Equipment of the United States Armed Forces

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The Equipment of the United States Armed Forces can be subdivided into: ammunition, weapons, vehicles and attire.

Ammunition

Weapons

Weapons
Name Type Caliber Branches Notes Picture
Small arms
M16A2 Assault rifle 5.56x45mm NATO Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy Virtually phased out, still in limited service
M16A4 Assault rifle 5.56x45mm NATO Marine Corps
M4 Carbine Carbine 5.56x45mm NATO Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy Standard service rifle of the US armed forces
HK416 Carbine 5.56x45mm NATO USSOCOM
Mk17 Mod 0 Battle rifle 7.62x51mm NATO USSOCOM
M14 Battle rifle 7.62x51mm NATO Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy Limited service, mostly ceremonial
SAM-R Designated marksman rifle 5.56x45mm NATO Marine Corps
SDM-R Designated marksman rifle 5.56x45mm NATO Army
Mk 12 SPR Designated marksman rifle 7.62x51mm NATO USSOCOM Being replaced by the Mk 17 Mod 0 by 2017
M24 Sniper Rifle 7.62x51mm NATO Army, Air Force, USSOCOM
M107 Anti-material rifle .50 BMG Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy, USSOCOM
500 MILLS Shotgun 12-gauge Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
M870 Shotgun 12-gauge Army, Marine corps, Navy
M26 MASS Shotgun 12-gauge Army
MP5 Submachine gun 9x19mm Parabellum Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy, USSOCOM
MP7 Submachine gun HK 4.6x30mm Army, Navy, USSOCOM
M240 General purpose machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy
M60 General purpose machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO Army, USSOCOM
M249 Light machine gun 5.56x45mm NATO Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
M27 IAR Light Machine Gun 5.56x45mm NATO Marine Corps
M9 Pistol Semi-automatic pistol 9x19mm Parabellum Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy Standard service pistol
P226 Semi-automatic pistol 9x19mm Parabellum Army, Marine corps, Navy
M1911 Semi-automatic pistol .45 ACP Army, Air force, Coast guard, Marine corps, Navy Limited service
Vehicle weapons
M61 Vulcan Six-barrelled Gatling gun 20x102mm Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
M134 Six-barrelled Gatling gun 7.62x51mm NATO Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
M2 HMG Heavy machine gun .50 BMG Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
Mk 19 Grenade Machine Gun Automatic grenade launcher 40mm grenades Army, Air Force, Marine corps, Navy
Anti-Tank Weapons
FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile System 127mm Army, Marine corps
AT4 Anti-Tank Rocket System 84mm Army, Air Force
M3 MAAWS Anti-Tank Recoilless Rifle 84x246mm R Army, USSOCOM
SMAW Anti-Tank Rocket System 83.5mm Army, Marine corps
Anti-Air Weapons
FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS Army, Marine corps
Mortars
M120 Mortar 120mm mortar Army, Marine corps
M252 Mortar Mortar 81mm mortar Army, Marine corps
M224 Mortar Mortar 60mm mortar Army, Marine corps

Vehicles

Fixed Winged-Aircraft (Work In Progress)

Name Description Branches Version Quantity[3][4] Notes Picture
Close air support
"Delivering the rain".
Fairchild Republic
A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog
Close Air Support, Forward Air Control
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog features an awesome tank killing GAU-8/A Gattling gun and can be outfiited with missiles, rockets and bombs.
Air Force A-10C
OA-10A
713 To be replaced by F-35 Lightning II starting on 2028 or later; OA-10 is an observation variant
Lockheed
AC-130
Close Air Support, Air Interdiction and Force Protection
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship bristles with miniguns, cannons and an onboard 105 mm howitzer.
Air Force AC-130H Spectre

