US fighter aircraft in numbers

[futon]

UNITED STATES AIRPOWER

When the Cold War ended, it was essentially infinate. It was beyond indisputable. It was the norm as the supreme power in the skies.

Anything is numerical, but at that time, knowing how many frames of each type of fighter that were in service didn't matter to know. Whatever number it was.. it was essentially infinity.

But just like USN ship numbers, suddenly I find myself checking the actual number of aircraft now. What has changed...

-The aircraft fleet from the 90s are used through the following decades. And upgrades need to happen to stay current. All aircraft can't be upgraded. In short.. Some are upgraded as some are phased out.

-Replacement numbers are fewer, fewer F-22s than originally intended, only a few F-15EXs

-And the primary replacement fighter, the F-35 had severe delays and over budget issues, de facto meaning it too as fewer than intended.

And all that has to measure up to s new challenge, primarily the rapidly growing air power of the PRC.

 

The US has fighters across three services.. the US Air Force, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corp. How many are there for each time?

Edited April 16 by futon

[futon]

From the US Air Force:

F-15C/D about 150 but all retiring.

F-15E 218. Some to be divested. To be become about 195.

 F-15EX currently a handful, to become about 100.

F-16 Loads of F-16s. A wiki grab has about 760 F-16C/Ds. Various blocks exists. The viability of the older ones will be less than the latest blocks. How many of each, no idea. My gut would guess half to be newer-ish, half to be older with still some but lesser viability. 

F-22 180ish. Originally 750, then cut to 380, then cut to the current. Some of the 180 are older and used only for training. IIRC about 150 are actually for frontline service, others to be divested. Further upgrades planned.

F-35A About 300. More are waiting for stuff before entering service. Maybe it shouldn't take to long to push the number to 400 and to 500.

 

[futon]

From the US Navy

F-18 Super Hornets About 420, some old, some latest, some are Growlers. About 75 more of the latest block. Not sure if older ones retire soon or get upgraded.

F-35C About 100. Up to about 170 more later. 

[futon]

US Marine Corp

F-18s About 180 of various types. Eventually to be all replaced by F-35s.

F-35B/C About 140 combined. Planned to eventually be about 420 combined (280 of the Bs and 140 of the Cs).

Edited April 16 by futon

[futon]

USAF: 1,550ish

USN: 620ish

USMC: 400ish

Total: 2,570ish

The biggest factor in the total is the viability of the F-16s and number of F-35As in the USAF.

Edited April 16 by futon

[futon]

CHINA AIRPOWER

Numbers are for current. Information on procurement total is not disclosed.

China's Air Force

Old J-7s are retiring.

J-10s. 750 Some old. Latest are the J-10Cs that are about 300. Still making probably.

J-11s. 450ish. Some old, some newer.

J-16 About 350. Overall new, been in high production rate. Includes eletromagnetic version.

J-20 About 300.

SU-27/30 about 135

SU-35 24

 

China Navy

J-15 About 100 of various types.

 

 

 

Total: 2,100ish

[seahawk]

That happens when you stop buying the current fighter to finance the next gen. It will get worse if the cut F-35s to finance F-47.

(reminder: You can still get F-15s and F16s from the factory, which are up-dated)

[Stuart Galbraith]

And you can only get the F15s and F16's because the Arabs and the Israelis kept the production line alive. if it had been up to the USAF they wouldnt have any production capacity for anything but F35 right now. The Teen series would have gone cold, F22 would have gone cold.

