Every US Military Plane, And How Many are in Service

Special Report

Published: August 7, 2023 12:42 pm

Last Updated: August 8, 2023 12:53 pm

The release of “Top Gun: Maverick” last year inspired new interest in aerial combat and the U.S. military’s fighter jets, new and old. The main fighter jet used in the movie is the F/A-18F Super Hornet, part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet of carrier-borne warplanes. The E and F are the latest iteration of a jet that has been around for decades, and even the Super Hornet is more than 20 years old. But it is far from the newest or oldest plane, and arguably the most iconic, in the U.S. military’s substantial fleet of jets and bombers.

To compile a list of every plane in the U.S. military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft on the different types of aircraft in service in the American Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Aircraft are ordered by total count. Helicopters were excluded from this list, as are planes that are on order, but not yet delivered. All data is from the WDMMA.

In cases where the WDMMA didn’t provide a year of first flight, we used other online resources, including the websites of Boeing and Lockheed Martin and aviation-related websites like Aerospaceweb.org. In most cases, the year of the first flight indicates the first flight of the earliest version of the aircraft. In some cases, we use the first flight year of a modernized variant.

Altogether, the U.S. has in service more than 2,300 fighter jets with the F-prefix, or nearly 35% of the U.S. arsenal of military planes This includes nearly 500 highly advanced and stealthy F-35 Lightning IIs and F-22 Raptors. (These are the largest air forces in the world.)

The U.S. Air Force has 4,453 planes, or about 61% of the 7,250 planes flown by all branches. Some of the planes are only the domain of the USAF, like all the bombers, while some, like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, are used by other branches as well. In total, the U.S. Army has 353 planes, the Marine Corps. 497 aircraft, and the Navy flies 1,947 planes. It is important to note that some branches rely more on helicopters, which are excluded from this list.

Fighters and trainers make up the largest portion of the American warplane arsenal, totaling nearly 4,400 planes or 61%. About 300 planes are fighters involved in close air support of ground forces, like the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, and the Lockheed AC-130, the heavily armed version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

The rest of the planes include nearly 622 aerial refuelers and nearly 939 transporters. The U.S. also has about 150 strategic bombers, led by the classic Boeing B-52, the nuclear-bomber famously featured in the 1964 film “Dr. Strangelove,” and 824 special missions aircraft.

Here is every plane in the U.S. military.

68. Saab 340
> Total planes: 1 (Tied)
> First flown: 1983
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy

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67. de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
> Total planes: 1 (Tied)
> First flown: 1951
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy

VP-FAZ DHC-6 Twin Otter and VP... by Steve Knight

VP-FAZ DHC-6 Twin Otter and VP... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Knight

66. de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Otter
> Total planes: 1 (Tied)
> First flown: 1975
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Army

65. de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
> Total planes: 2 (Tied)
> First flown: 1947
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy

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64. Gulfstream G100
> Total planes: 2 (Tied)
> First flown: 1984
> Category: Transports
> Role: VIP
> Military branch: US Navy

63. Dassault Falcon 20
> Total planes: 2 (Tied)
> First flown: 1976
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Reconnaissance
> Military branch: US Air Force

C-GAAV (CC BY-SA 2.0) by redlegsfan21

62. Beechcraft 1900
> Total planes: 3 (Tied)
> First flown: *
> Category: Transports
> Role: Utility
> Military branch: US Army

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61. Cessna 208
> Total planes: 3 (Tied)
> First flown: 1982
> Category: Special-Mission, Transports
> Role: Reconnaissance, Utility
> Military branch: US Air Force, Army

60. Bombardier Global Express
> Total planes: 3 (Tied)
> First flown: 1996
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Communications
> Military branch: US Air Force

59. Boeing C-32
> Total planes: 4 (Tied)
> First flown: 1988
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Reconnaissance
> Military branch: US Air Force

Boeing E-4B Nightwatch u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u00984078... by Alan Wilson

Boeing E-4B Nightwatch u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u00984078... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

58. Boeing E-4 Nightwatch
> Total planes: 4 (Tied)
> First flown: 1973
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Communications
> Military branch: US Air Force

