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United States Air Force

Modern

The United States Air Force was established as an independent military service on September 18, 1947, under the National Security Act, separating from the Army Air Forces that had carried out American strategic and tactical airpower operations throughout World War II, including the strategic bombing campaigns over Germany and Japan and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Built around the doctrine that airpower, including strategic bombing, air superiority and, from the Cold War onward, nuclear deterrence via long-range bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles, constituted an independent and decisive dimension of modern warfare, the new service organized itself around Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command and later a wide array of specialized commands. The Air Force played central roles in Cold War nuclear deterrence, the Korean and Vietnam Wars' air campaigns, the 1991 Gulf War's demonstration of precision-guided airpower, and subsequent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, continually advancing jet fighter, bomber, airlift, and, later, stealth and unmanned aircraft technology. The Air Force ceded its space and cyber operational responsibilities in part to the newly created United States Space Force in 2019, while remaining the primary American service for air superiority, strategic airlift and long-range strike.

Facts
Force Type
Air service branch of the United States Armed Forces 1
Founded Year
1947 1
Traces origins to 1907 within the Army Signal Corps; established as an independent branch in 1947, per the same source.
Country
United States 1
Force Type
Force Type (category)
Air Force 1
United States Air Force
Filter Results5 entries
Connections

Associated With

F-22 Raptor, Weapons Systems

The F-22 Raptor has served as the United States Air Force's premier air superiority fighter since 2005

F-35 Lightning II, Weapons Systems

The F-35 Lightning II entered United States Air Force service as its newest stealth multirole fighter

Minuteman III, Weapons Systems

The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile has been operated by the United States Air Force since 1970

Source Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper

Fought In

Operation Babylift was flown by United States Air Force transport aircraft

Source Wikipedia: Operation Babylift

Operation Eagle Claw used United States Air Force helicopters and crews staged at Desert One

Source Wikipedia: Operation Eagle Claw

Operation El Dorado Canyon, the 1986 airstrikes on Libya, was flown in part by United States Air Force F-111s from bases in England

Source Wikipedia: Operation El Dorado Canyon

Operation Nickel Grass, the 1973 airlift of arms to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, was flown by United States Air Force cargo aircraft

Source Wikipedia: Operation Nickel Grass

Operation Provide Comfort enforced its no-fly zone with United States Air Force aircraft

Source Wikipedia: Operation Provide Comfort

Operates

Source Wikipedia: A-10 Thunderbolt II
Source Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
Source Wikipedia: ADM-20 Quail
Source Wikipedia: AGM-12 Bullpup
Source Wikipedia: AGM-129 ACM
Source Wikipedia: AGM-130
Source Wikipedia: AGM-158 JASSM
Source Wikipedia: AGM-158C LRASM
Source Wikipedia: AGM-176 Griffin
Source Wikipedia: AGM-183 ARRW
Source Wikipedia: AGM-188 Rusty Dagger
Source Wikipedia: AGM-28 Hound Dog
Source Wikipedia: AGM-65 Maverick
Source Wikipedia: AGM-86 ALCM
Source AGM-88 HARM (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: AGM-88J SiAW
Source Wikipedia: AIM-120 AMRAAM
Source Wikipedia: AIM-4 Falcon
Source Wikipedia: AIM-47 Falcon
Source Wikipedia: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile
ASALM, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: ASALM
Source Wikipedia: ASM-135 ASAT
Source Wikipedia: B-2 Spirit
Source Wikipedia: B-29 Superfortress
Source Wikipedia: B-52 Stratofortress
Source Wikipedia: BGM-109G Gryphon
Source GlobalSecurity.org: BLU-82
Source Wikipedia: Boeing YAL-1
Source Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Commando
Source Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Ranger
Source Wikipedia: CAR-15
Source Wikipedia: Dragon Cart
Source Wikipedia: F-15 Eagle
Source Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
Source GlobalSecurity.org: GBU-15
Source GBU-43/B MOAB (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: GBU-53/B StormBreaker
Source Wikipedia: Gyrojet
Source Wikipedia: HGM-25A Titan I
Source Wikipedia: Ithaca 37
JDAM, Weapons Systems
Source GlobalSecurity.org: Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
Source LGM-118 Peacekeeper, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman
Source Wikipedia: LGM-35 Sentinel
Source Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
Source Wikipedia: M2 Browning
Source Wikipedia: MGM-1 Matador
Source Wikipedia: MGM-13 Mace
Source Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman

Showing 1 to 50 of 61 in Operates, page 1 of 2.

