The air forces of the United States are unarguably the most capable in the world, combining large numbers of the most advanced aircraft with excellent pilot training and support. The USAF, with a strength of 600,000 men and 4,000 combat aircraft, is comprised of two major components: the Strategic Air Command (SAC) which primarily operates long-range bombers and nuclear ICBMs from the North American continent, and the Tactical Air Command (TAC). TAC has 109 squadrons in 26 active combat wings. These include 36 fighter squadrons, 48 ground-attack squadrons, 8 reconnaissance squadrons, 7 AWACS/EW squadrons, 12 tactical control squadrons, 6 covert operations squadrons, and many other training and operational conversion squadrons as well.