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57. CASA C-212 Aviocar
> Total planes: 5 (Tied)
> First flown: 1971
> Category: Transports
> Role: Utility
> Military branch: US Army

56. Airbus (EADS CASA) CN-235
> Total planes: 5 (Tied)
> First flown: 1983
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Reconnaissance
> Military branch: US Air Force

ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PZL M28 SKY... by simon butler

ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PZL M28 SKY... (CC BY 2.0) by simon butler

55. PZL M28 Skytruck
> Total planes: 5 (Tied)
> First flown: 1984
> Category: Transports
> Role: Tactical
> Military branch: US Air Force

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Gulfstream Aerospace U-4 Gulfstream IV (G-IV-MPA), Japan - Air Force AN2238446 by Fu00e6

Gulfstream Aerospace U-4 Gulfstream IV (G-IV-MPA), Japan - Air Force AN2238446 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Fu00e6

54. Gulfstream IV
> Total planes: 6 (Tied)
> First flown: 1985
> Category: Transports
> Role: VIP/Utility
> Military branch: US Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps

EGLK - de Havilland Canada DHC... by Steve Lynes

EGLK - de Havilland Canada DHC... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

53. de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
> Total planes: 6 (Tied)
> First flown: 1965
> Category: Transports
> Role: Utility
> Military branch: US Army, Air Force

Aircraft_Fighter_Plane_Embraer... by mashleymorgan

Aircraft_Fighter_Plane_Embraer... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by mashleymorgan

52. Embraer EMB-314 (Super Tucano)
> Total planes: 6 (Tied)
> First flown: 1999
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Basic Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

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51. Alenia C-27 J Spartan
> Total planes: 7
> First flown: 1999
> Category: Transports
> Role: Tactical
> Military branch: US Army

50. Grob G120
> Total planes: 11 (Tied)
> First flown: 1999
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Army, Air Force

Beechcraft B100 King Air u00e2u0080u0098N3... by Alan Wilson

Beechcraft B100 King Air u00e2u0080u0098N3... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

49. Beechcraft King Air
> Total planes: 11 (Tied)
> First flown: 1963
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Army

48. Lockheed EP-3 Orion / ARIES / ARIES II
> Total planes: 12
> First flown: 1958
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Electronic intelligence
> Military branch: US Navy

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47. Boeing 737
> Total planes: 15
> First flown: 1967
> Category: Transports
> Role: Transport
> Military branch: US Navy

46. Boeing E-6 Mercury
> Total planes: 16
> First flown: 1987
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Communications
> Military branch: US Navy

IMG_5478_1600 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by ken H

45. Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS
> Total planes: 17
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Special-Mission, Trainers
> Role: Reconnaissance, Reconnaissance Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

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Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit - ... by Jonathan Cutrer

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit - ... (CC BY 2.0) by Jonathan Cutrer

44. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
> Total planes: 19
> First flown: 1985
> Category: Bombers
> Role: Strategic
> Military branch: US Air Force

Connecticut Air National Guard... by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

Connecticut Air National Guard... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

43. C-21 (Learjet 35)
> Total planes: 20 (Tied)
> First flown: 1973
> Category: Special-Mission, Transports
> Role: Reconnaissance, Utility
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force

40863 (Fairchild Swearingen Me... by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

40863 (Fairchild Swearingen Me... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

42. Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
> Total planes: 20 (Tied)
> First flown: 1969
> Category: Special-Mission, Transports, Trainers
> Role: Reconnaissance, Fighter Trainer, Utility
> Military branch: US Navy, Army

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D-CPRU, Dornier Do-328-110 (3... by Rosedale7175

D-CPRU, Dornier Do-328-110 (3... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Rosedale7175

41. Dornier Do 328
> Total planes: 20 (Tied)
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Transports
> Role: Airliner
> Military branch: US Air Force

LN-WDJ - De Havilland Canada D... by Steve Knight

LN-WDJ - De Havilland Canada D... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Knight

40. de Havilland Canada Dash 8
> Total planes: 21
> First flown: 1983
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Reconnaissance
> Military branch: US Army, Air Force

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 N345BS... by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 N345BS... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