In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Wikidata: United States Air Force
Sources
1. Wikipedia: United States Air Force
Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph 1
    the Air Force was established by transfer of personnel from the Army Air Forces with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947.
  • Per the entity's own name and sourced description.
View the Source
Wikidata: United States Air Force
Wikidata Q11223, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
WikipediaAssociated With: MQ-9 Reaper, lead sentence
Quote, Associated With: MQ-9 Reaper, lead sentence
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, one component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS)) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
View the Source
Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman
  • Operates: Minuteman III, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'
  • Operates: LGM-30 Minuteman, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'
View the Source
GBU-43/B MOAB (Wikipedia)
Operates: GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
LGM-118 Peacekeeper, Wikipedia
Operates: LGM-118 Peacekeeper, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: PGM-19 Jupiter
Operates: PGM-19 Jupiter, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-158C LRASM
Operates: AGM-158C LRASM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-158 JASSM
Operates: AGM-158 JASSM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-86 ALCM
Operates: AGM-86 ALCM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: MGM-13 Mace
Operates: MGM-13 Mace, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: ASALM
Operates: ASALM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
Wikipedia: Dragon Cart
Operates: Dragon Cart, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source
GlobalSecurity.org: GBU-15
GlobalSecurity.orgOperates: GBU-15, Program management
Quote, Operates: GBU-15, Program management
program management responsibility for the GBU-15 weapon system transferred from the Air Force Systems Command
View the Source
GlobalSecurity.org: Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
GlobalSecurity.orgOperates: JDAM, GBU-31 description
Quote, Operates: JDAM, GBU-31 description
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) GBU-31 is a tailkit under development to meet both USAF and Navy needs
View the Source
GlobalSecurity.org: BLU-82
GlobalSecurity.orgOperates: BLU-82, Development history
Quote, Operates: BLU-82, Development history
the Air Force requested the Albuquerque Operations Office of the AEC to undertake, through Sandia Laboratories, the fabrication of 225 emergency-capability 15,000-lb, BLU-82
View the Source
Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
WikipediaOperates: AC-130 Gunship, Article text
Quote, Operates: AC-130 Gunship, Article text
Its sole operator has been the United States Air Force, which currently uses the AC-130J Ghostrider.
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-129 ACM
Operates: AGM-129 ACM, Article text
Quote, Operates: AGM-129 ACM, Article text
Prior to its withdrawal from service in 2012, the AGM-129A was carried exclusively by the US Air Force's B-52H Stratofortress bombers.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Smith & Wesson Model 12
Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 12, Article text
Quote, Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 12, Article text
In 1953, the United States Air Force (USAF) ordered a variant of the S&W Military & Police Airweight with a two-inch barrel and aluminum cylinder to be issued to US Air Force flight crew members, called the Revolver, Lightweight, Caliber .38 Special, M13.
View the Source
Wikipedia: ADM-20 Quail
Operates: ADM-20 Quail, Article text
Quote, Operates: ADM-20 Quail, Article text
The Quail was designed to be launched by the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber and its original United States Air Force designation was GAM-72 (GAM standing for Guided Aircraft Missile).
View the Source
Wikipedia: Boeing YAL-1
Operates: Boeing YAL-1, Infobox: primary_user
Quote, Operates: Boeing YAL-1, Infobox: primary_user
United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-183 ARRW
Operates: AGM-183 ARRW, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: AGM-183 ARRW, Infobox: used_by
United States Air Force (planned)
View the Source
Wikipedia: GBU-53/B StormBreaker
Operates: GBU-53/B StormBreaker, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: GBU-53/B StormBreaker, Infobox: used_by
United States Air Force United States Navy
View the Source
Wikipedia: Republic-Ford JB-2
Operates: Republic-Ford JB-2, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: Republic-Ford JB-2, Infobox: used_by
United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force United States Navy
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-176 Griffin
Operates: AGM-176 Griffin, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: AGM-176 Griffin, Infobox: used_by
United States Air Force United States Navy United States Marine Corps Central Intelligence Agency
View the Source
Wikipedia: AIM-47 Falcon
