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.

TypeCountryClassDateStatusNo.Notes
AEG DJ.I Germany 1918Prototype1+
AEG J.I Germany 1917Retired609
Aermacchi MB-326 Italy 1957Operational650
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy 1976Operational213+
Aermacchi M-345 Italy 2016Operational4
Aermacchi SF.260 Italy 1964Operational860+
Aero A.100 Czechoslovakia 1933Retired44
Aero A.101 Czechoslovakia 1934Retired50+
Aero L-29 Delfín Czechoslovakia 1959Operational3,500
Aero L-39 Albatros Czechoslovakia 1968Operational592
Aero L-59 Super Albatros Czechoslovakia 1986Operational71
Aero L-159 Alca Czech Republic 1997Operational72
Aero L-39CW Czech Republic 2015Prototype1
Aero L-39 Skyfox Czech Republic 2018Operational10
Aichi D1A Japan 1934Retired590
Aichi D3A Japan 1938Retired1,486
AIDC AT-3 Taiwan 1980Operational63
Albatros J.I Germany 1917240
Albatros J.II Germany 1918?4
AMX International AMX Italy & Brazil 1984200 c.
Arado Ar 66 Germany 19321,456
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 UK 19161,650
BAE Harrier II UK 1985143
BAE Hawk 200 UK 198662
BAE Systems Hawk UK 19741,000
Bell P-39 Airacobra US 19389,584
Blackburn Buccaneer UK 1958211 [4]
Blackburn Firebrand UK 1942223 [5]
Blackburn Firecrest UK 19473 [6]
Blackburn Ripon UK 1926121 [7]
Blackburn Shark UK 1933269
Blackburn Skua UK 1937192
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet US 1995500
Boeing GA-1 US 192010
Breda Ba.64 Italy 193442
Breda Ba.65 Italy 1935218
Breda Ba.88 Italy 1936149
Breguet 19 France 19222,700 c.
Breguet 693 France 1938230 c.
Breguet Vultur France 19512
Bristol Beaufighter UK 19395,928
Bristol Beaufort UK 19382,129
Bristol Blenheim UK 19354,422
Bristol F.2 Fighter UK 19165,329
CAC Wirraway Australia 1937755
CAC Woomera Australia 19412
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder China/Pakistan 2003Operational100+
Canadair CL-41G Tebuan Canada 196620
Caproni A.P.1 Italy 193457
Casa C-101 Spain 1977166
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly US 1963577
Chengdu J-10 China 1998Operational270
Chengdu J-20 China 2011Operational28
Curtiss A-12 Shrike US 193346
Curtiss A-18 Shrike US 193713
Curtiss A-8 US 193113
Curtiss Falcon US 1924488
Curtiss SBC Helldiver US 1935257
Curtiss XA-14 US 19351
DAR 10 Bulgaria 19412
Dassault Étendard IV France 195890
Dassault Mirage 2000 France 1978601
Dassault Mirage F1 France 1966720+
Dassault Mystère IV France 1952411
Dassault Ouragan France 1949362
Dassault Rafale France 1986141
Dassault Super Mystère France 1955180
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard France 197485
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet France & Germany 1973480
de Havilland Mosquito UK 19407,781
de Havilland Venom UK 19491,431
Douglas A-1 Skyraider US 19453,180
Douglas A-20 Havoc US 19397,478
Douglas A-26 Invader US 19422,452
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior US 1952282
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk US 19542,960
Douglas AC-47 Spooky US 196553
Douglas SBD Dauntless US 19405,936
Douglas XA-2 US 19261
EKW C-36 Switzerland 1939175
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano Brazil 1980664
Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil 1999Operational200+
English Electric Canberra UK 1949949
Eurofighter Typhoon UK, Germany, Italy & Spain 1994Operational589 [8]
Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II US 1972Operational716
Fairchild AC-119 US 196852
Fairey Albacore UK 1938800
Fairey Battle UK 19362,185
Fairey Fawn UK 192375
Fairey Gordon UK 1931186
Fairey Swordfish UK 19342,391
Fiat G.91 Italy 1956770
Fieseler Fi 167 Germany 193814
FMA IA 58 Pucará Argentina 1969150–160
FMA IA 63 Pampa Argentina 198427
Fokker C.V Netherlands 1924955
Fokker C.X Netherlands 193471
Fokker XA-7 US 19311
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark US 1964563
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon US 1974Operational4,540+
Great Lakes BG US 193361
Grumman A-6 Intruder US 1960693
Grumman F7F Tigercat US 1943364
Grumman F9F Panther US 19471,382
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk US 1959380
Grumman TBF Avenger US 19419,839
Grumman Future Air Attack Vehicle US 19930
HAL HF-24 Marut India 1961147
HAL Tejas India 2001Operational32
Halberstadt CL.II Germany 1917900
Halberstadt CL.IV Germany 1918?900
Hannover CL.III Germany 1917617
Hawker Audax UK 1931700+
Hawker Hardy UK 193448
Hawker Hart UK 19281,004
Hawker Hector UK 1936179 [9]
Hawker Hunter UK 19511,972
Hawker Hurricane UK 193514,583
Hawker Siddeley HS 138 UK 1967Prototype0
Hawker Siddeley Harrier UK 1969278
Hawker Typhoon UK 19403,317
Heinkel He 45 Germany 1931512
Heinkel He 46 Germany 1931500 c.
Heinkel He 50 Germany 193178
Heinkel 51C Germany 1933100
Helio Stallion US 196420
Henschel Hs 123 Germany 1935250 c.
Henschel Hs 129 Germany 1939865
HESA Azarakhsh Iran 1997Operational6-9
Hongdu JL-8 China 1990500
IAR 37, 38 and 39 Romania 1937380
IAR 80 & 81 Romania 1939346
IAR-93 Vultur Romania 197488
IAR-99 Soim Romania 198520
Ilyushin Il-10 & Avia B-33 USSR 19446,166
Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik USSR 193936,183
IMAM Ro.57bis Italy 194250-75
IML Addax New Zealand 19820
Junkers CL.I Germany 191751
Junkers Ju 87 Germany 19356,500 c.
KAI TA-50 Golden Eagle South Korea 2002Operational200 [10]
Kawasaki Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft Japan 19271,117
Kawasaki Ki-102 Japan 1944238
Kawasaki Ki-3 Japan 1933243
Kawasaki Ki-32 Japan 1937854
Latécoère 298 France 1936121
Letov Š-328 Czechoslovakia 1933412
Lockheed AC-130 US 196647
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk US 198164
Lockheed Hudson US 19382,941
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II US 2006Operational960+ [11]
Lockheed P-38 Lightning US 193910,037
Loire-Nieuport LN.401 France 193868
Martin 167 Maryland US 1939450
Martin AM Mauler US 1944151
Martin B-26 Marauder US 19405,288
Martin B-57 Canberra US 1953403
Martin Baltimore US 19411,575
Martin BM US 192935
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle US 1986420
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet US 19781,480
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Germany 19366,170
Mikoyan MiG-AT USSR 1996Prototype2
Mikoyan MiG-29K USSR 1998Operational45
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 USSR 19675,047
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 USSR 19701,075
Mitsubishi B2M Japan 1929206
Mitsubishi B5M Japan 1937125
Mitsubishi F-1 Japan 197577
Mitsubishi F-2 Japan 199594 [12]
Mitsubishi Ki-30 Japan 1937704
Mitsubishi Ki-51 Japan 19392,385
Nakajima B5N Japan 19371,150 c.
Nakajima B6N Japan 19411,268
Nakajima Ki-4 Japan 1933516
Nanchang Q-5 China 19651,300 c.