AC-130U Spooky II
21 16 AC-130J planned to replace AC-130H;
Strategic bomber
"Weakening the enemy".
Rockwell/Boeing
B-1 Lancer
Long-range multirole heavy bomber
The Rockwell/Boeing B-1 Lancer series of nuclear-capable strategic bombers from the Cold War.
Air Force B-1B 104 Only Active Supersonic Bomber in the US Air Force and will serve until the 2030s to be replaced by the Next-Generation Bomber
Northrop Grumman
B-2 Spirit
Low observable strategic stealth heavy bomber
The only aircraft able to infiltrate enemy air defenses allowing other non-stealth aircraft to move in and take care of the enemy.
Air Force B-2A 21
Boeing
B-52 Stratofortress
High altitude long-range strategic heavy bomber
Originated from the Cold War, the B-52 is still the USAF's bomber of choice due to its broad capabilities like Strategic Bombing, Nuclear Warfare, Mine Laying, Electronic Warfare, Anti Shipping, Close Support and Reconnaissance.
Air Force B-52A
B-52B
B-52C
B-52D
B-52E
B-52F
B-52G
B-52H
RB-52C
744 To be used until 2045; B-52H Stratofortress is the only one used in service today
Military transport aircraft
"Logistics has always been the deciding factor of battlefield success".
Grumman/ Northrop Grumman
C-2 Greyhound
Carrier based cargo aircraft
Transports supplies to Aircraft Carriers.
Navy C-2A
C-2A(R)
58 It was developed from the E-2 Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control
Lockheed
C-5 Galaxy
Intercontinental outsize heavy cargo transport
Its purpose is strategic airlift for large quantities of personnel,heavy materiel and heavy weaponry over large distances.
Air Force C-5A
C-5B
C-5C
C-5M Super Galaxy
126 C-5A retired; C-5B and C-5C to be upgraded to C-5M
Beechcraft
C-12 Huron
Passenger/Cargo aircraft; Surveillance aircraft variant
It primarily transports VIP and also has a surveillance variant.
Army, Air Force
Army, Air Force
Army, Air Force
Air Force
Air Force
C-12C
C-12D
C-12F
C-12J
MC-12W
69
Boeing
C-17 Globemaster III
Air Force Intercontinental strategic transport
Its purpose is strategic airlift for personnel, materiel and weaponry over large distances.
C-17A 180 223 planned
Gulfstream
C-20
Navy
Air Force
Army
Navy
Air Force
Navy
Army
Passenger aircraft
It transports VIP's like high-ranking military officials.
C-20A
C-20B
C-20C
C-20D
C-20H
C-20G
C-20J
19 C-20
Alenia
C-27J Spartan
Medium-lift tactical transport aircraft
Used for tactical airlift to ransport personnel, materiel and equipment over a theatre of operations.
Air Force C-27J 13 Total Planned 38;Joint US-Italian design
Boeing
C-32
Passenger aircraft
Used primarily by the Vice President of the United States of America with the name "Air Force Two", First lady and occasionally the US Cabinet and Congress members. US President Barack Obama at times flown this aircraft as "Air Force One" over the original VC-25A
Air Force C-32 6
Gulfstream
C-37
Passenger aircraft
Used to transport VIP like executive/military officials.
Army, Air Force
Navy, Coast Guard
C-37A
C-37B
14
Boeing
C-40 Clipper
Passenger aircraft
Used to transport VIP.
Navy
Air Force
Air Force
C-40A
C-40B
C-40C
21
Lockheed
C-130 Hercules
Tactical transport aircraft
Its purpose is tactical transport for personnel, materiel and weaponry limited only to the theatre of war.