Operates: AIM-47 Falcon, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: AIM-47 Falcon, Infobox: used_by
United States Air Force (testing)
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-88J SiAW
Operates: AGM-88J SiAW, Infobox: used_by
Quote, Operates: AGM-88J SiAW, Infobox: used_by
To be used by the United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: P-51 Mustang
WikipediaOperates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article text
A "substantial number" of stored or in-service F-51Ds were shipped, via aircraft carriers, to the combat zone, and were used by the USAF, the South African Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
View the Source
Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
WikipediaOperates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article text
It entered service with the Navy in 1961, then was adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and within a few years became a major part of their air arms.
View the Source
Wikipedia: B-2 Spirit
WikipediaOperates: B-2 Spirit, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: B-2 Spirit, Wikipedia article text
The Northrop B-2 Spirit is an American nuclear-capable subsonic stealth strategic bomber, often referred to as a "stealth bomber", solely operated by the United States Air Force.
View the Source
Wikipedia: MQ-1 Predator
WikipediaOperates: MQ-1 Predator, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: MQ-1 Predator, Wikipedia article text
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (often referred to as the Predator drone) is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
View the Source
Wikipedia: UH-1 Iroquois
WikipediaOperates: UH-1 Iroquois, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: UH-1 Iroquois, Wikipedia article text
The US also ordered the helicopter with the USAF receiving it in 1970.
View the Source
Wikipedia: B-52 Stratofortress
WikipediaOperates: B-52 Stratofortress, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: B-52 Stratofortress, Wikipedia article text
It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955 and was flown by NASA from 1959 to 2007.
View the Source
Wikipedia: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile
WikipediaOperates: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile, Wikipedia article text
The AIM-9B is a very limited weapon, but it had no serious competitors and counters when it was introduced, causing it to be adopted by the USAF and NATO as a standard weapon, with around 80,000 units being produced from 1958 to 1962.
View the Source
Wikipedia: B-29 Superfortress
WikipediaOperates: B-29 Superfortress, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: B-29 Superfortress, Wikipedia article text
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the USAAF and USAF during World War II and the Korean War.
View the Source
Wikipedia: M2 Browning
WikipediaOperates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
The later, faster-firing electrically feed-boosted AN/M3 was used in many Korean War-era USAF fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, Republic F-84 Thunderjet, North American F-86 Sabre, and early versions of the Martin B-57 Canberra bomber.
View the Source
Wikipedia: AIM-120 AMRAAM
WikipediaOperates: AIM-120 AMRAAM, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: AIM-120 AMRAAM, Wikipedia article text
Together with the short-range, infrared-guided AIM-9 Sidewinder, they replaced the AIM-4 Falcon IR and radar guided series for use in air combat by the USAF as well.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Douglas SBD Dauntless
WikipediaOperates: SBD Dauntless, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: SBD Dauntless, Wikipedia article text
A handful of A-24s survived in the inventory of the USAAF long enough to be taken over by the Air Force (USAF) when that service became independent of the Army in September 1947.
View the Source
AGM-88 HARM (Wikipedia)
Operates: AGM-88 HARM, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: AGM-88 HARM, Wikipedia article text
Air Force (USAF) put the HARM onto the F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft, and later on specialized F-16s equipped with the HARM Targeting System (HTS).
View the Source
Wikipedia: SR-71 Blackbird
WikipediaOperates: SR-71 Blackbird, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: SR-71 Blackbird, Wikipedia article text
When the A-12's performance potential was clearly found to be much greater, the USAF ordered a variant of the A-12 in December 1962, which was originally named R-12 by Lockheed.
View the Source
Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article text
In 2007, the transport became the fifth aircraft to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, which for the C-130 is the United States Air Force (USAF).
View the Source
Wikipedia: F-15 Eagle
WikipediaOperates: F-15 Eagle, Article text
Quote, Operates: F-15 Eagle, Article text
United States United States Air Force formerly operated the F-15C, with all active duty units retiring the variant as of April 2025 though up to eight F-15D are in service as of September 2024.
View the Source
Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey (Wikipedia)