[RETAC21]

This is a bit long in the tooth, but the 2024 Military balance gave these numbers (as of Dec 2023)

USAF

20 F-15C/D Eagle; 165 F-22A Raptor
218 F-15E Strike Eagle; 2 F-15EX Eagle II; 390 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 90 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 375 F-35A Lightning II
129 A-10C Thunderbolt II

Air National Guard

123 F-15C Eagle; 14 F-15D Eagle; 20 F-22A Raptor
261 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 46 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 25 F-35A Lightning II
72 A-10C Thunderbolt II

USAF Reserve

51 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 2 F-16D Fighting Falcon
59 A-10C Thunderbolt II

USN

10 F-16A Fighting Falcon*; 4 F-16B Fighting Falcon*; 8 F-16C Fighting Falcon*; 6 F-16D Fighting Falcon*;

68 F-35C Lightning II; 8 F/A-18C Hornet; 2 F/A-18D Hornet; 323 F/A-18E Super Hornet; 250 F/A-18F Super Hornet

Naval Aviation Reserve*

8 F-5F Tiger II; 31 F-5N Tiger II
12 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 9 F/A-18E Super Hornet; 3 F/A-18F Super Hornet

USMC

148 F-35B Lightning II; 15 F-35C Lightning II; 98 F/A-18C Hornet; 71 F/A-18D Hornet; 43 AV-8B Harrier II**; 6 TAV-8B Harrier**

USMC Reserve

1 F-5F Tiger II*; 13 F-5N Tiger II* ; 5 F/A-18C Hornet; 7 F/A-18C+ Hornet

The budget request included:

USAF: 48 F-35s, 24 F-15EX

Navy: 19 F-35Cs

USMC: 16 F-35Bs

* Only used for adversary training

** Just 39 nowadays: https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/final-us-av-8b-harriers-to-retire-from-service-in-2027/161652.article#:~:text=An aviation strategy released by,the second half of 2027.

 

[RETAC21]

And from the 2025 balance (Dec 2024 then)

USAF:

10 F-15C/D Eagle; 165 F-22A Raptor
218 F-15E Strike Eagle; 6 F-15EX Eagle II; 373 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 90 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 383 F-35A Lightning II
91 A-10C Thunderbolt II

ANG:

95 F-15C Eagle; 10 F-15D Eagle; 20 F-22A Raptor
2 F-15EX Eagle II: 261 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 45 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 38 F-35A Lightning II
63 A-10C Thunderbolt II

USAFR

48 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 2 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 3 F-35A Lightning II
57 A-10C Thunderbolt II

USN

10 F-16A Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16B Fighting Falcon; 10 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 7 F-16D Fighting Falcon;

68 F-35C Lightning II; 4 F/A-18C Hornet; 2 F/A-18D Hornet; 323 F/A-18E Super Hornet; 250 F/A-18F Super Hornet

USNR

F-5F Tiger II; 30 F-5N Tiger II; 12 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 9 F/A-18E Super Hornet; 2 F/A-18F Super Hornet

USMC

152 F-35B Lightning II; 19 F-35C Lightning II; 67 F/A-18C Hornet; 43 F/A-18D Hornet; 38 AV-8B Harrier II; 5 TAV-8B Harrier

USMCR

3 F-5F Tiger II; 12 F-5N Tiger II;  2 F/A-18C Hornet; 7 F/A-18C+ Hornet

[alejandro_]

As I understand F-15C/D are gone as last unit (based in Kadena) retired them.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-last-active-duty-f-15c-kadena/#:~:text=The Air Force's last Active,announced in a recent release.

[RETAC21]

15 minutes ago, alejandro_ said:

As I understand F-15C/D are gone as last unit (based in Kadena) retired them.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-last-active-duty-f-15c-kadena/#:~:text=The Air Force's last Active,announced in a recent release.

In the Active force, they remain in the ANG

[seahawk]

No, the C/D will go.

[TrustMe]

Slightly off topic, but as regards the USN, their aircraft carriers currently field approximately 40 fighters and helo' sbut it can actually carry double that if desired.

[RETAC21]

40 minutes ago, seahawk said:

No, the C/D will go.

Not immediately, only the active force:

https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2025/FY2025-28_Force_Structure_Changes_Exhibit.pdf

65 in FY25

27 in FY26

[seahawk]

Yes, but then they will be gone.