Types of Aircraft
Ground-attack aircraft – It is a type of military aircraft that is designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as close air support for their own ground forces.
Gunship – It is a light craft armed with heavy guns. In aviation, it may be in reference to an attack helicopter.
Bomber – Bomber aircraft is designed to attack sea and ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs on them.
Military Transport Aircraft (Cargo Aircraft) – This aircraft are used to deliver weapons, troops and other military equipment by several methods to any area of military operations.
Airborne Command and Control Aircraft – It is a command, control and battle management (C2BM), and target and surveillance acquisition radar system.
Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) – EWA uses the electromagnetic spectrum to impede enemy assaults or to attack an enemy.
Fighter Aircraft – It is a military aircraft, which is designed mainly for air-to-air combat with an enemy aircraft.
Surveillance or Observation Aircraft – This military aircraft is designed for monitoring enemy activity, and it is also used for geological survey, traffic monitoring and weather monitoring.
Trainer Aircraft – It is an aircraft that is used to develop war-fighting, navigational or piloting skills in flight crew.
Utility Aircraft – It is a general-purpose helicopter or light plane, used for transporting freight or people.
Following are the list of active military aircraft that is use by the United States Air Force –
| Aircraft |
Type |
Versions |
Quantity |
|
A-10 Thunderbolt II |
Attack Aircraft |
OA-10 / A-10A/c |
110 / 245 |
|
AC-130 Spectre |
Gunship |
AC-130U / AC-130H |
17 / 8 |
|
B-52 Stratofortress |
Bombers |
B-52H |
77 |
|
B-2 Spirit |
Bombers |
B-2A |
20 |
|
B-1 Lancer |
Bombers |
B-1B |
66 |
|
C-130J Super Hercules |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-130J-30 / C-130J |
64 / 10 |
|
C-130 Hercules |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-130H / C-130E |
283 / 71 |
|
C-40 Clipper |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-40C / C-40 B |
6 / 4 |
|
Gulfstream C-38 |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-38A |
2 |
|
Boeing C-32 |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-32B / C-32A |
2 / 4 |
|
Learjet C-21 |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-21A |
76 |
|
C-5 Galaxy |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-5M / C-5C / C-5B / C-5A |
3 / 2 / 48 / 58 |
|
C-26 Metroliner |
Cargo Aircraft |
C-26B |
11 |
|
E-8 Joint STARS |
Airborne Command and Control Aircraft |
E-8C / E-8A |
17 / 2 |
|
Boeing E-4 |
Airborne Command and Control Aircraft |
E-4B |
4 |
|
E-3 Sentry |
Airborne Command and Control Aircraft |
E-3C / E-3B |
16 / 22 |
|
EC-130J Commando Solo |
Electronic Warfare Aircraft |
EC-130J |
7 |
|
EC-130 Commando Solo |
Electronic Warfare Aircraft |
EC-130H |
14 |
|
F-22 Raptor |
Fighter Aircraft |
F-22A |
166 |
|
F-16 Fighting Falcon |
Fighter Aircraft |
F-16C/D |
1156 |
|
F-15E Strike Eagle |
Fighter Aircraft |
F-15E |
223 |
|
HC-130 Hercules |
Search and Rescue Aircraft |
HC-130P / HC-130N |
23 / 10 |
|
KC-135 Stratotanker |
Tanker Aircraft |
KC-135T / KC-135R |
55 / 364 |
|
KC-10 Extender |
Tanker Aircraft |
KC-10A |
59 |
|
OA-10 Thunderbolt II |
Observation Aircraft |
OA-10A |
110 |
|
T-1 Jayhawk |
Trainer Aircraft |
T-1A |
179 |
|
TU-2 Dragon Lady |
Trainer Aircraft |
TU-2S |
5 |
|
Diamond T-52 |
Trainer Aircraft |
T-52A |
20 |
|
Cessna T-51 |
Trainer Aircraft |
T-51A |
3 |
|
Boeing T-43 |
Trainer Aircraft |
T-43 |
7 |
|
T-38 Talon |
Trainer Aircraft |
(A)T-38B / T-38C / T-38A |
31 / 225 / 200 |
|
U-2 Dragon Lady |
Reconnaissance Aircraft |
U-2S |
25 |
|
WC-135 Constant Phoenix |
Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft |
WC-135 |
2 |
|
Wc-130 Hercules |
Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft |
WC-130J / WC-130H |
10 / 10 |
|
UH-1 Iroquois |
Utility Helicopter |
UH-1V |
2 |
|
UH-1N Twin Huey |
Utility Helicopter |
UH-1N |
62 |
|
TH-1 Iroquois |
Training Helicopter |
TH-1H |
1 |
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, also known as Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), is an aircraft that is flown by a combat systems officer (navigator). Following are the list of UAV aircraft –
| Aircraft |
Quantity |
|
MQ-9 Repeater |
28 |
|
RQ-4 Global Hawk |
10 |
|
M/RQ-1 Predator |
195 |
