List of military ground attack aircraft.
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-39NG
Czech Republic
2018
Operational
4
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
^ 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.
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^ "Blackburn B37 Firebrand" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .
^ "Blackburn B-48 Firecrest" . BAE Systems . Retrieved 1 August 2023 .
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^ "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 .
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Type Fuselage Manufacturer Engine number Range Use Research Rotor-powered