One variant used as trainer
Air Force C-130A
C-130B
C-130E
C-130H
C-130H-30
2,500 C-130J to replace C-130E; 129 C-130J planned;C-130A,C-130B,C-130C already retired
Lockheed Martin
C-130J Super Hercules
Tactical transport aircraft
Its purpose is tactical transport for personnel, materiel and weaponry limited only to the theatre of war.
Air Force C-130J
C-130J-30
89 C-130J to replace C-130E
C-145 Skytruck Light utility transport AFSOC C-145 10
Airborne early warning and control
"Eye in the sky."
Grumman/Northrop Grumman
E-2 Hawkeye
All-weather carrier based airborne early warning and control
one trainer variant
Provide carrier battlegroups with an advanced eye-in-the-sky battlefield monitoring system.
Navy E-2A
E-2B
E-2C
E-2D
TE-2A
75 E-2A and E-2B retired;E-2Cto be replaced by E-2D starting 2014; TE-2A is a trainer
Boeing
E-3 Sentry
Airborne warning and control system (AWACS)
The famous "AWACS".
Air Force E-3B
E-3C
22
10
Boeing
E-4 Nightwatch
National emergency airborne command post
Used for national emergencies.
Air Force E-4A
E-4B
4 E-4A was later upgraded to E-4B
Boeing
E-6 Mercury
Naval Communications Relay/ Airborne Command Post
Provide nuclear ballistic missile submarines with an eye in the sky as well as to command them .
Navy E-6A
E-6B
16 E-6A was later upgraded to E-6B
Northrop Grumman
E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint-STARS)
Airborne Battle Management Platform
An Airborne Warning and Control with further capabilities like surveillance
Air Force E-8A
E-8B
E-8C
16 E-8A was a prototype; E-8 B was the final version but the E-8C was favored because of a second-hand built aircraft.
Electronic warfare aircraft
"Scrambling the air waves to blind thine enemy".
Northrop Grumman
EA-6 Prowler
Carrier based electronic warfare aircraft
Its mission is to disable or destroy enemy radar.
Navy EA-6A Electric Intruder
EA-6B Prowler
170 The EA-6A was based from the retired A-6 Intruder which has electronic warfare capabilities but was later modified to EA-6B Prowler which is a dedicated Electronic Warfare aircraft; wil be later replaced by EA-18G Growler
Boeing
EA-18G Growler (Grizzly)
Carrier based Electronic Warfare Aircraft
Its mission is to disable or destroy enemy radar.
Navy EA-18G 108 Grizzly is the nickname used on the radio to avoid confusion between "Prowler" and "Growler"; 114 ordered; EA-18G is a modified version of F/A 18 Hornet; will later replace the EA-6A Prowler
Lockheed
EC-130H Compass Call
its mission is to distrupt or jam enemy radar and communications Air Force EC-130H
EC-130H Block 30
EC-130H Block 35
14
Air superiority fighter
"We own the skies."
McDonnell Douglas
F-15 Eagle
Air Superiority Aircraft
Its mission is to gain air supremacy on the battlefield by dogfighting enemy aircraft and winning.
Air Force F-15A
F-15B
F-15C
F-15D
1,500 F-15A and F-15B retired; Being partially replaced by the F-22; expected service until 2025
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Air Superiority Aircraft
Its mission is to gain air supremacy on the battlefield by shooting down enemy aircraft at long ranges without being detected.
Air Force F-22A 195 Although the same as the F-15 as an Air Superiority Fighter both of them fulfill this role through different ways.

