United States Air Force and Military Aircraft

US Air Force

� Mission:– Defend the United States through the control

and exploitation of air and space.

� Aim: air dominance

United States Air Force

� Functions:

*Maintain air superiority*Defend US against enemy aircraft & missiles*Strike an enemy anywhere in the world*Provide close air support to ground troops*Provide airlift for all DOD forces*Provide reconnaissance and weather info

Military Aircraft

The military uses different aircraft to accomplish different tasks/missions.

Military Aircraft

We use cars, vans, SUV’s, trucks, buses, etc. for

different tasks/missions as

well

Military Aircraft

Vehicles: cars, vans, SUV’s, trucks, buses

Which would you use for:*Your mother taking you & 5 friends to a movie*Field trip of 40 students to Washington DC*Pick up supplies from Sam’s*Move from your current home to a new home *Go cruising with your friends

Military Aircraft Overview

The military uses a variety of aircraft to achieve it’s primary functions:*Maintain air superiority

*Defend US against enemy aircraft & missiles*Strike an enemy anywhere in the world*Provide close air support to ground troops*Provide airlift for all DOD forces*Provide reconnaissance and weather info

Military Aircraft Overview

What are some of the roles military aircraft have in achieving

these missions?

Military Aircraft Roles

Seek and destroy the enemy on land and sea. Provide close air support.

Military Aircraft Roles

Carry bombs to target

Military Aircraft Roles

Gather intelligence and weather information

Military Aircraft Roles

Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft and missiles

Military Aircraft Roles

Carry troops, supplies, equipment, and medical patients; and carry fuel to refuel aircraft in the air

Military Aircraft Roles

Train pilotsand other personnel

Military Aircraft

FIREPOWERFor

FREEDOM

Military AircraftEssential Questions

What are the different categories of military aircraft

What is the role of the different categories of military aircraft

How do you identify the type of aircraft and its role from the alpha designation

Military Aircraft Designations

AttackBomberCargoDroneElectronicFighterHelicopterSpecial Operations

Military Aircraft Designations

ObservationPatrolReconnaissanceStrategic ReconnaissanceTrainerUtility/LiaisonExperimentalRefuelingPresidential Transport

Air Force Aircraft

� Attack aircraft provide close air support for ground troops and destroy enemy positions on the ground. They shoot regular ammunition (30 mm) and missiles and drop bombs– These aircraft start with “A”– Types

� A-10 Thuderbolt/A-10 Warthog� AC-130 Spectre (used by special

ops)

Air Force Aircraft

� Fighter aircraft fight enemy aircraft, drop bombs, shoot targets, etc.– These aircraft start with “F”– Types:

� F-15 Eagle� F-16 Fighting Falcon� F-22 Raptor

Air Force Aircraft

� Bombers drop conventional (regular explosive bombs) and nuclear bombs– These aircraft start with “B”– Types:

� B-1B Lancer� B-2A Spirit� B-52 Stratofortress

Air Force Aircraft� Reconnaissance aircraft gather

information and data for war fighting strategy– These aircraft have various designations: “U”,

“E”, and “WC”� Types:

– U-2 (spy plane) E-3 Sentry (AWACS)– E-8 Joint Stars WC-130 Hercules

(weather)

Air Force Aircraft� Transport/Cargo aircraft carry military

people, equipment, supplies, fuel, and weapons– These aircraft start with “C”, “KC”, and

some have no designation– Types:

� C-130 Hercules C-17� KC-10 Extender Air Force One

Air Force Aircraft

� Trainer aircraft are used to teach pilots and navigators how to fly/navigate– These aircraft start with “T”– Types:

� T-1� T-6� T-38 Talon

Air Force Aircraft

� Helicopters provide search, rescue, and recovery support; and transportation support– These aircraft start with or

have “H” in the designations– Types:

� HH-1H Iroquois� HH-60 Pave Paw

Air Force Drones� The BQM-167A: a high-

performance, remotely-controlled subscale aerial target used to provide a threat-representative target drone.

� Supports the Air-to-Air Weapon System Evaluation Program and other Air Force and Department of Defense air-to-air test and evaluation programs.

Air Force Drones

� The MQ-1 Predator & MQ-9 Reaper

� Armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long endurance remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).

� Employed primarily in a killer/scout role as an intelligence collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets

Air Force Drones

� The RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft system provides real-time direct situational awareness and target information.

� Supports Air Force Special Operations Command Battlefield Airmen and Air Force security forces

Air Force Drones

� Small unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, provides real-time direct situational awareness and force protection information for Air Force security forces expeditionary teams.– Scan Eagle– WASP

Air Force Missiles

� The AGM-129A advanced cruise missile is a stealth, nuclear-capable cruise missile used exclusively by B-52H bombers.

Air Force Missiles

� The Guided Bomb Unit or GBU-15 is an unpowered, glide weapon used to destroy high value enemy targets.

� Deployed from the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Air Force Missiles

� The LGM-30G Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, is an element of the nation's strategic deterrent forces under the control of the Air Force Global Strike Command.

� Missiles are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to an underground launch control center through a system of hardened cables.

Air Force Missiles

� The AGM-88 HARM or high-speed anti-radiation missile, is an air-to-surface tactical missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems.

� A smokeless, solid-propellant, dual-thrust rocket motor propels the missile.

� Used on the F-16

Air Force Missiles

� The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft.

� It has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system

� Used on fighter aircraft

Military AircraftRoles

*Seek and destroy the enemy on land and sea*Carry bombs to targets*Gather intelligence information*Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft and

missiles*Carry troops, supplies, and equipment, and

medical patients*Train pilots and other personnel

Military Aircraft

Firepower for maintaining air superiority:

A variety of categories

A full arsenal of the most advanced technology