Military Units and Formations - Modern Hierarchy - Air Forces

Air Forces

The organizational structures of air forces vary between nations: some air forces (such as the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force) are divided into commands, groups and squadrons; others (such as the Soviet Air Force) have an Army-style organizational structure. The modern Canadian Forces Air Command uses Air Division as the formation between wings and the entire air command. Like the RAF, Canadian wings consist of squadrons.

Symbol (for Army structure comparison) Unit Name (USAF/RAF/Other air forces) No. of personnel No. of aircraft No. of subordinate units (USAF/RAF) Officer in command (USAF/RAF)
XXXXXX + Air Force/ Russian Air army Entire air force Entire air force All Major Commands / Commands Gen / MRAF or Air Chf Mshl
XXXXX Major Command / Command or Tactical Air Force / Russian aviation corps Varies Varies By Region or Duty (subordinate units varies) Gen / Air Chf Mshl or Air Mshl
XX Numbered Air Force / No RAF Equivalent / Aviation Division /Air Division / Air Brigade By Region (subordinate units varies) Varies 2+ Wing / Groups Maj-Gen / N/A
X Wing / Group (inc. EAGs) / Russian aviation regiments 1,000–5000 48–100 2+ Groups / Wings Brig-Gen / AVM or Air Cdre
III Group / Wing (inc. EAWs) or Station 300–1,000 17–48 3–10 Squadrons / 3–4 Squadrons Col / Gp Capt or Wg Cdr
II Squadron 100–300 7–16 3–4 Flights Lt Col or Maj / Wg Cdr or Sqn Ldr
••• Flight 20–100 4–6 2 Sections plus maintenance and support crew Capt / Sqn Ldr or Flt Lt
•• Element or Section 5–20 n/a Junior Officer or Senior NCO
Detail 2–4 n/a Junior NCO

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