An F-15 would go on dogfighting whilst the F-22 would simply go Airborne and shoot down enemy aircraft at far ranges thus preventing any actual encounters with other aircraft.

Multirole combat aircraft
"Air-to-air combat or air-to-surface attack? We've got it all for you".
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-role combat aircraft
Its mission is to attack ground targets but at the same time also has aerial combat capabilities.
Air Force F-15E 203
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Multi-role combat aircraft
Despite it primarily designed to attack surface targets it still has the capabilities to engage enemy aircraft.
Air Force F-16C/F-16D Total Force 1018 To be replaced by F-35A on 2025; USAF ceased to purchase F-16's however they still produce it to be exported to other countries.
F/A-18 Hornet Carrier based Multi-role Combat Aircraft
Its mission is to strike at ground targets but at the same time also has dogfighting capabilities.
Navy F/A-18A
F/A-18B
F/A-18C
F/A-18D
5,000 To be replaced F-35C; 565 F/A-18E, F/A 18F Super hornet planned
Boeing F/A-18E/ F/A18F Super Hornet Carrier based Multi-role Combat Aircraft
It has the same mission as the F/A-18 Hornet but with an enhanced design.
Navy F/A18E
F/A-18F
F/A-18E/F
497 Service will start on 2015 and will be used until 2015
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Advanced Multi-role combat aircraft
The F-35 Lightning is a 5th generation multi-role combat aircraft able to perform reconnaissance, ground attack and air defense.
Air Force
Marine Corps
Navy
F-35A
F-35B
F-35C
63 Planned to replace all aircraft except the F-22 Raptor in the future. Together with the F-22 Raptor the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps would have all of the roles they needed with just two aircraft designs. The F-35 would suit the Advanced Multi-role combat aircraft whilst the F-22 would suit the role of Air Superiority Fighter.

Rotary Winged-Aircraft/VTOL/VSTOL

Name Branches Type Version Quantity[3][4] Notes Picture
VSTOL/VTOL
AV-8B Harrier II Marine Corps Close Air Support
Trainer
AV-8B
TAV-8B
99
19
To be replaced by F-35B; The original variant of this aircraft is of British design
V-22 Osprey Marines Corps
Air Force
Cargo Helicopter MV-22B
CV-22B
126
17
360 planned
50 planned
Rotary Winged-Aircraft
AH-1 Super Cobra Marine Corps Attack Helicopter AH-1W Cobra 168 To be upgraded/replaced AH-1Z Viper
AH-1Z Viper Marine Corps Attack Helicopter AH-1Z 28 189 planned
AH-64 Apache Army Attack Helicopter AH-64A
AH-64D Apache Longbow
107
619
CH-46 Sea Knight Marine Corps Cargo Helicopter CH-46E 111 To be replaced by V-22 Osprey
CH-47 Chinook Army Cargo Helicopter CH-47D
CH-47F
394
48
190 CH-47F ordered
CH-53 Sea Stallion Marine Corps Cargo Helicopter CH-53E 139 To be replaced woth CH-53K starting on 2018
EH-60 Army Electronic-Warfare Helicopter EH-60A 64
HH-60 Jay Hawk Coast Guard Recovery Helicopter HH-60J
HH-60T
41
HH-60 Pave Hawk Air Force Search and Rescue Helicopter HH-60G 99
HH-65 Dolphin Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter MH-65C
MH-65D
MH-65E
101 This aircraft is of French design
MH-6 Little Bird Army Special operations Utility Helicopter/ Attack Helicopter AH/MH-6J
AH/MH-6M
A/MH-6X
AH-6C
AH-6F
AH-6G
EH-6E
MH-6E
MH-6H
---
MH-60 Black Hawk Army Multi-mission Helicopter MH-60K
MH-60L
23
35
OH-58 Kiowa Army Armed Light Observation Helicopter OH-58A
OH-58C
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
150
210
368
A/C models to be replaced by UH-72 Lakota
SH-60 Seahawk Navy Search and Rescue Helicopter
Multi-mission Helicopter
Multi-mission Helicopter
Anti-submarine Helicopter Helicopter
Anti-submarine Helicopter Helicopter
HH-60H
MH-60R
MH-60S
SH-60B
SH-60F
49
76
145
129
60





300 planned
273 planned
T-57 Sea Ranger Navy Training Helicopter TH-57B
TH-57C
44
85
TH-67 Creek Army Training Helicopter TH-67 172 The aircraft is a joint US-Canadian design
UH-1 Iroquois Air Force
Army
Air Force
Marine Corps
Marine Corps
Training Helicopter
Utility Aircraft
Utility Aircraft
Utility Aircraft
TH-1
UH1-H
UH-1N
UH-1Y
27
175
88
31
UH-1Y to replace UH-1N; UH-1H of Army to be replaced by U-72 Lakota; UH-1N Twin Huey; UH-1Y Venom
UH-60 Black Hawk Army Utility Aircraft UH-60A
UH-60L
UH-60M
751
592
100
1227 planned
UH-72 Lakota Army Utility Aircraft UH-72A 250 345 planned

