Which US Air Force Base Has The Most Fighter Jets?

Luke Air Force Base (AFB), located west of Phoenix, is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the world and the Air Force
‘s primary active-duty fighter pilot training wing. Luke AFB is named after 2nd Lt. Frank Luke Jr., a World War I hero and the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor. After scoring 18 aerial victories, Luke was killed while downing three German observation balloons. He continued to defend himself with a pistol after being shot down behind enemy lines before he ultimately lost his life in the line of duty.

Initially covering 1,440 acres, Luke AFB now spans about 1.9 million acres. Opened before World War II
, it trained thousands of fighter pilots, inactivating after the war but reopening in 1951 for Korean War pilot training. Through decades of changes, Luke has remained a premier fighter pilot training center, including training for foreign allies. Until recently, it had been the exclusive training base for F-16 fighter pilots
– only brought to an end to make room for the next generation, F-35
Lightning II.

Photo: US Air Force

Viper Training

For many years, the F-16 training at Luke Air Force Base has prepared pilots for one of the world’s most advanced multi-role fighters
. Known for its superior range, speed, payload, and agility, the F-16
integrates cutting-edge technologies
like fly-by-wire and advanced avionics, making it highly effective in air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. Luke AFB provides comprehensive training, beginning with over 265 hours of classroom instruction and followed by 55 hours in simulators
and 80 hours of flight time. Students progress through phases; learning to handle emergencies, formation flying, and air-to-air combat. They also practice air-to-ground tactics, low-altitude flying
, and in-flight refueling. Training culminates in Surface Attack Tactics, where students operate in simulated combat environments. More than 400 pilots graduate from Luke AFB each year, ready for operational assignments, often within 60 days of completion, ensuring the Air Force maintains a continuous supply of highly skilled F-16 fighter pilots.

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Legacy of Service

During World War II, Luke was the largest fighter training base in the Air Corps, training over 12,000 pilots and earning the nickname “Home of the Fighter Pilot.” After being deactivated in 1946, the base was reactivated in 1951 for the Korean War, training pilots on aircraft like the F-84 and F-100. The original Luke airfield was actually located in Hawaii
but later was became Naval Air Station Ford Island. The current Arizona
base was established in 1940, following a land lease offer from Phoenix for $1 annually. In 1971, Luke began training with the F-4C Phantom II, later adding the F-15
Eagle in 1974 and the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1982. After defense realignments in the 1990s, the 56th Fighter Wing became the host unit, continuing Luke’s fighter pilot training legacy. Part of Air Education and Training
Command, the 56th operates 24 squadrons with F-35A Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, graduating over 400 pilots and 300 air control
professionals annually. It also manages six squadrons under the 54th Fighter Group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, where F-16 training will temporarily relocate as Luke transitions to focus on F-35A training. The 56th also oversees the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field and the 1.7 million-acre Barry M. Goldwater Range.

Photo: US Air Force

Home of the Lightning

Luke AFB has officially begun the transition to exclusively train pilots of the F-35 Lightning II. The 56th Fighter Wing will be the US Air Force source for new pilots of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Luke Air Force Base is transitioning from nearly five decades of F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot training to exclusive training for the Lightning II. The final US
F-16 mission took place at the end of September 2024, and the base will spend the next seven months dismantling F-16 equipment and updating infrastructure to support F-35 operations. Luke AFB will become the world’s largest F-35 simulator operation, housing a total of 32 simulators, which will enable complex mission training scenarios involving multiple aircraft.

The shift aims to position Luke as a leader in F-35 training for both US and foreign pilots, with plans to expand F-35 squadrons over the next two years. While U.S. F-16 training will cease, Luke will still support F-16 training for the Republic of Singapore Air Force and other missions. This transition aligns with the Air Force’s strategy to adapt to contemporary defense needs.

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International Partnerships

In addition to US pilots, Luke AFB also trains pilots from allied countries, including Australia, Norway, Japan
, South Korea, and Italy, fostering global defense cooperation.

“One of our key lines of effort at Luke AFB is advancing our partnerships with the local and international communities,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander. “Events like this [International] festival are essential for building the bonds and sense of unity needed for us to sharpen our competitive edge as one team to win tomorrow’s fight…and it’s also a great chance to break bread with all of our international friends here!”

Photo: US Air Force

Annual Air Shows

Luke AFB hosts air shows
that draw large crowds, showcasing aerial acrobatics and aircraft demonstrations. These events offer the public a glimpse of advanced fighter jets and military
capabilities. Complete a catchy name “Luke Days”, the annual shows promise a truly unique and spectacular display of equal part aerobatics and air power. If you’d like to stop by and awe at the Thunderbirds aerobatics team or any of the other magnificent flying machines on display, just follow the link here! Luke Days