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

Aircraft Manufacturer Origin Propulsion Role Control Introduced In service Total Notes
A-29C Super Tucano Embraer Brazil Jet CAS / Attack Manned 3[2] Operated by United States Air Force Special Operations Command
A-10C Thunderbolt II Fairchild Republic USA Jet CAS / Attack Manned 1977 270[2]
AC-130J Ghostrider Lockheed USA Propeller CAS / Attack Manned 2017 29[2] Replacement for the AC-130U.
AC-130W Stinger II Lockheed USA Propeller CAS / Attack Manned 1966 3[2] Currently being replaced by the AC-130J.
B-1B Lancer Rockwell International USA Jet Bomber Manned 1986 42[2] Employs variable-sweep wing design. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider.
B-2A Spirit Northrop Grumman USA Jet Bomber Manned 1997 17[2] Stealth capable aircraft. To be replaced by the B-21 Raider.
B-52H Stratofortress Boeing USA Jet Bomber Manned 1955 76[3]
C-5M Super Galaxy Lockheed USA Jet Strategic airlifter Manned 1970 52[2]
C-12C/D/H/J Huron Beechcraft USA Propeller Transport Manned 1972 23[2] 32 aircraft are used for reconnaissance
C-17A Globemaster III McDonnell Douglas/Boeing USA Jet Strategic airlifter Manned 1995 228[2] Were produced by McDonnell-Douglas prior to the merger with Boeing.
C-21A Learjet 35 Learjet USA Jet VIP transport Manned 1985 19[2]
C-32A/B Air Force Two Boeing USA Jet VIP transport Manned 1998 4/2[4]
C-37A/B Gulfstream V Gulfstream USA Jet VIP transport Manned 1998 16[4]\
C-40B/C Boeing USA Jet VIP transport Manned 2001 11
C-130H Hercules Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Tactical airlifter Manned 1956 158[2]
C-130J Super Hercules Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Tactical airlifter Manned 1996 172[2]
C-146A Wolfhound[5] Fairchild-Dornier Germany Propeller Transport Manned 2011 20[2] Flown with the 524th Special Operations Squadron[6]
CN-235 CASA Spain Propeller Reconnaissance Manned 1988 5[2] Flown with the 427th Special Operations Squadron
CV-22B Osprey Bell, Boeing USA Tiltrotor CSAR / transport Manned 2006 52[2]
E-3B/C/G Sentry (AWACS) Boeing USA Jet AWACS Manned 1977 21[2]
E-4B (NAOC) Boeing USA Jet Command and control Manned 1973 4[2] Assigned to the 595th Command and Control Group
E-8C Joint STARS Northrop Grumman USA Jet Command and control Manned 1996 4[2]
E-9A Widget De Havilland Canada Canada Propeller Surveillance Manned 1984 2[4] Military surveillance version of the DHC-8-100, used for missile range control
E-11A (BACN)[7] Northrop Grumman USA / Canada Jet Command and control / BACN Manned 2005 11[2]
EC-130H Compass Call Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Radar jamming / PSYOP Manned 1982 7[2]
EC-130J Commando Solo III Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Radar jamming / PSYOP Manned 1978 7[2]
F-117 Nighthawk Lockheed USA Jet Aggressor aircraft/research and development Manned 4[2]
F-15C/D Eagle McDonnell Douglas USA Jet Air superiority Manned 1976 234[8] 18 D variants[2] are used for training. To be retired by 2030.
F-15E Strike Eagle McDonnell Douglas/Boeing USA Jet Multirole, primarily strike Manned 1988 218[8]
F-15EX Eagle II McDonnell Douglas/Boeing USA Jet Multirole, primarily strike Manned 2020 8[9] F-15C/D Eagle replacement
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon General Dynamics USA Jet Multirole Manned 1978 875[2]
F-22A Raptor Lockheed Martin USA Jet Air superiority Manned 2005 178[2] Stealth capable aircraft. To be replaced by NGAD
F-35A Lightning II Lockheed Martin USA Jet Multirole Manned 2016 363[2] 59 on order
HC-130J Combat King II Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Search and rescue Manned 1959 40[2]
HH-60G/U/W Sikorsky USA Helicopter CSAR Manned 2016 101[4] To be replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II