Spacecraft

Name Type Branches Quantity[3][4] Notes Picture
Spacecraft
Delta IV Orbital launch vehicle Irrelevant Irrelevant
Global Positioning System Navigation and Timing All 30[5]

Land vehicles

Name Branches Quantity Variants Notes Picture
Main Battle Tank
M1 Abrams Army, Marine Corps 6,343 M1A1 MBT
M1A2 MBT
M104 Wolverine Bridge Layer
M1 Assault Breacher Vehicle
M1 Panther II Mine Clearing Blade/Roller System
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Bradley Fighting Vehicle Army 6,724 M2A3 Bradley IFV
M3 Recon Vehicle
M4 Command and Control Vehicle
Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle
M6 Linebacker Air Defense
Bradley Engineer Squad Vehicle
Armored Personnel Carrier
M113 armored personnel carrier Army, Air Force 6,000 M58 Wolf
M113 AMEV
M548A3 Cargo Carrier
M90A13 Improved TOW Vehicle
M106A43 Mortar Carrier
Stryker Army, Marines, Air Force 4,187 M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle
M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle
M1128 Mobile Gun System
M1129 Mortar Carrier
M1130 Commander's Vehicle
M1131 Fire Support Vehicle
M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicle
M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicle
M1134 Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle
M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Reconnaissance Vehicle
LAV-25 Marine Corps 1,500 LAV-25A2 Amphibious recon vehicle
LAV-AT (Anti-Tank)
LAV-M (Mortar Carrier)
LAV-R (Recovery vehicle)
LAV-AD (Air Defense
LAV-C2 (Command and Control)
LAV-LOG (Logistics)
LAV-MEWSS Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System
Amphibious
Assault Amphibious Vehicle (Amphibious) Marine Corps 1,311 AAVP-7A1 (Personnel)
AAVC-7A1 (Command)
AAVR-7A1(Recovery)
Amphibious
Mine-Protected Ambush resistant/Medium Mine Protected Vehicle
RG-31 Nyala Army 1,964 RG-31 Charger US Army Version The RG-31 originated from South Africa
RG-33 Army 1,735 RG-33 Originated from South Africa
Cougar (vehicle) Army, Marine Corps, Air Force 3,500 ordered Cougar Hardened Engineering Vehicle
Cougar Joint EOD Response Vehicle
International MaxxPro Marine Corps, Army 5,250 ordered MaxxPro Dash
MRV
BAE Caiman Marine Corps, Army 2,800 ordered -----
Oshkosh M-ATV Army, Marine Corps 8,108 ordered ---
Buffalo (mine protected vehicle) Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy 200 ----
Armored Cars
Humvee Army, Marine Corps, Air Force,Navy, Coast Guard 260,000 Active Denial System
Ground Mobility Vehicle (Special Forces Variant)
Integrated Meteorological System
ZEUS-HLONS (HMMWV Laser Ordnance Neutralization System)
M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger
M1097A2 Unarmored Cargo/Troop/Air-defense Carrier
M1114 Up-Armored Armament Carrier
M1116 Up-Armored Armament Carrier
M1145 Up-Armored Armament Carrier
M1151A1 Up-Armored Armament Carrier
M1152A1 Up-Armored Cargo/Troop Carrier
M1165A1 Up-Armored General Purpose Vehicle
M1167A1 Up-Armored TOW Carrier
M1117 Armored Security Vehicle Army (Military Police) 1,836 Command and Control
Recovery Vehicle
Reconnaissance Surveillance & Target Acquisition
Ambulance
Infantry Carrier Vehicle
M1200 Armored Knight FiST-V
Light Utility Vehicle
Desert Patrol Vehicle Army, Navy (Navy SEALS) --- ---- Used extensively on Operation Desert Strom specifically the Navy SEALS
Light Strike Vehicle Army --- ---
Advanced Light Strike Vehicle Marine Corps, Navy (Navy SEALS) ---- ----
Ranger Special Operations Vehicle Army 12 ---- Exclusive use by the 75th Ranger Regiment
Interim Fast Attack Vehicle Marine Corps (Force Recon), Navy (Navy SEALS) 157 ---
Growler Marine Corps -- -- Can be Airlifted by a V-22 Osprey
Military engineering vehicle
M9 Armored Combat Earthmover Army 447 ---- Basically a Bulldozer
M60 Armored Vehicle Launch Bridge Army, Marine Corps --- M60 AVLB
M60A1 AVLB
Basically a Bridge Layer
M88 Recovery Vehicle Army, Marine Corps --- M88A2 Hercules Basically an Armoured recovery vehicle
Caterpillar D7 Army, Marine Corps --- --- Basically a Bulldozer
Caterpillar D9 Army --- --- Basically a Bulldozer
M816 Wrecker Army --- ---- Basically an Armoured recovery vehicle
Chubby (mine detection system) Army ---- ---- Basically a Detection and Mine Removal Vehicle; Originated from South Africa
Self-propelled artillery
Dragon Fire (Self-propelled mortar carrier) Marine Corps 66 ---
M109 Paladin Army 850 M109A6
M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Army, Marine Corps 500 ---
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System Army 991 M270A1 Production ceased on 2003
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Army 1000 ---
MIM-104 Patriot Army 1106 Launchers MM-140F (PAC-3) Its purpose is for Anti-ballistic missile uses
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Army 24 --- Its purpose is for Anti-ballistic missile uses

