There Are Nearly 800 of This 1980s Era US Aircraft Still in Service

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We used data from the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal.
• The United States aircraft fleet has made itself the largest, most powerful, and most technologically advanced in the world.
• Also, 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

Of the 11 US aircraft carriers currently in service, four are deployed, three are in training and preparing to deploy, and four are in routine maintenance and repair, which can take up to a year or more to complete. As of January 2024, there are 5,189 aircraft in active service, with nearly a third being fighter jets. The United States aircraft fleet has made itself the largest, most powerful, and technologically advanced in the world, or as the Air Force says so succinctly, “airpower anytime, anywhere.”

To identify every combat aircraft in the US military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft based on how many were currently in service, and we excluded combat helicopters. We also included supplemental data on how many aircraft are on order, which military branch they fall under, the year they began service, and who initially manufactured them.

Why Are We Talking About the US Aircraft Fleet?

As stated, the US air fleet dominates across the globe. It stands ready to act on many different types of efforts worldwide and functions as transports, trainers, bombers, fighters, tankers, and in special missions. This fleet requires maintenance, upkeep, and advancements on rotation to hold onto the global superpower status, which costs a great deal of money. Each year, the Department of Defense presents an ever-growing budget to lawmakers to facilitate these costs and many others.

14. AT-802U

AT-802 (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Mztourist

• Active aircraft: 0
• Aircraft on order: 75
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Air Tractor and L3Harris
• Entered Service: October 1990

13. B-21

• Active aircraft: 0
• Aircraft on order: 100
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman
• Entered Service: November 2023

12. AC-130W

• Active aircraft: 3
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Boeing
• Entered Service: 2012

11. B-2

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit Flyo... (CC BY 2.0) by Thank You (24 Millions ) views

• Active aircraft: 17
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman
• Entered Service: April 1997

10. AC-130J

• Active aircraft: 29
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Boeing
• Entered Service: June 2015

9. B-1B

• Active aircraft: 42
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: North American Rockwell
• Entered Service: October 1984

8. B-52H

• Active aircraft: 72
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Boeing Company
• Entered Service: February 1955

7. AV-8B/+

• Active aircraft: 87
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Marine Corps
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas Aircraft
• Entered Service: November 1981

6. F-22

• Active aircraft: 178
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
• Entered Service: December 2005

5. A-10C

• Active aircraft: 270
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft
• Entered Service: September 2007

4. F-35 A/B/C

• Active aircraft: 376
• Aircraft on order: 1855
• Military branch: United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
• Entered Service: F-35B: 31 July 2015 (USMC) F-35A: 2 August 2016 (USAF) F-35C: 28 February 2019 (USN)

3. F-15 C/E/EX

• Active aircraft: 377
• Aircraft on order: 102
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: Boeing Defense, Space & Security
• Entered Service: 1976, F-15E: September 1989, F-15EX: July 2024

2. F/A-18 A/C/D/E/F

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assig... (CC BY 2.0) by Official U.S. Navy Page

• Active aircraft: 561
• Aircraft on order: 76
• Military branch: United States Marine Corps, United States Navy
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997) with Northrop (1974–1994) Boeing (1997–2000)
• Entered Service: Marine Corps in 1983 and the U.S. Navy in 1984

1. F-16C

• Active aircraft: 738
• Aircraft on order:
• Military branch: United States Air Force
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics
• Entered Service: June 1984