Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces. The professional head of the RCAF holds the title Chief of the Air Force Staff and Commander of the RCAF. The position is currently held by Air Chief Marshal André Deschamps. The Air Command consists of 62,500 Regular Force and 35,600 Primary Reserve airmen and airwomen, supported by 16,500 civilians. The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for all non-maritime aircraft operations of the Canadian Forces, enforcing the security of Canada's airspace and providing aircraft to support the missions of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army. The RCAF is a partner with the United States Air Force in protecting continental airspace under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The RCAF also provides all primary air resources to the National Search and Rescue Program. The RCAF, an independent service until 1968, developed from the Canadian Air Force, which was formed in 1920. The Canadian Air Force was incorporated into the Department of National Defence in 1923 and granted royal sanction in 1924 by King George V. In 1968, the RCAF was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army as part of the unification of the Canadian Forces. Air units were split between several different commands: Air Defence Command (interceptors), Air Transport Command (airlift, search and rescue), Mobile Command (tactical fighters, helicopters), Maritime Command (anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol), as well as Training Command. In 1975, some commands were dissolved (ADC, ATC, TC), and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command (AIRCOM) until it was renamed once more into the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) The RCAF has served in the Second World War, the Korean War, the First Gulf War and several United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations. As a NATO member, the force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century

Statistics

 * Active Personnel: 62,500
 * Reserve Personnel: 35,600
 * Active Bases: 16 (Bagotville, Chatham, Cold Lake, Comox, Gander, Goose Bay, Greenwood, Iqaluit West, Nova Valley, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto-Downsview, Trenton, Uplands, West Caicos, Whitehorse, Yellowknife)
 * Active Installations: 8 (Baden-Soellingen, Kelowna, Montreal-Mirabel, Moose Jaw, Vancouver, Shearwater, Winnipeg, Zweibrücken)
 * Combat Aircraft: 236
 * Special Mission: 15
 * Transport Aircraft: 156
 * Trainers: 124
 * Helicopters: 217
 * Commander of the Air Command: Air Chief Marshal André Deschamps

Fighters

 * Eurofighter CF-185A Typhoon x 96 (Multirole Fighter)
 * Bombardier CF-190C Crossbow x 84 (Stealth Strike Fighter)
 * Lockheed Martin CF-16K Viper x 45 (Multirole Attack Fighter)

Attack Aircraft

 * Lockheed Martin CA-130 Vampire x 3 (Gunship)

Bombers

 * Boeing CB-1R Lancer x 12 (Strategic Bomber)

ELINT Aircraft

 * Boeing CC-137OS Open Skies x 2 (Reconnaissance and Observation Aircraft)
 * Airbus CE-150B Polaris Farsight x 7 (AWACS Aircraft)

Transport Aircraft

 * De Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo x 16 (STOL Transport)
 * De Havilland Canada CC-115D Buffalo x 8 (SAR Aircraft)
 * Lockheed CC-130H Hercules x 10 (Tactical Airlifter)
 * Lockheed Martin CC-130J Super Hercules x 17 (Tactical Airlifter)
 * De Havilland Canada CC-132 Dash-7 x 10 (STOL Transport)
 * De Havilland Canada CC-138 Twin Otter x 21 (Transport Aircraft)
 * De Havilland Canada CC-138 Twin Otter x 12 (SAR Aircraft)
 * Canadair CC-144 Challenger 600 x 10 (VIP Transport)
 * Airbus CC-150 Polaris x 14 (Transport Aircraft)
 * Canadair CC-152 Supertanker x 21 (Water Bomber/Firefighting Aircraft)
 * Airbus CC-160 Arcturus x 14 (Aerial Tanker/Strategic Airlifter) - 6 more on order
 * Airbus CC-176 Airmaster x 21 (Tactical Transport)
 * Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III x 7 (Strategic Airlifter)
 * Boeing CC-180 Commander (VIP Aircraft) x 2 (VIP Transport)

Trainer Aircraft

 * Bell CH-139 JetRanger x 16 (Helicopter Trainer)
 * De Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash-8 x 12 (Navigation Trainer)
 * BAe Systems CT-115 Hawk 115 x 40 (Advanced Jet Trainer)
 * Beechcraft CT-156 Harvard II x 56 (Primary Trainer)

Helicopters

 * Bell CH-136D Kiowa Warrior x 27 (Reconnaissance Helicopter)
 * Bell CH-146 Griffon x 35 (Utility Helicopter)
 * Boeing CH-147C Chinook x 22 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
 * AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant x 22 (SAR Helicopter)
 * NHIndustries CH-151 Vulcan x 68 (Utility Helicopter)
 * Bombardier CA-200 Scorpion x 36 (Attack Tiltrotor) - 30 more on order

UAVs

 * Northrop Grumman CU-169 Global Hawk x 6 (Reconnaissance UAV)