List of United States fighter aircraft

Last updated

A U.S Air Force F-35A F-35A flight (cropped).jpg
A U.S Air Force F-35A

This is a list of fighter aircraft used by the United States.

Contents

This includes those of the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, 1924–1962 Air Force, pre-1962 Navy, and undesignated military aircraft.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon (left), P-51D Mustang (bottom), F-86 Sabre (top), and F-22 Raptor (right) fly in formation; Heritage Flight over Davis-Monthan AFB Formation of a Legacy, Hertiage flight merges aviation past and present 86-16-51-22.jpg
An F-16 Fighting Falcon (left), P-51D Mustang (bottom), F-86 Sabre (top), and F-22 Raptor (right) fly in formation; Heritage Flight over Davis-Monthan AFB

Army

This list includes aircraft operated by the United States Army, Army Signal Corps, and American Expeditionary Forces.
NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
VE-8 Lewis & Vought CorporationFour ordered by the U.S. Army on October 11, 1918; two were canceledUnknownUnknown2
VE-9 Lewis & Vought Corporation2 converted from VE-7 for U.S. Army; 22 built for the U.S. Army, 17 built for the U.S. Navy.UnknownUnknown24 (US Army)

17 (USN)

Heinrich Pursuit Fighter Victor Aircraft Corporation The only known aircraft designed by Albert S. Heinrich.1917Never4
PG-1 Pursuit and ground attack aircraft Aeromarine Developed for and by the army; likely the firm's last place [1] 1922 [1] Never [1] 3 [1]
XP-4 Prototype fighterBoeing1927Never1
XP-9 Experimental fighterBoeingFirst monoplane fighter produced by Boeing.1930Never1

Air Force

This list includes aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and its predecessors; the United States Army Air Service (USAAS), and United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
VE-7 "Bluebird" Fighter/trainer Lewis & Vought Corporation First United States Navy fighter aircraft. Used as a racer and trainer. In 1922, a VE-7 became the first airplane to take off from an American aircraft carrier. [2] [3] 1917 [2] Unknown128 [2]
E-1 Military trainer/early fighter Standard Aircraft Corporation 1917Never168
M-8 Monoplane fighter Loening Aeronautical Engineering 1918Never55
Orenco B Fighter Orenco 1918UnknownUnknown
MB-1 Fighter Thomas-Morse Aircraft 1918Never1
MB-2 FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft1918Never2
LUSAC-11/21Fighter Engineering Division/Packard Broke the world altitude record in 1920 and 19211918Unknown30
TP-1 Biplane fighterEngineering DivisionUnknownNever2
MB-3 FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft  & Boeing 19191919265
VCP/PW-1 USAAS pursuit prototype Engineering Division 1920Never2
PW-2 Monoplane fighterLoening Aeronautical Engineering1920Never7
P-6 Hawk FighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnknown192770
P-11 Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyThree ordered with the Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain engine, two were completed with the V-1570 and redesignated P-6DUnknownUnknown3?
XP-17 Hawk ExperimentalCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyTestbed for experimental Wright V-1470 engine.UnknownNeverUnknown
XP-21 Experimental
XP-23 Hawk (Model 63) Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnfinished P-6E with light alloy monocoque fuselage, improved tail, and a turbocharged G1V-1570C with a geared propeller and the turbocharger removed. Later redesignated YP-23.NeverNever0
PA-1 FighterLoening Aeronautical Engineering1922Never1
XPS-1 Fighter interceptor Dayton-Wright Airplane Company 1923Never3
P-4 (PW-9) Pursuit fighter (PW-9)BoeingConflicting designation with PW-8 (XP-4).19231923158
P-1 (PW-8) Fighter Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company 19231923202
P-2 Hawk Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyEngine refit of the P-1UnknownUnknown5
XP-3/XP-3A Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyRadial-engined version, converted from a P-1A Curtiss, R-1454 engine, later converted to XP-3A.

XP-3A

XP-3 re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-1.

