List of active United States Air Force aircraft squadrons

This is an organized list of all of the active aircraft squadrons that currently exist in the United States Air Force, sorted by type. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation. Squadrons are only listed if flying aircraft is their primary mission (other units such as certain Student Squadrons & Training Squadrons, Test Squadrons, Operations Support Squadrons, and Group / Wing / NAF / MAJCOM staffs may have large contingents of aircrew assigned, but they do not "own" aircraft and their mission does not necessarily revolve around flying. Those squadrons maintain Administrative Control (ADCON) of those attached personnel, while the operational flying squadrons retain Operational Control (OPCON)). Aircraft are separated based on MDS (not MWS). Provisional "Expeditionary" Squadrons are listed. The squadron's group assignment is listed (instead of the wing) if the group is not labelled an Operations Group, or if the parent wing does not share their group's same number. Detachments are listed under their own menu when assigned to a Group-level unit or higher.

To see all USAF squadrons, regardless of active or not, as well as non-flying squadrons, go to the List of United States Air Force squadrons

Aggressor Squadrons (AGRS)

Air Refueling Squadrons (ARS)

Airborne Air Control Squadrons (AACS)

Airlift Squadrons (AS)

Note: Most Active Duty and FTU C-130J squadrons operate a mix of C-130J and C-130J-30 airframes.

Attack Squadrons (ATKS)

Bomb Squadrons (BS)

Electronic Combat Squadrons (ECS)

Expeditionary Squadrons (Prefix "E")

Fighter Interceptor Squadrons (FIS)

Fighter Squadrons (FS)

Fighter Training Squadrons (FTS)

Flight Test Squadrons (FLTS)

Functional Check Flight (FCF) duties after Program Depot Maintenance (PDM) are performed by sister services or private contractors for C-17A, CV-22B, E-9A, E-4B, and E-11A airframes. Developmental Test (DT) duties are performed by sister services or private contractors for all E-9A, E-4B, and E-11A airframes.

Flying Training Squadrons (FTS)

Helicopter Squadrons (HS)

Reconnaissance Squadrons (RS)

Rescue Squadrons (RQS)

Special Operations Squadrons (SOS)

Test and Evaluation Squadrons (TES)

Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) duties are performed by sister services or private contractors for CV-22B, all W/RC-135 variants, E-9A, E-4B, EA-37B, and E-11A airframes.

Weapons Squadrons (WPS)

Source:

Other Units

Squadron-level Operational Detachments

Listed are operational detachments from Wing or Group-level units that are organized and managed similarly to Squadrons, but lack the amount of aircraft assigned to be labeled as such.

Squadron-sized Wing-level Units

Listed are units that have sufficient numbers of aircraft and aircrew assigned, but are commanded by a Colonel rank (or higher) and thus not labeled as a Squadron.

References

Footnotes

Citations