Operates: V-22 Osprey, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: V-22 Osprey, Wikipedia article text
Air Force (USAF) fielded its version of the tiltrotor, the CV-22B, in 2009.
View the Source
Wikipedia: CAR-15
Operates: CAR-15, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: CAR-15, Wikipedia article text
The Model 603 CAR-15 Rifle, adopted initially by the United States Army as the XM16E1 and then later as the M16A1, and the Model 604 CAR-15 Rifle, adopted by the United States Air Force as the M16, formed the core of the CAR-15 family.
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Wikipedia: Gyrojet
Operates: Gyrojet, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Gyrojet, Wikipedia article text
The emergency-survival flare version (A/P25S-5A) was used for many years as a standard USAF issue item in survival kits, vests, and for forward operations signaling, with flares available in white, green, blue, and red.
View the Source
Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
Operates: M134 Minigun, Infobox: image
Quote, Operates: M134 Minigun, Infobox: image
HH-60G M134.jpg
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-65 Maverick
Operates: AGM-65 Maverick, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: AGM-65 Maverick, Wikipedia article text
It entered service with the United States Air Force in August 1972.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Smith & Wesson Model 15
Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 15, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 15, Wikipedia article text
The Model 15 was the standard issue sidearm of the United States Air Force Security Forces from 1962 to 1992.
View the Source
Wikipedia: AIM-4 Falcon
Operates: AIM-4 Falcon, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: AIM-4 Falcon, Wikipedia article text
The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Ranger
Operates: Cadillac Gage Ranger, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Cadillac Gage Ranger, Wikipedia article text
In 1981, 560 additional Rangers were ordered by the USAF and the United States Navy.
View the Source
Wikipedia: HGM-25A Titan I
Operates: HGM-25A Titan I, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: HGM-25A Titan I, Wikipedia article text
In its brief career, a total of six USAF squadrons were equipped with the Titan I missile.
View the Source
Wikipedia: A-10 Thunderbolt II
WikipediaOperates: A-10 Thunderbolt II, Lead
Quote, Operates: A-10 Thunderbolt II, Lead
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, also widely known by the nickname Warthog, is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF).
View the Source
Wikipedia: LGM-35 Sentinel
Operates: LGM-35 Sentinel, Lead
Quote, Operates: LGM-35 Sentinel, Lead
The LGM-35 Sentinel, initially known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system under development for the United States Air Force.
View the Source
Wikipedia: BGM-109G Gryphon
Operates: BGM-109G Gryphon, Lead
Quote, Operates: BGM-109G Gryphon, Lead
The BGM-109G Gryphon ground-launched cruise missile, or GLCM, was a ground-launched variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War and disarmed under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
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Wikipedia: AGM-188 Rusty Dagger
Operates: AGM-188 Rusty Dagger, Lead
Quote, Operates: AGM-188 Rusty Dagger, Lead
The AGM-188A Rusty Dagger is a low-cost air-launched cruise missile being developed by Zone 5 Technologies for the United States Air Force (USAF) Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) program which started in August 2024.
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Wikipedia: AGM-28 Hound Dog
Operates: AGM-28 Hound Dog, Lead
Quote, Operates: AGM-28 Hound Dog, Lead
The North American Aviation AGM-28 Hound Dog was a supersonic, turbojet-propelled, nuclear armed, air-launched cruise missile developed in 1959 for the United States Air Force.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Ithaca 37
Operates: Ithaca 37, Operators
Quote, Operates: Ithaca 37, Operators
United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Commando
Operates: Cadillac Gage Commando, Operators
Quote, Operates: Cadillac Gage Commando, Operators
United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: Popeye (missile)
Operates: Popeye (missile), Operators
Quote, Operates: Popeye (missile), Operators
United States: United States Air Force (retired in 2004)
View the Source
Wikipedia: ASM-135 ASAT
Operates: ASM-135 ASAT, Operators
Quote, Operates: ASM-135 ASAT, Operators
United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-12 Bullpup
Operates: AGM-12 Bullpup, Operators
Quote, Operates: AGM-12 Bullpup, Operators
United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: MGM-1 Matador
Operates: MGM-1 Matador, Operators
Quote, Operates: MGM-1 Matador, Operators
United States: The United States Air Force
View the Source
Wikipedia: AGM-130
Operates: AGM-130, Operators
Quote, Operates: AGM-130, Operators
United States: The United States Air Force was the only operator of the AGM-130
View the Source
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