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List of attack aircraft

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The ground attack aircraft listed here are military aircraft used to attack targets on the ground with greater speed and a smaller radar cross section than strategic bombers.[1] Historically, attack aircraft were used for their higher precision compared to strategic bombers when delivering unguided munitions. Modern attack aircraft may be expected to function in high threat environments where enemy air defences preclude the use of strategic bombers. There are bound to be some overlap in the role and design between categories and some multirole combat aircraft appear in more than one list. Fighters, fighter-bombers, and even trainers have also often been used in the role of attack aircraft. Trainer aircraft have particularly been re-perpoused as attack aircraft when they were obsolete in their original role, or as a cheaper alternative where air defences are minimal.[2]

The use of the term attack aircraft is primarily an American term, as other countries have described identical aircraft variously as light bombers, army cooperation aircraft and close support aircraft. In the US Air Force the naming convention for ground attack aircraft is a prefix "A-", followed by a number, e.g. A-10, bomber aircraft are prefixed with “B-”, e.g. B-52, and fighter aircraft with “F-”, e.g. F-35.[3]

This list is limited to fixed-wing aircraft that have been built, and does not include abandoned concepts or fictional aircraft. Dates after each entry are of first flight.

Type Country Class Date Status No. Notes
AEG DJ.I Germany 1918 Prototype 1+
AEG J.I Germany 1917 Retired 609
Aermacchi MB-326 Italy 1957 Operational 650
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy 1976 Operational 213+
Aermacchi M-345 Italy 2016 Operational 4
Aermacchi SF.260 Italy 1964 Operational 860+
Aero A.100 Czechoslovakia 1933 Retired 44
Aero A.101 Czechoslovakia 1934 Retired 50+
Aero L-29 Delfín Czechoslovakia 1959 Operational 3,500
Aero L-39 Albatros Czechoslovakia 1968 Operational 592
Aero L-59 Super Albatros Czechoslovakia 1986 Operational 71
Aero L-159 Alca Czech Republic 1997 Operational 72
Aero L-39CW Czech Republic 2015 Prototype 1
Aero L-39 Skyfox Czech Republic 2018 Operational 10
Aichi D1A Japan 1934 Retired 590
Aichi D3A Japan 1938 Retired 1,486
AIDC AT-3 Taiwan 1980 Operational 63
Albatros J.I Germany 1917 240
Albatros J.II Germany 1918? 4
AMX International AMX Italy & Brazil 1984 200 c.
Arado Ar 66 Germany 1932 1,456
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 UK 1916 1,650
BAE Harrier II UK 1985 143
BAE Hawk 200 UK 1986 62
BAE Systems Hawk UK 1974 1,000
Bell P-39 Airacobra US 1938 9,584
Blackburn Buccaneer UK 1958 211[4]
Blackburn Firebrand UK 1942 223[5]
Blackburn Firecrest UK 1947 3[6]
Blackburn Ripon UK 1926 121[7]
Blackburn Shark UK 1933 269
Blackburn Skua UK 1937 192
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet US 1995 500
Boeing GA-1 US 1920 10
Breda Ba.64 Italy 1934 42
Breda Ba.65 Italy 1935 218
Breda Ba.88 Italy 1936 149
Breguet 19 France 1922 2,700 c.
Breguet 693 France 1938 230 c.
Breguet Vultur France 1951 2
Bristol Beaufighter UK 1939 5,928
Bristol Beaufort UK 1938 2,129
Bristol Blenheim UK 1935 4,422
Bristol F.2 Fighter UK 1916 5,329
CAC Wirraway Australia 1937 755
CAC Woomera Australia 1941 2
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder China/Pakistan 2003 Operational 100+
Canadair CL-41G Tebuan Canada 1966 20
Caproni A.P.1 Italy 1934 57
Casa C-101 Spain 1977 166
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly US 1963 577
Chengdu J-10 China 1998 Operational 270
Chengdu J-20 China 2011 Operational 28
Curtiss A-12 Shrike US 1933 46
Curtiss A-18 Shrike US 1937 13
Curtiss A-8 US 1931 13
Curtiss Falcon US 1924 488
Curtiss SBC Helldiver US 1935 257
Curtiss XA-14 US 1935 1
DAR 10 Bulgaria 1941 2
Dassault Étendard IV France 1958 90
Dassault Mirage 2000 France 1978 601
Dassault Mirage F1 France 1966 720+
Dassault Mystère IV France 1952 411
Dassault Ouragan France 1949 362
Dassault Rafale France 1986 141
Dassault Super Mystère France 1955 180
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard France 1974 85
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet France & Germany 1973 480
de Havilland Mosquito UK 1940 7,781
de Havilland Venom UK 1949 1,431
Douglas A-1 Skyraider US 1945 3,180
Douglas A-20 Havoc US 1939 7,478
Douglas A-26 Invader US 1942 2,452
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior US 1952 282
