top 10 largest air force bases in the world

Western allies believed that Germany needed a strong air force to counter the threat of the Soviet Union and it’s Warsaw pact allies. The Australian Air-force which is officially called the Royal Australian Air-force is the aerial combat division of the Australian Armed Forces. They have 266, which is far more than its closest rivals Russia and China. THE TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. Top 10 Best Air Forces in The World 2020 United States Air-force; Once known as the United States Army Airforce USAAR, the United States Air-force USAF comes in at number one on our list. While All the above-mentioned hardware is designed and developed in China, the PLAAF also has among its fleet Russian made Warcraft such as the Su-30 and the Su-35. For training activities, they have air-crafts like BAE Hawk T.1/T.2, Beechcraft Super King Air and Typhoon T.3. It’s one of the Air Force’s oldest bases and a portion of on-base housing are considered historic homes. Straddling the border between Europe and Asia, Turkey sits at a global crossroads marked by both ancient and modern warfare. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. As far as combat is concerned they have only provided air transport in UN Peacekeeping missions. For reconnaissance, there are Mirage IIIRP, Falco UAV, and Jasoos II Bravo – attack fighter jets. For the city dwellers, Anchorage offers bars, restaurants, and more. Employment for military spouses is a priority, but positions are limited. RAF Lakenheath is located in the quaint village of Suffolk in the eastern part of the UK. This force was founded in 1954 (the preceding Japanese Air-force surrendered after World War II) There are 50,324 personnel in active service to the Japan Air Self- Defense Force, while they have 777 aircraft in their fleet. It’s home to the 36th Wing and the base is critical to strategic operations in the Pacific. That should be 3 major things: And why should any country bother with building a fearsome Airforce? The French Air-force – Armée de l’air – is the aerial combat division of the French Armed Forces. It’s founded as an independent department, dated 1934. The base is home to the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault, the only Air … This is the 4th largest Air-force in the world when we count their 1700 aircraft, 900 of which are classified as combat aircraft. This is the first independent Airforce in the world and has proven itself in combat efficiency as far back as the second world war during which it led the Allied Forces into the bombardment of Germany. All five of the world's biggest military bases belong to the US, with Fort Bragg housing a staggering 45,926 active duty soldiers. Langley AFB is located on Virginia’s Tidewater region and is part of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, although it is not geographically collocated with Fort Eustis. 10. There is plenty to do in the vicinity of the base as St. Louis is home to several professional sports teams, has an abundance of museums, and a lively music scene. This another one of the Armed Forces that are in near-constant action, and in a perpetual state of alertness because India is not a very peaceful country especially as it regards their hostile neighbour Pakistan. It is state of the art and planned for introduction in the closing stages of 2019. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The installation also hosts the headquarters for the United States Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force, U.S. Army Alaska, and the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. Each base has its mission and composition with some focusing on training pilots, others for storing specialized weapons, and others focusing on other functions of the Air Force. With such a long presence in the air, the People’s Liberation Army Air-force has gone through a lot of changes, and lengthy periods of development, cumulating in the PLAAf becoming one of the most advanced and prepared Air-forces in the World. China boasts in its fleet fifth-generation fighter jets Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31, and also notable fighter jets like J-10, J-11, and J-16. Home to over 66,000 Airmen, sailors, and their families, Hickam AFB is part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The Indian Air-force comes in next on our list. It also hosts launch pad facilities for SpaceX. The United States currently operates 59 active Air Force bases. They have transport air-crafts like C-1, C-2, KC-767J, C-130H, Boeing 747-400, and Boeing 777-300ER. The Indian Air-force, which is the aerial combat arm of the Indian Army was founded in 1932. Being that service members are stationed far from the U.S., Ramstein AB provides a wealth of base services that Airmen can take advantage of. Third, on our list of the best air forces in the world, With an aircraft strength of 2,955 the Chinese Air-force -officially the People’s Liberation Army Air-force (PLAAF) comes in next. The base employs just over 6,000 people and is home to the 6th Refueling Wing, and two unified commands—United States Special Operations Command, and United States Central Command. Vandenberg AFB stretches over 98,000 acres with 35 miles along the Pacific Ocean and supports over 18,000 military and civilian personnel and their families. Hickam AFB is home to the 15th Wing, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, and Hawaii Air National Guard. Despite an extremely high cost of living, many Airmen vie for an assignment to arguably the Air Force’s best base which comes with year-round perfect weather, destination beaches, an intriguing history, world-class hiking, and the island vibe and community. The Royal Airforce which is the aerial combat arm of the British Army comes next on our list of the best air forces in the world. For Reconnaissance missions, they have Searcher II, and Heron (s) The Indian Air-force have attack helicopters like Apache AH-64E, CH-47 Chinook, HAL Light Combat Helicopters as well as other helicopters like Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26. In the post-World War 2 era, the French made a successful effort to develop a domestic aircraft industry. Use Base Guides to find United States Air Force military bases. The U.S has the most number of fifth-generation fighter jets in the world. 