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The United States Air Force maintains a complex network of installations designed to project air power and support global operations. There are many measurements by which to compare the bases that form the global network, but one of the simplest and most illustrative is the number of aircraft stationed at each one.
One caveat is that it is not generally possible to get an exact fleet count by installation due to security measures and information control by the Department of Defense. That is for good reason, but we can estimate the general size of units from the public information they do make available. Excluding the ‘Boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where retired airframes are sent for scrapping and mothball storage, this list will describe five of the very biggest USAF bases in the world.
5
Eglin Air Force Base
90+ Aircraft
Eglin AFB starts off the countdown with a unique entry. The base is home to a large complex of testing and training facilities. that includes a number of very large ranges for weapons testing, which also happens to make it one of the largest bases in the US Air Force as well. Eglin hosts numerous units performing testing, training, and specialized operations. The core permanent units fly around 90 to 100 assigned aircraft across more than 30 different airframes.
These include F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-35 Lightnings, and more. Various Air Force Special Operations Command units, Army Rangers, Navy EOD teams, and Marine Corps detachments also operate on Eglin’s expansive range complexes. Key active units include the 96th Test Wing, which manages the base and conducts the primary weapons testing mission.
The 33rd Fighter Wing serves as a major training unit for Lockheed Martin F-35 pilots and maintainers across all branches of the military. The 53rd Wing and 918th Special Operations Wing perform operational testing and special operations training, respectively.
Initially a gunnery range, it became a massive training ground known as the ‘proving ground’ for testing almost every new piece of aerial weaponry the US developed during the world wars. Eglin evolved into the Air Force’s primary center for developing and testing weapons and electronics. Its vast range over land and sea allows for large-scale, live-fire testing that is not possible at many other bases.
4
Kadena Air Force Base
90+ Aircraft
Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, is the largest and most active USAF installation in Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Keystone of the Pacific.’ The fighter aircraft stationed here are in transition. The aging F-15C/D Eagles are being retired, and the air defense mission is temporarily being enhanced with new fourth- and fifth-generation fighters like the F-15E, F-15EX, and F-35.
Squadrons from stateside bases rotate through Kadena to keep up the continuous force levels. Units flying the F-35 and F-22 are not permanently assigned to Kadena. A permanent fleet of 36 F-15EX Eagle IIs is expected to fully equip the base around 2026. Kadena Air Base’s strategic importance cannot be overstated, as it is located in a crucial area to counter aggression from regional actors like North Korea, Russia, and the People’s Republic of China.
The base’s origins trace back to a small Imperial Japanese Air Force airfield, Yara Hikojo, completed in September 1944. US forces captured the badly damaged coral runway within hours of storming the island during the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945. The base’s development accelerated during the Cold War. In the early 1990s, a major reorganization consolidated all base operations under a single command, the 18th Wing.
3
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
100+ Aircraft
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is one of 12 joint bases in the US. The DOD formally merged the Air Force’s Elmendorf Air Force Base and the Army’s Fort Richardson in 2010. Its strategic location in Alaska makes it a critical power projection platform for both the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific regions. JBER operates a diverse fleet of around 100 permanently assigned aircraft, supporting a wide array of missions from air dominance to search and rescue.
JBER is home to two primary flying units: the active duty 3rd Wing, the ‘Grim Reapers,’ and the Air National Guard’s 176th Wing. The 3rd Wing has a long and decorated history, participating in every major US conflict of the 20th century, from WWII to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The fleet primarily consists of fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters with various cargo and support aircraft. The base deploys 
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for rapid strategic and tactical airlift.
The E-3 Sentry (AWACS) is operated for airborne command and control and surveillance missions. The Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing operates a diverse fleet as well. This includes C-130 Hercules cargo variants and HC-130 King search and rescue variants. HH-60 Pave Hawk Helicopters are stationed at JBER for combat search and rescue missions.
