List of 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-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	Retired	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

• List of fighter aircraft

References

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.