Air Force & Space Forces Almanac 2024

A comprehensive look at the Air Force and the Space Force, including people, equipment, budget, weapons systems, and more.

This Almanac was compiled by Amanda Miller, Aaron M.U. Church, and the staff of Air & Space Forces Magazine. We gratefully acknowledge Air Force Public Affairs offices at headquarters, agencies, major commands, and the reserve components for their invaluable help—The Editors.

Structure

DAF Personnel

DOD Personnel

Pay

Insignia of the Armed Forces

Awards and Decorations

Spending

Aircraft Inventory

U.S. Space Force

USAF Institutional and Components Commands

FOAS/DRUS/Civil Air Patrol

That’s Not Santa: NORAD Tracks Russian Jets in Alaskan ADIZ

Dec. 20, 2024

Four Russian warplanes entered the Air Defense Identification Zone off the coast of Alaska on Dec. 18, North American Aerospace Defense Command announced—the first such incident in three months.

Why Do We Need a Space Force? Here’s This Guardian’s Answer

Dec. 20, 2024

“The Space Force is now five years old, yet most Americans don’t even know it exists, not to mention what it does or why we need it. That’s an uncomfortable fact and a problem for the entire nation that every Guardian needs to understand and take seriously,” writes retired USSF…

Experts: US Not Organized or Equipped for the Coming Electromagnetic Wars in Space

Dec. 20, 2024

Space-based capabilities like GPS and satellite communications are vital to modern warfighting—and they are also most easily attackable via the electromagnetic spectrum via jamming or spoofing the radio transmissions that provide their command and control. But the Department of Defense’s electromagnetic warfare efforts in space are hamstrung by poor coordination…

As Space Force Turns 5, Here’s What You Need to Know About the Military Service

Dec. 19, 2024

The Space Force turns five years old on Dec. 20, with Guardians everywhere preparing to celebrate. Yet public awareness of the Space Force remains low. So, on the occasion of this milestone, here are five things to know about the Space Force and why it matters for the rest of the…

Kendall Sees Progress on CCA Drones as His Legacy; F-35 ‘Not Going Away’

Dec. 19, 2024

Outgoing Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall thinks accelerating the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program will be his biggest legacy, as they will be "transformative" of how the service fights.

From Golf to Whiskey: Aviano Becomes the Latest Base to Swap Out HH-60 Models

Dec. 19, 2024

Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, flew their last mission in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on Dec. 18, becoming the latest unit across the Air Force to transition to the new HH-60W Jolly Green II chopper.

Space Force, Air Force Need More Money, Kendall Says

Dec. 19, 2024

There’s a clear consensus within the Pentagon that the Space Force needs more money to tackle its growing mission and support the joint force—but don’t go raiding the Air Force’s budget to provide it, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said Dec. 19.

Pentagon Says Chinese Air Force Nipping at USAF’s Heels, but Not Yet a Match

Dec. 18, 2024

China's air force is advancing quickly, and while it has not yet pulled even with the U.S. Air Force, it's moving in that direction, according to the Pentagon's annual China military power report.

Big To-Do List in 2025 for Space Force

Dec. 18, 2024

On Dec. 20, the Space Force celebrates its fifth birthday. Yet already, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman is looking ahead to Year 6. On Dec. 17, Saltzman reeled off a list of seven major initiatives he wants to work on in 2025—by his own admission, it’s a “large…

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