Watercraft

Watercraft
Name Type Branches Quantity Notes Picture
Nimitz class Aircraft carrier Navy 10
America class Amphibious assault ship Navy 1
Wasp class Amphibious assault ship Navy 8
Austin class Amphibious transport dock Navy 2
San Antonio class Amphibious transport dock Navy 10
Whidbey Island class Dock landing ship Navy 8
Harpers Ferry class Dock landing ship Navy 4
Arleigh Burke class Destroyer Navy 62 75 planned
Oliver Hazard Perry class Frigate Navy 5
Los Angeles class Attack submarine Navy 40
Seawolf class Attack submarine Navy 3
Virginia class Attack submarine Navy 11 48 planned
Ohio class Ballistic missile submarine Navy 14
Ohio class Guided missile submarine Navy 4
Ticonderoga class Aegis Missile Cruiser Navy 22
Avenger class Mine countermeasures vessel Navy 14

Attire

Attire
List of current camouflage patterns and uniforms
Branch Camouflage pattern Image Picture

Army
Universal Camouflage Pattern, used for the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).
Units deployed in Afghanistan are being issued MultiCam instead of standard UCP. Pattern is known as OCP - OEF Camouflage Pattern.

and

Marine Corps
MARPAT pattern, used for the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) in two variants, woodland and desert.

Navy
Navy Working Uniform (NWU). Comes in three variants - standard blue-grey for shipboard and garrison use, woodland, and desert.

Air Force
Digitalized tigerstripe, used for the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU).

Some deployed ground units in Afghanistan use MultiCam.

Coast Guard
Operational Dress Uniform (ODU).

SOCOM
Common uniform for the SOCOM is still in development. Currently, MultiCam is widely used, replacing old BDU's.

See also

References

  1. "Small Caliber Ammunition". 2013 Army Weapon Systems Handbook (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  2. "Small Caliber Ammunition". Alliant Tech Systems(ATK). Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Factsheet". May 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Wikipedia Ref".
  5. "GPS Wing Reaches GPS III IBR Milestone". Inside GNSS. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
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