10. Lackland AFB, TX. This is the largest and strongest Airforce on planet Earth with any calculations at all. This is one of the best-emerging Air-forces in the world. This is the aerial warfare branch of the Japan Self Defense Forces, and as the name implies they are responsible for the defense of Japan- the case of the Japan Air Self Defense Force to defend Japan’s airspace. The JASDF carries out regular flight patrols around Japan’s borders while maintaining a network of early-warning radar systems. Pilots are not the only professionals that compose the Air forces, but also rely on a significant amount of support from other personnel to operate. Here is a look at the top strongest air forces in the world (in no particular order).. 1) United States Air Force. A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet gives a shrug as it parks on the flight line at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Chase Cannon) 10. … The United States has by far the strongest military in the world. JASDF support command is in charge of the weather, rescue, monitoring, control inspection, and transportation, and the Air training command are in-charge of the basic technical and flying training. Florida is home to many military bases and the community and state laws are very military friendly. So it is best to be prepared. This election highlights the 10 largest air force in the world. For pilot training, they have Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II. The levels of technological advancement it has to boast of within its fleet. To some, being stationed in the Alaskan tundra might not sound very appealing. The Indian Air-force boasts fourth and fifth-generation attack fighter jets like Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, MiG-21, HAL Tejas. South Korea’s air force has come a long way in the same timeframe as China. There are 139,576 active personnel, which is one of the largest in terms of active personnel. - After the fall of USSR, Russia became China's principal arm suppliers. It has evolved over the time and is known to be the most powerful air forces in the world. Island fever can be a real concern for some, but, Guam is well known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear water, and scenic hiking trails through the island’s dense jungle that offer plenty to keep Airmen busy. Fort Campbell accommodates the fifth largest active duty member population in the army and the seventh largest in the Department of Defence. Air forces are majorly responsible for operations of the military space, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), and communications equipment. Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. They later renamed their Air-force the Soviet Air-force, but after the Soviet Union broke down the Russian Air-force (RAF) came into official use in 1992. Turkish Air Force come into existence after the creation of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Air Force was formed in 1911 by Ottoman Empire. This is one of the most respected Air-forces in the world and have proven themselves World War I, World War II, Berlin Airlift missions, the Korean War, Vietnam War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, and the Military intervention against ISIS. The German Luftwaffe was formed in 1956 as a result of West Germany becoming a member of the NATO pact. When you fill out your "dream sheet," you are forced to list 10 stateside bases as well as 10 overseas bases. The military base was set up in 1942 and first activated during World War II. The base also serves as a NASA research center. The number of active duty Air Force Bases within the United States rose from 115 in 1947 to peak at 162 in 1956 before declining to 69 in 2003 and 59 in 2020. Edwards. It has beautiful sights of the volcano, and a rich Japanese military history (yes — samurai!) Ramstein AB is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate in the west of Germany. The Russians are not jokers in Aeronautics- they first took to the skies as far back as 1912 with the Imperial Russian Air Service. With a yearly budget of about 45 billion dollars, The Turkish Airforce is quite well funded. The French Airforce also partakes in regular reconnaissance as well as border patrol missions. The French Dassault Rafale is a multi- Role fighter jet- one of the finest in the world. Owing to the fact that Pakistan has not done very well on the diplomatic front Pakistan has had to prepare itself for acts of aggression from its hostile neighbours. MacDill AFB seems to be one of those bases that flies under the radar. To protect its country from any type of air attack and also make air attacks on other countries during wars. Here are our top 10 Air Force Bases: 10. Part of Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB is located right in the middle of San Antonio, TX. Air forces normally consist of a combination of bombers, fighters, transport planes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Because one or two highly advanced air crafts will not be enough to make an Air-force powerful the fleet has to be quite sizeable. The 10 Largest Combat Air Forces in the World. One of the smaller forces in terms of numbers, the Royal Australian Air-force was formed in 1921 as an offshoot of the (British) Royal Air-force. While cost of living is a bit higher in Alaska than in the lower 48, Alaska doesn’t have state income or sales tax which can help offset the higher cost of living. The Air Force has many bases across the US, including those it shares with other military branches. Each base has a slightly different focus and mission of its own. Air forces are responsible for carrying out strategic and tactical bombing missions, providing support to land and naval forces, and gaining control of the air. Military Branch: Navy. The median price of a home in Anchorage is $345,000. Still, the American military bases in foreign countries have reached staggering numbers. If you love the great outdoors and don’t mind a little rain, Naval Base … The Air Force has bases across the U.S., including some joint bases with other branches of the military. In addition, Airmen also receive an overseas cost of living allowance to offset higher living expenses. In addition, Airmen and soldiers stationed there are eligible to receive cost of living allowance (COLA). Required fields are marked *. 10. In addition, the St. Louis area has low crime rates, low cost of living, and good schools. The USAF also has the biggest financial backing of all the Air-forces in the World, they have spent an estimated 1.508 trillion United States Dollars developing a single aircraft type.