Using the latest figures from Global Firepower as of March 2026, we can rank the world’s air forces by total aircraft.
US Air Force One
The U.S. Air Force is reviving its Standoff Attack Weapon (SoAW) program, seeking an affordable air-launched cruise missile ready for fielding by 2033, backed by a record $11.36 billion missile procurement budget request for fiscal 2027.
The United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed that an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on April 3, 2026, amid escalating military operations in the Middle East.
The US Air Force’s rare and secretive NT-43A aircraft, known by its callsign RAT55, was spotted over Melbourne, Florida, ahead of NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission launch.
US to receive F-35 jets without radars due to APG-85 delays, impacting combat readiness and fleet capability planning.
The US Air Force plans a $16 billion Advanced Propulsion Acquisition Contract to speed up development of next generation aircraft engines and propulsion technologies.
The United States Air Force has launched a major sensor integration initiative aimed at accelerating combat decision-making across air, space, and cyber domains
Honeywell has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to design a prototype propulsion system for collaborative combat aircraft, centered on its new SkyShot 1600 small-thrust-class engine.
The US Air Force Reserve Command is pushing to acquire surplus F-15E Strike Eagles and new F-15EX Eagle II fighters to replace retiring aircraft. Lt. Gen. John P. Healy aims to end a 14-year pattern of divesting aircraft without recapitalization.
A U.S. Air Force C-32A jet now flies in a new executive paint scheme, marking the start of fleetwide modernization for government transport aircraft.