USAFCENTCOM

USAFCENTCOM
Unit name	USAFCENTCOM
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Combatant command component
Role	Air operations in Central Command area

USAFCENTCOM

USAFCENTCOM is the United States Air Forces component assigned to United States Central Command, responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing airpower across the Middle East, Horn of Africa, and parts of Central Asia. It operates alongside joint elements from United States Army Central, United States Naval Forces Central Command, and special operations units such as United States Special Operations Command Central and interagency partners including the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense. USAFCENTCOM integrates capabilities from major commands like Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Force Special Operations Command to support theater objectives with strike, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics.

Overview

USAFCENTCOM provides command and control for airpower supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and stability operations in regions shaped by events like the Gulf War, Iraq War, Syrian Civil War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). It synchronizes assets from units including 9th Air Force (AFCENT), 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, and expeditionary wings derived from 465th Air Expeditionary Group and 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Core mission areas include close air support for units such as Iraq War coalition forces, precision strike for targets linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and airlift for humanitarian responses following events like the 2010 Pakistan floods and the 2015 Yemeni crisis.

History

USAFCENTCOM's lineage traces to air components organized for the Gulf War and post-9/11 conflicts, evolving through interactions with commanders like General Tommy Franks, General David Petraeus, General John P. Jumper, and General Norton A. Schwartz. In the aftermath of the Operation Desert Storm campaign and the U.S. intervention in Iraq (2003–2011), air operations matured with the introduction of platforms such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and unmanned systems like the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk. USAFCENTCOM supported counterterrorism campaigns against networks tied to Al-Shabaab, Hezbollah, and Ansar al-Sharia while coordinating strikes during crises including the 2007 Siege of Najaf, the 2011 Libyan civil war, and interdicting maritime threats in the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions involving Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Mission and Responsibilities

USAFCENTCOM executes air operations to achieve objectives set by United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Combatant Commanders such as General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. and successors. It provides air superiority, strategic strike, intelligence for targeting associated with Joint Special Operations Command, air-to-air refueling through assets like the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus, aeromedical evacuation for coalition casualties including coordination with United Kingdom Ministry of Defence medical units, and tactical airlift using C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules. Responsibilities extend to integration with allies such as United Kingdom, France, Australia, Jordan, and United Arab Emirates forces, as well as partner capacity-building programs in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Organization and Structure

USAFCENTCOM comprises staff directorates modeled on Joint Staff functions and liaises with subordinate units including numbered air forces like Third Air Force and expeditionary wings such as 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Command relationships incorporate air component coordination with the Combined Maritime Forces, NATO liaison elements, and theater air control nodes like the Air Operations Center and Expeditionary Air Base staff. Functional elements include planning sections for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Air Mobility, Combat Air, Space Operations, and Cyber Forces working with organizations such as United States Cyber Command and National Reconnaissance Office.

Operations and Deployments

USAFCENTCOM has led and supported campaigns including Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, and multinational coalitions for Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Odyssey Dawn. It has employed strike coordination with platforms like B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and F-35 Lightning II alongside unmanned systems such as the MQ-1 Predator and RQ-170 Sentinel. Notable deployments include rotations to bases in Al Udeid Air Base, Al Dhafra Air Base, Incirlik Air Base, Ali Al Salem Air Base, and forward operating locations in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and United Arab Emirates. USAFCENTCOM supported humanitarian and noncombatant evacuation operations during events like the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and 2014 Aden evacuation.

Equipment and Capabilities

USAFCENTCOM fields combat and support aircraft including the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, E-3 Sentry, and E-8 Joint STARS. ISR capacity integrates sensors from MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, E-3 Sentry, and space-based assets managed by United States Space Force units. Air mobility relies on C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, and KC-46 Pegasus for sustainment operations supporting campaigns against actors like ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Electronic warfare and suppression of enemy air defenses employ systems such as the EA-18G Growler and targeting from platforms like the F-35 Lightning II.

Partnerships and International Cooperation

USAFCENTCOM coordinates with allied air components from Royal Air Force, Armée de l'Air, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force as well as regional partners including Saudi Arabian National Guard, Kuwait Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Force, United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Moroccan Air Force. Multinational exercises include Eager Lion, Operation Bright Star, Red Flag – Alaska, and combined training with institutions such as the NATO Allied Air Command, Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. Cooperative programs feature capacity-building with the Ministry of Defense of Iraq, Afghan Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, and interoperability initiatives with organizations like North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United Nations partners to enhance regional stability and crisis response.

Category:United States Air Force