39. Cirrus SR20
> Total planes: 25
> First flown: 1995
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

Grumman Greyhound (CC BY 2.0) by Glenn Beltz

38. Grumman C-2 Greyhound
> Total planes: 27 (Tied)
> First flown: 1964
> Category: Transports
> Role: Tactical
> Military branch: US Navy

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37. Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
> Total planes: 27 (Tied)
> First flown: 1961
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Observation, ELINT, Crew Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

36. Lockheed AC-130
> Total planes: 27 (Tied)
> First flown: 1966
> Category: Close-Air Support
> Role: Close-Air Support
> Military branch: US Air Force

35. Lockheed U-2 (Dragon Lady)
> Total planes: 30
> First flown: 1955
> Category: Special-Mission, Trainers
> Role: Reconnaissance, Special Mission
> Military branch: US Air Force

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34. Boeing E-3 Sentry
> Total planes: 31
> First flown: 1972
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Airborne Early Warning
> Military branch: US Air Force

Pilatus PC-12/45 N644SD (644) by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

Pilatus PC-12/45 N644SD (644) (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

33. Pilatus PC-12
> Total planes: 36 (Tied)
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Transports, Special-Mission
> Role: Utility
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force

32. Boeing KC-46 Pegasus
> Total planes: 36 (Tied)
> First flown: 2015
> Category: Aerial Tankers / Refuelers
> Role: Aerial Refueling
> Military branch: US Air Force

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31. Cessna Citation
> Total planes: 40
> First flown: 1972
> Category: Transports
> Role: Utility
> Military branch: US Marine Corps, Army

30. Northrop F-5 Tiger II
> Total planes: 42
> First flown: 1959
> Category: Trainers
> Role: OPFOR Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps

29. Lockheed P-3 Orion
> Total planes: 52 (Tied)
> First flown: 1959
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Reconnaissance, Maritime Patrol
> Military branch: US Navy

Diamond DA20-A1 Katana u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0098D-EB... by Alan Wilson

Diamond DA20-A1 Katana u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0098D-EB... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

28. Diamond DA20 Katana
> Total planes: 52 (Tied)
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Flight Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

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27. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
> Total planes: 52 (Tied)
> First flown: 1968
> Category: Transports
> Role: Strategic
> Military branch: US Air Force

26. McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
> Total planes: 58
> First flown: 1980
> Category: Aerial Tankers / Refuelers
> Role: Aerial Refueling
> Military branch: US Air Force

86-0094 Rockwell B-1B Lancer 2... by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u0083u00c3u0082u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

86-0094 Rockwell B-1B Lancer 2... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u0083u00c2u0083u00c3u0082u00c2u00a1s Del Coro

25. Rockwell B-1 Lancer
> Total planes: 59
> First flown: 1974
> Category: Bombers
> Role: Strategic
> Military branch: US Air Force

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148892 Lockheed KC-130-F Hercu... by Andrew Thomas

148892 Lockheed KC-130-F Hercu... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrew Thomas

24. Lockheed KC-130 Hercules
> Total planes: 67
> First flown: 1954
> Category: Aerial Tankers / Refuelers
> Role: Aerial Refueling
> Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps

23. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
> Total planes: 74
> First flown: 1952
> Category: Bombers
> Role: Strategic
> Military branch: US Air Force

22. Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
> Total planes: 78
> First flown: 1948
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Basic Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps

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Boeing P-8A Poseidon - US Navy... by Steve Lynes

Boeing P-8A Poseidon - US Navy... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

21. Boeing P-8 Poseidon
> Total planes: 81
> First flown: 2009
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Maritime Patrol
> Military branch: US Navy

20181208 E-2 Hawkeye parked Naha Air Show 2018-2 by Balon Greyjoy

20181208 E-2 Hawkeye parked Naha Air Show 2018-2 (CC0 1.0) by Balon Greyjoy

20. Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
> Total planes: 84
> First flown: 1960
> Category: Special-Mission, Trainers
> Role: Airborne Early Warning, Crew/Systems Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrie... by Steve Lynes

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrie... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

19. McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
> Total planes: 118
> First flown: 1978
> Category: Trainers, Fighters
> Role: Strike, Strike Trainer
> Military branch: US Marine Corps

18. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
> Total planes: 133
> First flown: 1995
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Fighter Trainer, Multirole
> Military branch: US Navy

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17. Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
> Total planes: 150 (Tied)
> First flown: 1996
> Category: Transports
> Role: Tactical
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force

T-1A Jayhawk (CC BY 2.0) by Mark Jones Jr.

16. Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk
> Total planes: 150 (Tied)
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Fighter Trainer
> Military branch: US Air Force

15. Boeing EA-18G Growler
> Total planes: 153
> First flown: 2006
> Category: Special-Mission
> Role: Electronic Warfare
> Military branch: US Navy

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14. Lockheed F-22 Raptor
> Total planes: 178
> First flown: 1997
> Category: Fighters
> Role: Air Superiority
> Military branch: US Air Force

13. McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk
> Total planes: 194
> First flown: 1988
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Advanced Jet Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy

12. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle
> Total planes: 218
> First flown: 1986
> Category: Fighters
> Role: Multirole/Strike
> Military branch: US Air Force

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Boeing C-17A Globemaster III u00e2... by Alan Wilson

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III u00e2... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

11. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
> Total planes: 222
> First flown: 1991
> Category: Transports
> Role: Strategic/Tactical
> Military branch: US Air Force

10. Boeing F-15 Eagle
> Total planes: 236
> First flown: 1972
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Fighter Trainer, Fighter
> Military branch: US Air Force

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunde... by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunde... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Tomu00c3u00a1s Del Coro

9. Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
> Total planes: 286
> First flown: 1972
> Category: Close-Air Support
> Role: Close-Air Support
> Military branch: US Air Force

8. Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules
> Total planes: 309
> First flown: 1954
> Category: Special-Mission, Transports, Aerial Tankers / Refuelers
> Role: Electronic Warfare, Search & Rescue, Aerial Refueling, Tactical
> Military branch: US Air Force

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Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II by :u0410u043du0434u0440u0435u043912.06.1992

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (CC BY-SA 4.0) by :u0410u043du0434u0440u0435u043912.06.1992

7. Lockheed F-35 Lightning II
> Total planes: 317
> First flown: 2006
> Category: Trainers, Fighters
> Role: Strike Trainer, Strike
> Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps

Beechcraft B300 Super King Air... by Alan Wilson

Beechcraft B300 Super King Air... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

6. Beechcraft Super King Air
> Total planes: 330
> First flown: 1972
> Category: Trainers, Transports, Special-Mission
> Role: Flight Trainer, Reconnaissance, Utility
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps

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Boeing KC-135T Stratotanker u00e2u0080... by Alan Wilson

Boeing KC-135T Stratotanker u00e2u0080... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

5. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
> Total planes: 396
> First flown: 1956
> Category: Aerial Tankers / Refuelers
> Role: Aerial Refueling
> Military branch: US Air Force

Boeing F/A-18 Hornet - U S Nav... by edk7

Boeing F/A-18 Hornet - U S Nav... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by edk7

4. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
> Total planes: 448
> First flown: 1978
> Category: Trainers, Fighters
> Role: Fighter Trainer, Multirole
> Military branch: US Navy, Marine Corps

Northrop T-38C Talon u00e2u0080u009869-079... by Alan Wilson

Northrop T-38C Talon u00e2u0080u009869-079... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

3. Northrop T-38 Talon
> Total planes: 455
> First flown: 1959
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Advanced Jet Trainer, Basic Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force

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Raytheon Beechcraft T-6 Texan ... by Mark Jones Jr.

Raytheon Beechcraft T-6 Texan ... (CC BY 2.0) by Mark Jones Jr.

2. Raytheon T-6 Texan II
> Total planes: 474
> First flown: 1998
> Category: Trainers
> Role: Basic Trainer, Advanced Jet Trainer
> Military branch: US Navy, Army, Air Force

1. Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon
> Total planes: 803
> First flown: 1974
> Category: Fighters, Trainers
> Role: OPFOR (opposing force) Trainer, Multrole
> Military branch: US Navy, Air Force

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