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24/7 Wall St. Insights:
- There are over 1,000 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets on order for the U.S. Air Force, but it is not one of the top 3 in active use currently
- The A-10C and F-16 are two of the most widely used fighter aircraft in the U.S. Air Force
- The F-16 Fighting Falcon is by far one of the most widely used fighter aircraft on the planet, and the Air Force has over 700 currently in service
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While the F-35 Lightning II might be one of the newest additions to the U.S. Air Force, it is by no means the most widely used. Even with the expected procurement of these jets numbering over 1,000, there are a handful of other fighter jets that the U.S. Air Force flies more regularly. ( This country is buying the most F-35 Lightning IIs, and it is not even close. )
One of these such aircraft is the A-10C Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the "Warthog," which is a close air support and forward air control aircraft. Designed for durability and survivability, its rugged airframe can withstand intense ground fire while delivering devastating firepower from its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger cannon. The A-10C’s role has remained irreplaceable over its nearly 50-year career in the service. Currently the U.S. Air Force flies about 270 of these aircraft.
The F-15 Eagle, and Strike Eagle variants, is one of the most storied aircraft in the fleet with an unmatched combat record. Since its introduction in 1976, the F-15 has claimed more than 100 air-to-air victories without a single loss in combat. There's no wonder why the Air Force relies so heavily on these jets with over 370 in their arsenal.
Last but not least, is the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This jet is by far one of the most widely used fighter aircraft on the planet. Its cost-effectiveness has largely played into its wide adoption by world air forces, but some of the most costly and advanced variants are piloted by the U.S. Air Force. Over 700 of these aircraft are in active service currently. ( The U.S. Air Force flies the most F-16s, you won't guess #2. )
Together, these three jets make up the backbone of the Air Force's combat aircraft fleet. The recent addition to the F-35 Lightning II only serves to strengthen these numbers and overall combat effectiveness.
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the active combat aircraft within the U.S. Air Force. To identify every combat aircraft currently in service of the U.S. Air Force, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website, and ranked the aircraft by active units. Additionally, we’ve included supplemental information on the type of aircraft, top speed, and armament. We excluded trainer aircraft.
Here is a look at every combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force: Why Are We Covering This?
Understanding the aircraft in the US Air Force is important because these aircraft play a pivotal role in maintaining national security and global stability. Each aircraft is designed for specific missions, from air superiority to strategic bombing and reconnaissance, which are essential for defending the country and projecting power abroad. Also knowing which aircraft are in service give context to military capabilities and a better understanding of national defense.
16. B-21 Raider 
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