KC-10A Extender McDonnell Douglas USA Jet Aerial refueling Manned 1981 20[2]
KC-46A Pegasus Boeing USA Jet Aerial refueling Manned 2019 72[2] 77 on order
KC-135R/T Stratotanker Boeing USA Jet Aerial refueling Manned 1957 377[2]
LC-130H Hercules Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Cargo aircraft Manned 1954 10[10] Assigned to 109th Airlift Wing
MC-12W Liberty Beechcraft USA Propeller Multi-mission/Special Operations Manned 1974 36[2]
MC-130J Commando II Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Multi-mission/Special Operations Manned 57[2]
MH-139 Grey Wolf AgustaWestland Utility helicopter Manned 4[2]
MQ-9A Reaper General Atomics USA Propeller Multi-mission[11] Unmanned 2006 338[4]
QF-16A/C Lockheed Martin USA Jet Target drone Unmanned 74[4]
RC-135S/U/V/W Combat Sent/Rivet Joint Boeing USA Jet Reconnaissance / ELINT / surveillance Manned 1972 22[2]
RQ-4B Global Hawk Northrop Grumman USA Jet ISTAR Unmanned 2001 11[4]
RQ-20 Puma AeroVironment USA Propeller Patrol Unmanned 2008 1000
RQ-170 Sentinel Lockheed Martin USA Jet Multi-Mission Unmanned 2007 20-30
T-1A Jayhawk Raytheon USA Jet Trainer Manned 1992 131[2] Multi-engine trainer
T-6A Texan II Raytheon/Beechcraft USA Propeller Trainer Manned 2001 444[2]
T-38A/C Talon Northrop USA Jet Trainer Manned 1961 497[2]
T-41D Mescalero Cessna USA Propeller Basic trainer Manned 1964 4[4]
T-51A Cessna Cessna USA Propeller Basic trainer Manned 1957 3[4]
T-53A Kadet II Cirrus USA Propeller Basic trainer Manned 1995 25[2] USAFA flight training aircraft
TC-135S/W Boeing USA Jet Trainer Manned 1961 3[2]
TE-8A Joint STARS Northrop Grumman USA Jet Trainer Manned 1991 1[2]
TH-1H Iroquois Bell USA Helicopter Trainer Manned 1959 39[2]
TU-2S Dragon Lady Lockheed USA Jet Conversion trainer Manned 1957 4[2]
U-2S Dragon Lady Lockheed USA Jet Reconnaissance Manned 1957 26[2]
U-28A Draco Pilatus Switzerland Propeller Utility Manned 1991 12[2] Used for reconnaissance
UH-1N Twin Huey Bell USA Helicopter Utility Manned 1969 64[2] To be replaced by the MH-139 Grey Wolf
UV-18B Twin Otter De Havilland Canada Canada Propeller Utility Manned 1988 1[2] USAFA parachute training aircraft
VC-25A Air Force One Boeing USA Jet VIP transport Manned 1990 2[4] Presidential Transport, operated by 89th Airlift Wing[12]
WC-130J Hercules Lockheed Martin USA Propeller Weather reconnaissance Manned 1996 10[4] Assigned to 403d Wing
WC-135R Constant Phoenix Boeing USA Jet Atmospheric research Manned 1993 3[4]

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[13]
Type Name Pattern Full pattern Notes
Camouflage pattern Army Combat Uniform Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Airman Battle Uniform phased out April 2021[14]
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

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Equipment of the United States Air Force.

References

  1. ^ "USAF Fact Sheets".
  2. ^ 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 aq ar as at Flight Global 2023, p. 33.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "2023 USAF & USSF Almanac: Equipment". Air & Space Forces Magazine. 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  5. ^ C-146A Wolfhound Archived 16 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine af.mil
  6. ^ "524th Special Operations Squadron | 524th SOS". Airforce.americanspecialops.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ "USAF Places First Order for Boeing F-15EX Eagle Fighter".
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ "MQ-9 Reaper". af.mil. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "USAF Dress and Appearance standards".
  14. ^ "ABU phase out guidelines".
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