Air Combat Command

Air Combat Command
Unit name	Air Combat Command
Dates	1 June 1992 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Major Command
Role	Provide combat-ready air forces for Strategic Command, Northern Command, and Indo-Pacific Command; organize, train, equip, and maintain combat-ready forces for rapid deployment.
Command structure	United States Department of the Air Force
Garrison	Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia, U.S.

Air Combat Command. It is a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 1 June 1992 following the reorganization prompted by the end of the Cold War. Headquartered at Joint Base Langley–Eustis in Virginia, it serves as the primary provider of combat airpower to America's geographic combatant commands. The command is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces for missions including air superiority, global strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and command and control.

History

The command was formed from the merger of assets from the inactivated Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command, consolidating strategic and tactical forces under a single organization. This restructuring, part of a broader post-Cold War drawdown, was influenced by lessons from Operation Desert Storm and the Base Realignment and Closure process. Key historical milestones include assuming responsibility for the Intercontinental ballistic missile force in 1993, which it later transferred to Air Force Global Strike Command in 2009, and playing a central role in continuous combat operations following the September 11 attacks. Its forces have been pivotal in operations such as Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Organization

The command is directly subordinate to the United States Department of the Air Force and reports to the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. Its forces are allocated to support the unified combatant commands, primarily Strategic Command, Northern Command, and Indo-Pacific Command. Its structure includes several numbered air forces, such as the Ninth Air Force and the Twelfth Air Force, which serve as warfighting headquarters. Key functional components include the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, which oversees advanced training and testing, and the 552nd Air Control Wing, which provides the E-3 Sentry Airborne early warning and control platform.

Major units

Primary subordinate organizations include the First Air Force, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, which is responsible for air sovereignty and air defense missions for CONUS under North American Aerospace Defense Command. The Ninth Air Force, located at Shaw Air Force Base, functions as the United States Central Command Air Forces component. The Twelfth Air Force, at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, serves as the air component for United States Southern Command. Other significant units are the Fifteenth Air Force, which focuses on global strike and intelligence missions, and the 432nd Wing, which operates the MQ-9 Reaper from Creech Air Force Base.

Aircraft inventory

The command operates a diverse fleet of fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, and battle management aircraft. Its air superiority and multirole fighters include the F-22 Raptor, flown by units like the 1st Fighter Wing, and the F-35 Lightning II. The F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon remain core platforms for numerous wings. The B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit provide long-range global strike capability, while the B-52 Stratofortress is also assigned. Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance is conducted by aircraft such as the U-2 Dragon Lady, RC-135, and E-8 Joint STARS. The E-3 Sentry and E-4 provide airborne command and control.

Missions and responsibilities

Core missions encompass air superiority, close air support, air interdiction, and global precision attack. It provides forces for nuclear deterrence operations in support of United States Strategic Command. The command conducts continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance globally and is responsible for command and control of air and space operations. It organizes and hosts major combat training exercises like Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base and Green Flag to maintain joint readiness. Additional duties include conducting combat search and rescue and operating the Air Force's Distributed Common Ground System.

Commanders

Notable commanders have included General John Michael Loh, its first commander who previously led Tactical Air Command. General Joseph W. Ralston later served as commander before becoming Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Lance W. Lord led the command during a period of significant transformation. General John P. Jumper, a former commander, subsequently served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. More recent commanders have included General Mike Holmes and General Mark D. Kelly, who have overseen the integration of new systems like the F-35 Lightning II and advanced unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities.

Category:Major commands of the United States Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1992