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk US 1954 2,960
Douglas AC-47 Spooky US 1965 53
Douglas SBD Dauntless US 1940 5,936
Douglas XA-2 US 1926 1
EKW C-36 Switzerland 1939 175
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano Brazil 1980 664
Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil 1999 Operational 200+
English Electric Canberra UK 1949 949
Eurofighter Typhoon UK, Germany, Italy & Spain 1994 Operational 589[8]
Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II US 1972 Operational 716
Fairchild AC-119 US 1968 52
Fairey Albacore UK 1938 800
Fairey Battle UK 1936 2,185
Fairey Fawn UK 1923 75
Fairey Gordon UK 1931 186
Fairey Swordfish UK 1934 2,391
Fiat G.91 Italy 1956 770
Fieseler Fi 167 Germany 1938 14
FMA IA 58 Pucará Argentina 1969 150–160
FMA IA 63 Pampa Argentina 1984 27
Fokker C.V Netherlands 1924 955
Fokker C.X Netherlands 1934 71
Fokker XA-7 US 1931 1
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark US 1964 563
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon US 1974 Operational 4,540+
Great Lakes BG US 1933 61
Grumman A-6 Intruder US 1960 693
Grumman F7F Tigercat US 1943 364
Grumman F9F Panther US 1947 1,382
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk US 1959 380
Grumman TBF Avenger US 1941 9,839
Grumman Future Air Attack Vehicle US 1993 0
HAL HF-24 Marut India 1961 147
HAL Tejas India 2001 Operational 32
Halberstadt CL.II Germany 1917 900
Halberstadt CL.IV Germany 1918? 900
Hannover CL.III Germany 1917 617
Hawker Audax UK 1931 700+
Hawker Hardy UK 1934 48
Hawker Hart UK 1928 1,004
Hawker Hector UK 1936 179[9]
Hawker Hunter UK 1951 1,972
Hawker Hurricane UK 1935 14,583
Hawker Siddeley HS 138 UK 1967 Prototype 0
Hawker Siddeley Harrier UK 1969 278
Hawker Typhoon UK 1940 3,317
Heinkel He 45 Germany 1931 512
Heinkel He 46 Germany 1931 500 c.
Heinkel He 50 Germany 1931 78
Heinkel 51C Germany 1933 100
Helio Stallion US 1964 20
Henschel Hs 123 Germany 1935 250 c.
Henschel Hs 129 Germany 1939 865
HESA Azarakhsh Iran 1997 Operational 6-9
Hongdu JL-8 China 1990 500
IAR 37, 38 and 39 Romania 1937 380
IAR 80 & 81 Romania 1939 346
IAR-93 Vultur Romania 1974 88
IAR-99 Soim Romania 1985 20
Ilyushin Il-10 & Avia B-33 USSR 1944 6,166
Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik USSR 1939 36,183
IMAM Ro.57bis Italy 1942 50-75
IML Addax New Zealand 1982 0
Junkers CL.I Germany 1917 51
Junkers Ju 87 Germany 1935 6,500 c.
KAI TA-50 Golden Eagle South Korea 2002 Operational 200[10]
Kawasaki Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft Japan 1927 1,117
Kawasaki Ki-102 Japan 1944 238
Kawasaki Ki-3 Japan 1933 243
Kawasaki Ki-32 Japan 1937 854
Latécoère 298 France 1936 121
Letov Š-328 Czechoslovakia 1933 412
Lockheed AC-130 US 1966 47
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk US 1981 64
Lockheed Hudson US 1938 2,941
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II US 2006 Operational 960+[11]
Lockheed P-38 Lightning US 1939 10,037
Loire-Nieuport LN.401 France 1938 68
Martin 167 Maryland US 1939 450
Martin AM Mauler US 1944 151
Martin B-26 Marauder US 1940 5,288
Martin B-57 Canberra US 1953 403
Martin Baltimore US 1941 1,575
Martin BM US 1929 35
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle US 1986 420
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet US 1978 1,480
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Germany 1936 6,170
Mikoyan MiG-AT USSR 1996 Prototype 2
Mikoyan MiG-29K USSR 1998 Operational 45
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 USSR 1967 5,047
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 USSR 1970 1,075
Mitsubishi B2M Japan 1929 206
Mitsubishi B5M Japan 1937 125
Mitsubishi F-1 Japan 1975 77
Mitsubishi F-2 Japan 1995 94[12]
Mitsubishi Ki-30 Japan 1937 704
Mitsubishi Ki-51 Japan 1939 2,385
Nakajima B5N Japan 1937 1,150 c.
Nakajima B6N Japan 1941 1,268
Nakajima Ki-4 Japan 1933 516
Nanchang Q-5 China 1965 1,300 c.
Brewster SBA/Naval Aircraft Factory SBN US 1936 31
Neman R-10 USSR 1936 500+
North American A-2 Savage US 1948 Retired 143
North American A-27 US 1940 Retired 10
North American A-36 Apache US 1942 Retired 500
North American A-5 Vigilante US 1958 Retired 156
North American B-25 Mitchell US 1940 Retired 9,984
North American NA-44 US 1938 Prototype 1
North American NA-72 US 1940 Retired 30
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco US 1965 Operational 360
North American T-28 Trojan US 1949 Retired 1,948
North American T-6 Texan US 1940 Retired 15,495
Northrop A-17 US 1935 Retired 411
Northrop BT US 1935 Retired 55