Brewster SBA/Naval Aircraft Factory SBN US 193631
Neman R-10 USSR 1936500+
North American A-2 Savage US 1948Retired143
North American A-27 US 1940Retired10
North American A-36 Apache US 1942Retired500
North American A-5 Vigilante US 1958Retired156
North American B-25 Mitchell US 1940Retired9,984
North American NA-44 US 1938Prototype1
North American NA-72 US 1940Retired30
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco US 1965Operational360
North American T-28 Trojan US 1949Retired1,948
North American T-6 Texan US 1940Retired15,495
Northrop A-17 US 1935Retired411
Northrop BT US 1935Retired55
Northrop Gamma 2C & 2E US 1933Retired52 c.
Panavia Tornado UK, Germany & Italy 1974Operational796 [13]
Petlyakov Pe-2 USSR 1939Retired11,427
Polikarpov R-5 USSR 1928Retired7,000 c.
Polikarpov R-Z USSR 1935Retired1,031
Potez 15 France 1921Retired687
Potez 25 France 1924Retired4,000 c.
PWS-1 Poland 1927Prototype1
PWS-19 Poland 1931Prototype1
PZL.23 Karaś Poland 1932Retired253
PZL.38 Wilk Poland 1936Prototype2
PZL-42 Poland 1936Prototype2
PZL.43 Poland 1936Retired53
PZL.46 Sum Poland 1938Prototype2
PZL TS-11 Iskra Poland 1960Retired500
PZL I-22 Iryda Poland 1985Retired16
Republic AP-100 US 1957Cancelled0
Republic F-105 Thunderchief US 1955Retired833
Republic F-84 Thunderjet US 1946Retired7,524
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt US 1941Retired15,660
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 UK 1916Retired4,077
Saab 17 Sweden 1940Retired323
Saab 105 Sweden 1963Operational192
Saab 32 Lansen Sweden 1952Retired450
Saab 37 Viggen Sweden 1967Retired329
Saab JAS 39 Gripen Sweden 1988Operational247 c.
Saab Supporter Sweden 1971Operational462
Salmson 4 AB.2 France 1918Retired12
Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 Italy 1936Retired34
SEPECAT Jaguar UK & France 1968Retired573 [14]
SET 7 Romania 1931Retired123
SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 Italy 1969Retired86
Soko 522 Yugoslavia 1955Retired110 c.
Soko G-2 Galeb Yugoslavia 1961Operational248
Soko G-4 Super Galeb Yugoslavia 1978Operational85
Soko J-20 Kraguj Yugoslavia 1962Retired85
Soko J-21 Jastreb Yugoslavia 1965Retired121
Soko J-22 Orao Yugoslavia 1974Operational250-300
Sopwith Salamander UK 1918Retired497
Sud Aviation Vautour France 1952Retired149
Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 USSR 1966Operational2,867
Sukhoi Su-2 USSR 1937Retired910
Sukhoi Su-24 USSR 1967Operational1,400
Sukhoi Su-25 USSR 1975Operational1,024
Sukhoi Su-27 USSR 1977Operational809
Sukhoi Su-30 USSR 1989Operational509+
Sukhoi Su-34 USSR 1990Operational50
Sukhoi Su-35 Russia 2008Operational48
Sukhoi Su-6 USSR 1941Prototype3
Sukhoi Su-7B USSR 1955Operational1,847
Tachikawa Ki-36 Japan 1938Retired1,334
Tupolev Tu-2 USSR 1941Retired2,257
Vickers Vildebeest UK 1928Retired209
Vickers Vincent UK 1932Retired197
Vought A-7 Corsair II US 1965Retired1,569
Vought F4U Corsair US 1940Retired12,571
Vought SB2U Vindicator US 1936Retired260
Vought SBU Corsair US 1933Retired125
Vultee V-11, V-12 and A-19 US 1935Retired224
Vultee Vengeance US 1941Retired1,931
Westland Lysander UK 1936Retired1,786
Westland Wallace UK 1931Retired172
Westland Whirlwind UK 1938Retired116
Westland Wyvern UK 1946Retired127
Xian JH-7 China 1988Operational240
Yokosuka B4Y Japan 1935Retired205
Yokosuka D4Y Japan 1940Retired2,038

See also

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