List of military ground attack aircraft.
The ground attack aircraft military aircraft used to attack targets on the ground with greater speed and a smaller radar cross section than strategic bombers .[ 1] 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 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 & 81Romania 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
^ 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. ^ Gunston, Bill. The Cambridge Aerospace Dictionary. p73, Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-521-19165-4. ^ https://www.northcentralwis.net/wimuzikman/airterms.html "Military Aircraft Terminology". www.northcentralwis.net. Retrieved 11 April 2024.^ "Blackburn Buccaneer" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Blackburn B37 Firebrand" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Blackburn B-48 Firecrest" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Blackburn T5 Ripon" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF) . Airbus . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Hawker Hector" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ 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 . ^ "F-35 Fast Facts" . F-35.com . Retrieved 3 August 2023 .^ Hehs, Eric (12 November 2015). "Japan's F-2 Support Fighter" . Code One Magazine . Retrieved 1 August 2023 . ^ "Panavia Tornado Variants" . Panavia . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .^ "Jaguar" . Dassault Aviation . Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023 .
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