Northrop Gamma 2C & 2E US 1933 Retired 52 c.
Panavia Tornado UK, Germany & Italy 1974 Operational 796[13]
Petlyakov Pe-2 USSR 1939 Retired 11,427
Polikarpov R-5 USSR 1928 Retired 7,000 c.
Polikarpov R-Z USSR 1935 Retired 1,031
Potez 15 France 1921 Retired 687
Potez 25 France 1924 Retired 4,000 c.
PWS-1 Poland 1927 Prototype 1
PWS-19 Poland 1931 Prototype 1
PZL.23 Karaś Poland 1932 Retired 253
PZL.38 Wilk Poland 1936 Prototype 2
PZL-42 Poland 1936 Prototype 2
PZL.43 Poland 1936 Retired 53
PZL.46 Sum Poland 1938 Prototype 2
PZL TS-11 Iskra Poland 1960 Retired 500
PZL I-22 Iryda Poland 1985 Retired 16
Republic AP-100 US 1957 Cancelled 0
Republic F-105 Thunderchief US 1955 Retired 833
Republic F-84 Thunderjet US 1946 Retired 7,524
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt US 1941 Retired 15,660
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 UK 1916 Retired 4,077
Saab 17 Sweden 1940 Retired 323
Saab 105 Sweden 1963 Operational 192
Saab 32 Lansen Sweden 1952 Retired 450
Saab 37 Viggen Sweden 1967 Retired 329
Saab JAS 39 Gripen Sweden 1988 Operational 247 c.
Saab Supporter Sweden 1971 Operational 462
Salmson 4 AB.2 France 1918 Retired 12
Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 Italy 1936 Retired 34
SEPECAT Jaguar UK & France 1968 Retired 573[14]
SET 7 Romania 1931 Retired 123
SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 Italy 1969 Retired 86
Soko 522 Yugoslavia 1955 Retired 110 c.
Soko G-2 Galeb Yugoslavia 1961 Operational 248
Soko G-4 Super Galeb Yugoslavia 1978 Operational 85
Soko J-20 Kraguj Yugoslavia 1962 Retired 85
Soko J-21 Jastreb Yugoslavia 1965 Retired 121
Soko J-22 Orao Yugoslavia 1974 Operational 250-300
Sopwith Salamander UK 1918 Retired 497
Sud Aviation Vautour France 1952 Retired 149
Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 USSR 1966 Operational 2,867
Sukhoi Su-2 USSR 1937 Retired 910
Sukhoi Su-24 USSR 1967 Operational 1,400
Sukhoi Su-25 USSR 1975 Operational 1,024
Sukhoi Su-27 USSR 1977 Operational 809
Sukhoi Su-30 USSR 1989 Operational 509+
Sukhoi Su-34 USSR 1990 Operational 50
Sukhoi Su-35 Russia 2008 Operational 48
Sukhoi Su-6 USSR 1941 Prototype 3
Sukhoi Su-7B USSR 1955 Operational 1,847
Tachikawa Ki-36 Japan 1938 Retired 1,334
Tupolev Tu-2 USSR 1941 Retired 2,257
Vickers Vildebeest UK 1928 Retired 209
Vickers Vincent UK 1932 Retired 197
Vought A-7 Corsair II US 1965 Retired 1,569
Vought F4U Corsair US 1940 Retired 12,571
Vought SB2U Vindicator US 1936 Retired 260
Vought SBU Corsair US 1933 Retired 125
Vultee V-11, V-12 and A-19 US 1935 Retired 224
Vultee Vengeance US 1941 Retired 1,931
Westland Lysander UK 1936 Retired 1,786
Westland Wallace UK 1931 Retired 172
Westland Whirlwind UK 1938 Retired 116
Westland Wyvern UK 1946 Retired 127
Xian JH-7 China 1988 Operational 240
Yokosuka B4Y Japan 1935 Retired 205
Yokosuka D4Y Japan 1940 Retired 2,038

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mortensen, Daniel R. A Pattern for Joint Operations: World War II Close Air Support, pp. 24-25, North Africa. Washington, D.C.: Office Of Air Force History, 1987. ISBN 978-1-4289-1564-0.
  2. ^ Gunston, Bill. The Cambridge Aerospace Dictionary. p73, Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-521-19165-4.
  3. ^ https://www.northcentralwis.net/wimuzikman/airterms.html "Military Aircraft Terminology". www.northcentralwis.net. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Blackburn Buccaneer". BAE Systems. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Blackburn B37 Firebrand". BAE Systems. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Blackburn B-48 Firecrest". BAE Systems. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Blackburn T5 Ripon". BAE Systems. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF). Airbus. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Hawker Hector". BAE Systems. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  10. ^ Franco, Samantha (3 May 2023). "KAI T-50 Golden Eagle: The Supersonic Trainer That Took Out Rebels In the Philippines". War History Online. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ^ "F-35 Fast Facts". F-35.com. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  12. ^ Hehs, Eric (12 November 2015). "Japan's F-2 Support Fighter". Code One Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Panavia Tornado Variants". Panavia. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Jaguar". Dassault Aviation. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
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