The United States Air Force has been the pre-eminent air power since its inception in 1947. Retaining this status requires constantly upgrading the airborne inventory to stay ahead of rivals such as China and Russia in terms of technology and firepower.
To determine the U.S. Air Force’s newest aircraft, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the “2022 USAF & USSF Almanac: Equipment” published in Air and Space Forces Magazine. We excluded all aircraft used as trainers.
This past March, the Department of the Air Force unveiled a $259.3 billion budget request — $9.3 billion above last year’s budget — that is intended to continue modernizing the Air Force and Space Force to meet evolving threats while also addressing current needs such as training, readiness, and supporting new technology.
The proposed budget includes funding that would add 72 fighters — F-35A Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II — and provide early-stage funding for the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. The F-35A Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II are two of the five newest planes in the Air Force fleet. There are 282 F-35A Lightning IIs in active Air Force service, the second-most on our list behind the 299 MQ-9A Reapers. (See if any are among the most expensive planes in the U.S. Air Force.)
All of the aircraft on this list are less than 28 years old. Two of the most newly minted planes in the Air Force inventory have been in service for less than a year: the F-15EX Eagle II fighter/attack plane and the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter. (These are 30 combat aircraft being built for the U.S. military.)
Eighteen of the 30 newest aircraft in Air Force service on the list are either transport craft or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications planes.
Click here to see the 30 newest aircraft in the US Air Force.
30. HH-60G Pave Hawk
> Average age in 2022: 27.70 years
> Aircraft in service: 82
> Active Air Force: 48
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 34
> Type: Helicopter
[in-text-ad]
29. C-20H Gulfstream IV
> Average age in 2022: 27.00 years
> Aircraft in service: 1
> Active Air Force: 1
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Transport
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. RC-26B Condor
> Average age in 2022: 26.40 years
> Aircraft in service: 11
> Active Air Force: 0
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 11
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
Source: telegraham / E+ via Getty Images
27. B-2A Spirit
> Average age in 2022: 26.35 years
> Aircraft in service: 20
> Active Air Force: 20
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Bomber
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. C-32A Air Force Two
> Average age in 2022: 23.00 years
> Aircraft in service: 4
> Active Air Force: 4
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Transport
Source: usairforce / Flickr
25. EC-130J Commando Solo
> Average age in 2022: 21.27 years
> Aircraft in service: 7
> Active Air Force: 7
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
[in-text-ad]
24. E-8C JSTARS
> Average age in 2022: 20.80 years
> Aircraft in service: 16
> Active Air Force: 16
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
23. C-37A Gulfstream V
> Average age in 2022: 20.47 years
> Aircraft in service: 9
> Active Air Force: 9
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Transport
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
22. MQ-1B Predator
> Average age in 2022: 20.46 years
> Aircraft in service: 2
> Active Air Force: 2
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: usairforce / Flickr
21. WC-130J Hercules
> Average age in 2022: 20.45 years
> Aircraft in service: 10
> Active Air Force: 0
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 10
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
20. C-17A Globemaster III
> Average age in 2022: 19.04 years
> Aircraft in service: 222
> Active Air Force: 146
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 76
> Type: Transport
[in-text-ad]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. C-32B Air Force Two
> Average age in 2022: 18.24 years
> Aircraft in service: 2
> Active Air Force: 0
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 2
> Type: Transport
18. C-40B
> Average age in 2022: 17.65 years
> Aircraft in service: 4
> Active Air Force: 4
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Transport
Source: matt_hecht / Flickr
17. C-40C Clipper
> Average age in 2022: 15.76 years
> Aircraft in service: 7
> Active Air Force: 0
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 7
> Type: Transport
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Ryan Fletcher / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
16. F-22A Raptor
> Average age in 2022: 15.19 years
> Aircraft in service: 185
> Active Air Force: 165
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 20
> Type: Fighter/attack
Source: arcticwarrior / Flickr
15. C-130J Super Hercules
> Average age in 2022: 11.57 years
> Aircraft in service: 144
> Active Air Force: 107
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 37
> Type: Transport
[in-text-ad]
14. RQ-4B Global Hawk
> Average age in 2022: 10.71 years
> Aircraft in service: 31
> Active Air Force: 31
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
24/7 Wall St.
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
13. E-11A BACN
> Average age in 2022: 9.73 years
> Aircraft in service: 3
> Active Air Force: 3
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
12. HH-60U Pave Hawk
> Average age in 2022: 9.37 years
> Aircraft in service: 3
> Active Air Force: 3
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Helicopter
[in-text-ad-2]
11. CV-22B Osprey
> Average age in 2022: 8.30 years
> Aircraft in service: 52
> Active Air Force: 52
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Special operations forces
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. MQ-9A Reaper
> Average age in 2022: 6.05 years
> Aircraft in service: 323
> Active Air Force: 299
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 24
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
[in-text-ad]
9. MC-130J Commando II
> Average age in 2022: 5.89 years
> Aircraft in service: 46
> Active Air Force: 46
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Special operations forces
24/7 Wall St.
8. C-37B Gulfstream V
> Average age in 2022: 5.59 years
> Aircraft in service: 7
> Active Air Force: 7
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Transport
7. HC-130J Combat King II
> Average age in 2022: 5.23 years
> Aircraft in service: 37
> Active Air Force: 19
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 18
> Type: Tanker
[in-text-ad-2]
6. P-9A
> Average age in 2022: 5.00 years
> Aircraft in service: 3
> Active Air Force: 3
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance/battle management/command, control, and communications
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
5. F-35A Lightning II
> Average age in 2022: 4.34 years
> Aircraft in service: 302
> Active Air Force: 282
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 20
> Type: Fighter/attack
[in-text-ad]
4. AC-130J Ghostrider
> Average age in 2022: 3.94 years
> Aircraft in service: 24
> Active Air Force: 24
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Special operations forces
24/7 Wall St.
Source: usairforce / Flickr
3. KC-46A Pegasus
> Average age in 2022: 1.48 years
> Aircraft in service: 48
> Active Air Force: 29
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 19
> Type: Tanker
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. F-15EX Eagle II
> Average age in 2022: .50 years
> Aircraft in service: 2
> Active Air Force: 2
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Fighter/attack
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. HH-60W Jolly Green II
> Average age in 2022: .39 years
> Aircraft in service: 13
> Active Air Force: 13
> Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve: 0
> Type: Helicopter
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.