunderbolt II in 2011. The attack aircraft is used for close air support • An AC-130J of the 4th Special Operations Squadron flies over Kansas in 2023. • An F-15C Eagle flies over Japan in 2019 • An F-15EX from the 40th Test Flight Squadron flies over Florida in 2023 • An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron • An F-16C over Iraq in 2008 • An F-22A Raptor flies over Andrews Air Force Base during an airshow in 2008 • An F-35A in flight • A USAF B-52 bomber • A B-1B in flight over Afghanistan • A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flies over the Pacific Ocean • An E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft • One of 4 E-4B Nightwatch airborne command posts • A new E-11 aircraft being rolled out in 2018 • A C-146A Wolfhound taking off • A C-17A Globemaster III taking off from Ramstein Air Base • A VC-25 Air Force One with landing gear down • The MH-139A Grey Wolf replacement for the Bell UH-1N • A CV-22 Osprey over RIAT in 2015 • A T-38 Talon over Edwards AFB • An MQ-9 Reaper flies over Southern Afghanistan, 2008 • KC-135 Refueling F-16s