These are the aircraft the US military is adding to its fleet

The US Air Force currently has a wide range of aircraft at its disposal. From fighters such as the F-15 Eagle to tanks such as the KC-10 Extender, these aircraft are used for a variety of different missions. As the US military continues to upgrade its resources, we wanted to take a look at what aircraft the military has at its disposal today. (See also the top 3 fighter jets flown by the US Air Force.)

24/7 Wall St. identified every aircraft on order for the US military using data from the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We have ranked these aircraft by how many are in command, including additional data on aircraft type, military branches with aircraft in service, and how many aircraft are in active service.

Here’s a look at every aircraft ordered by the US military:

Why are we covering this?

Understanding the combat aircraft used by the US military provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also, knowing what the US has in its arsenal further explains its military capabilities.

24. Citation Encore/Sovereign/Ultra

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year: 2004
• Producer: Cessna
• Maximum speed: 490 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 2
• Active aircraft: 10
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Marine Corps

23. Bombardier Express E-11

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year: 1997
• Producer: Bombardier Aerospace
• Maximum speed: 684 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 4
• Active aircraft: 7
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

22. Compass call EC-37B

• Type: Electronic warfare aircraft
• Year: 2023
• Producer: BAe Systems
• Maximum speed: 652 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 9
• Active aircraft: 1
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

21. AH-64 Apache

• Type: Two-seat attack helicopter
• Year: 1986
• Producer: Boeing / McDonnell Douglas / Hughes
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 30mm Autocannon, Hellfire Missiles, Hydra Missiles, Stinger Missiles, Sidewinder Missiles, Sidearm Missiles
• Aircraft on order: 15
• Active aircraft: 824
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Army

20. E-2 Hawkeye

• Type: Early warning and control aircraft
• Year: 2014
• Producer: Northrop Grumman
• Maximum speed: 404 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 25
• Active aircraft: 83
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Navy

19. T-6 Texan

• Type: Training plane
• Year: 1936
• Producer: North American Aviation
• Maximum speed: 209 mph
• Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns
• Aircraft on order: 29
• Active aircraft: 294
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Navy

18. UH-72 Lakota

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year: 2007
• Producer: Eurocopter / Airbus helicopters
• Maximum speed: 167 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 30
• Active aircraft: 391
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Army

17. E-7 Wedgetail

• Type: Early warning and control aircraft
• Year: 2009
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 593 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 36
• Active aircraft: 118
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force, United States Navy

16. C-130J Super Hercules

• Type: Tanker / transport plane
• Year: 1962
• Producer: Lockheed Martin
• Maximum speed: 416 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 51
• Active aircraft: 338
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps

15. CH-47 Chinook

• Type: Medium lift tandem rotor transport helicopter
• Year: 1962
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 180 mph
• Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns
• Aircraft on order: 57
• Active aircraft: 510
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Army

14. C-12 Huron

• Type: Special mission aircraft
• Year: 1974
• Producer: Beechcraft
• Maximum speed: 332 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 66
• Active aircraft: 71
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Navy, United States Marine Corps

13. MV-22 Osprey

• Type: VTOL aircraft with tilting rotor
• Year: 2007
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 316 mph
• Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns, 12.7 mm machine guns
• Aircraft on order: 69
• Active aircraft: 367
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps

12. TH-73 AHTS

• Type: Trainer helicopter
• Year: 2020
• Producer: Leonardo
• Maximum speed: 175 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 71
• Active aircraft: 59
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Navy

11. AT-802U Sky Warden

• Type: Light multirole aircraft
• Year: 1990
• Producer: Air tractor
• Maximum speed: 221 mph
• Armament: Weapons guns, cannon pods, conventional bombs
• Aircraft on order: 73
• Active aircraft: 0
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

10. AH/MH-6 Small Bird

• Type: Light attack helicopter
• Year: 1980
• Producer: Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Maximum speed: 175 mph
• Armament: 30mm M230 Chaingun, 12.7mm GAU-19 Gatling Guns, 7.62mm Miniguns, M261 Missiles, Hellfire Missiles, TOW Anti-Tank Missiles, Stinger Missiles
• Aircraft on order: 74
• Active aircraft: 47
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Army

9. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

• Type: Carrier-based strike fighters
• Year: 1999
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 1187 mph
• Armament: M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Autocannon, Sidewinder Missiles, AMRAAM Missiles, Harpoon Missiles, HARM Missiles, Maverick Missiles, Common Direct Ammunition, Rockeye II Bombs, General Purpose Bombs
• Aircraft on order: 76
• Active aircraft: 421
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Navy

8. MH-139 Gray Wolf

• Type: Medium lift helicopter
• Year: 2021
• Producer: Boeing / Leonardo
• Maximum speed: 202 mph
• Armament: Machine guns mounted on pylon as required
• Aircraft on order: 78
• Active aircraft: 4
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

7. KC-46 Pegasus

• Type: Tanker aircraft
• Year: 2019
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 569 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 99
• Active aircraft: 72
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

6. B-21 Raider

• Type: long-range stealth strategic bomber
• Year: 2028 is expected
• Producer: Northrop Grumman
• Maximum speed: 621 mph
• Armament: Conventional dropped bombs, precision guided bombs, nuclear tipped bombs/missiles
• Aircraft on order: 100
• Active aircraft: 0
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

5. F-15 C/E/EX Eagle II

• Type: Air superiority fighter
• Year: 1976
• Producer: Boeing
• Maximum speed: 1875 mph
• Armament: M61A1 20mm Autocannon, Sidewinder Missiles, Sparrow Missiles, Maverick Missiles, HARM Missiles, Laser Guided Bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Cluster Bombs, Nuclear Bombs
• Aircraft on order: 102
• Active aircraft: 377
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

4. CH-53K Stallion King

• Type: Heavy transport helicopter
• Year: 2018
• Producer: Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 196 mph
• Armament: 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, 12.7 mm GAU-21 miniguns
• Aircraft on order: 193
• Active aircraft: 11
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Marine Corps

3. T-7 Red Hawk

• Type: Training plane
• Year: 2023
• Producer: Boeing / Saab
• Maximum speed: 808 mph
• Armament: N/A
• Aircraft on order: 350
• Active aircraft: 1
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force

2. S-70 Black Hawk

• Type: Medium lift multi-mission helicopter
• Year: 1979
• Producer: Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm Machine Guns, Hellfire Missiles, 12.7mm Gatling Guns, M134 Gatling Guns, Missile Pods, 30mm Chain Cannon
• Aircraft on order: 455
• Active aircraft: 2849
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Navy

1. F-35 Lightning II

• Type: Fifth generation multi-role strike fighters
• Year: 2016
• Producer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman
• Maximum speed: 1,199 mph
• Armament: GAU-12/U 25mm Cannon in External Bridge, Sidewinder Missiles, Paveway Guided Bombs, Rockeye II Bombs, Brimstone Missiles, Storm Shadow Missiles, Drop Bombs
• Aircraft on order: 1855
• Active aircraft: 376
• Military branches with aircraft in service: United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps

The post These are the aircraft the US military is adding to its fleet appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.