Air Combat Command

Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command of the United States Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Established on June 1, 1992, ACC is the primary provider of combat airpower to America's warfighting commands.

ACC's mission is to organize, train, and equip combat-ready Airmen to control and exploit the air, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum in support of the Joint Force. It leads operations in fighter missions, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), personnel recovery, persistent attack and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and cyber operations.

The command ensures the provision of combat air, space, and cyber power to support mission success for America's warfighting commands.

Aircraft Fleet

ACC operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including fighters, bombers, reconnaissance platforms, and support aircraft. Notable aircraft include:

• Fighters such as the F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, F-22A Raptor, and F-35A Lightning II
• Bombers like the B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress
• Reconnaissance platforms including U-2S Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and RC-135 series
• Support aircraft like the E-3 Sentry AWACS and KC-135 Stratotanker

Organizational Structure

ACC's structure includes several numbered air forces with distinct roles:

• First Air Force (AFNORTH & AFSPACE): Headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, responsible for air sovereignty and air defense of the continental United States. It acts as the CONUS geographic component of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), providing airspace surveillance, control, and directing air sovereignty activities.
• Fifteenth Air Force: Based at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, responsible for generating and presenting ACC’s conventional forces including fighter, remotely piloted aircraft, command and control, and rescue flying units. It also integrates Air-Ground Operations Airmen in combined arms operations.
• Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber): Based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, it integrates intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations across conflict spectrums to maintain fast, lethal, and fully integrated Air Force capabilities.

Locations

ACC's extensive network of bases and units spans globally with major installations including:

• Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia
• Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina
• Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida
• Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Vandenberg Village, Arizona

The command also supports tenant units on numerous non-ACC bases worldwide, enabling a robust and flexible force capable of rapid deployment and sustained operations.

Homeland Defense and Training

Besides combat operations, ACC plays a critical role in homeland defense, including inland search and rescue across the 48 contiguous states. This highlights ACC's commitment to national security and readiness for varied contingencies domestically and internationally.

Through comprehensive training programs, advanced technology integration, and a strategic global presence, Air Combat Command continues to be a cornerstone of the United States Air Force, ensuring air superiority and operational success in complex environments.