Construction began in 1940 as a permanent military airfield near Anchorage. After WWII, the Air Force assumed control of the original Elmendorf site, and the Army established Fort Richardson nearby. Throughout the Cold War, Elmendorf served as a primary air defense base, transitioning through various fighter aircraft like the F-102 Delta Dagger, F-4 Phantom II, and F-15 Eagle, with a peak in the 1950s at nearly 200 fighter jets.
5 US Air Force Bases That Replaced F-15s With F-22s Or F-35s
Numerous bases have now replaced aging F-15Cs with F-22s and F-35s, though some bases will host F-15EXs for decades to come.
2
Little Rock Air Force Base
100+ Aircraft
Little Rock AFB is located in Jacksonville, Arkansas. It is a cornerstone of the Air Force’s global combat airlift and training missions, often called the ‘Home of Herk Nation.’ The mission and the units stationed there are focused almost entirely on the C-130 Hercules transport plane. While an exact number is not publicly available, its mission dictates that a substantial fleet is always present.
Historical estimates put the average at over 100 C-130s on any given day. Little Rock functions as the Department of Defense’s ‘Center of Excellence’ for tactical airlift, training C-130 aircrews from all branches of the US military and the Coast Guard. It also operates the DOD’s largest international flight training program with 47 allied nations participating.
The stated role of LRAFB is to provide and train for “unrivaled combat airlift” worldwide. The training covers a wide range of missions from airdropping troops and supplies on combat operations to providing humanitarian aid relief to disaster victims. Beyond training, the host 19th Airlift Wing provides combat-ready C-130s to deploy globally, and the 29th Weapons Squadron provides advanced instruction for C-130 air crews on weapons and tactics.
Opened in 1955, LRAFB initially operated under Strategic Air Command with B-47 Stratojets and B-58 Hustler bombers. It also housed Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles at one time. In 1970, its mission changed to tactical airlift with the arrival of the first C-130, becoming a core part of its identity ever since.
The 7 Oldest United States Air Force Bases & Their Strategic Roles
Discover the rich history and vital roles of the USAF’s oldest active bases.
1
Luke Air Force Base
150+ Aircraft
Luke AFB in Arizona is the Air Force’s largest fighter wing. Luke is a cornerstone for the training of combat-ready fighter pilots, specifically in the F-35 and F-16. It is one of the most significant hubs for F-35 activities in the Air Force. It also facilitates training with partner nations and supports training under Foreign Military Sales. The base operates at least 150 fighter jets composed of a combination of new F-35s and legacy F-16s.
In June of this year, Luke reached a major milestone in its new mission with the graduation of its 1,500th F-35 pilot: Major Rolandus ‘Turbo’ Scherders of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He gave these comments when asked about his experience during the training program:
“I think the 35 and 16 have the same mission set. But the 35 is really good at that mission set. It was a great surprise to see and actually experience the fifth generation of fighter jet… The U.S. leadership, together with the Dutch and Danish leadership, have really made us feel at home. We’ve been taken care of very well during the course.”
The 56th Fighter Wing concluded with its final F-16 sortie in February 2025, with the departure of the last USAF F-16 jet a month later. The final class of F-16 student pilots graduated in 2024. Now, the 56th Wing’s main mission is training F-35 pilots for the Air Force and its allies. Luke AFB still hosts the 425th Fighter Squadron, which uses F-16s to train Republic of Singapore Air Force personnel. This squadron is expected to relocate to a new base in the future.
Established in 1940 as a training base, Luke quickly became a massive pilot training center during WWII. It was named in honor of Lieutenant Frank Luke Junior, who was an Arizona native and Medal of Honor recipient. In the 1950s, it became a fighter pilot training facility under Tactical Air Command flying F-84 Thunderjets and F-100 Super Sabres.
In 1958, the mission officially became advanced flight training for fighter pilots. Over the following decades, it became the largest fighter pilot training base in the Air Force, primarily using F-4 Phantoms and then exclusively the F-16 before it finally transitioned to the F-35 this year.