UnknownUnknown1?
XP-4 Hawk Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyP-1A modified with a Packard 1A-1530.UnknownUnknown1?
P-5 Superhawk Modified P-1A5 (1 Prototype)
XP-10 Biplane fighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyRejected due to performance issues and problems with the cooling systems. Retired 1928UnknownUnknown1
XP-13 Viper Prototype biplane fighter.Thomas-Morse1929
XP-7 Experimental fighterBoeing1928Never1
XP-8 Experimental fighterBoeing1928Never1
P-12/F4B Biplane fighterBoeing1928 [4] 1930586
XP-15 / XF5B-1 Prototype monoplane fighterBoeingEssentially a monoplane version of the Boeing P-12, differing in having the lower wing omitted and in having all-metal construction as well as altered ailerons. The XP-15 had a split-axle undercarriage and a tail wheel.1930Never2
P-16 Two-seat fighter Berliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation 1930193226
YP-20 Biplane fighterCurtissNeverNever1
YP-24 Two-seat fighter Detroit Lockheed First fighter to bear Lockheed's name.1931Never1
Y1P-25 Consolidated Aircraft Further development of Lockheed YP-24 with all-metal wing and Curtiss V-1570-27 Conqueror engine.UnknownNever1
P-26 Peashooter FighterBoeingFirst American produced all-metal fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane to enter squadron service with the United States Army Air Corps.1932Unknown151
XP-31 Swift Experimental monoplane fighterCurtissDespite its innovations, the XP-31 did not offer any advantages compared to its rival the Boeing P-26 Peashooter. [5] 1932 [5] Never1 [5]
P-29 FighterAttempt to produce a more advanced version of the P-26. Although slight gains were made in performance, the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy did not order the aircraft.1934Never4
P-30 (PB-2) FighterConsolidated Aircraft1934Never60
P-35 Fighter Seversky 19351937196
AP-1 SeverskyP-35 with a Pratt & Whitney R1830 engine.1
AP-2 SeverskyFrom SEV-1-XP
AP-9 SeverskyFighter trials aircraft developed in parallel to the AP-7
P-36 Hawk Curtiss-Wright 19351938 [6] 215 + 900 export variants.
XPB-3/XFM-2 Heavy fighter/bomber destroyer Lockheed Corporation Cancelled in 1936NeverNever0
V-141 / V-143 Fighter Vought 1936Never1
YFM-1 Airacuda Interceptor Bell Aircraft First military aircraft produced by Bell.1937 [7] 194013
YP-37 Curtiss-Wright1937Never14
P-39 Airacobra FighterBellThe P-39 was used by the Soviet Air Force, enabling individual Soviet pilots to collect the highest number of kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type flown by any air force in any conflict. 193819419,558
P-40 FighterCurtiss-WrightThe P-40 design was a further development of the P-36 Hawk. [8] [9] 1938 [9] 1939 [10] 13,738 [11] [8]
P-38 Lightning Lockheed Corporation Incorporated a twin-boom design.1939 [12] 1941 [13] [14] 10,037 [15] [16]
XP-41 FighterSeversky Aircraft1939Never1
P-66 Vanguard Fighter Vultee Aircraft 19391941146
P-64 FighterNorth American AviationSeries of fighters.1939/1940Never13
P-51 Mustang FighterNorth American AviationUsed largely in WWII.1940 [17] 1942 [18] [19] 15,000+ [20]
P-43 Lancer Fighter Republic Aviation A proposed development was the P-44 Rocket.19401941272
P-44 Rocket FighterRepublic AviationProposed P-43 version with Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 engineNeverNever0
XP-46 FighterCurtiss-Wright1941Never2
P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter-bomber Republic AviationLargest single-engine fighter airplane built and flown by any nation during World War II. [21] Features a massive water-cooled engine. [22] 1941 [21] [23] 1942 [21] [23] 15,636 [21] [23]
XP-48 Fighter Douglas Aircraft Company Cancelled in 1940NeverNever0
XP-50 Heavy fighter/InterceptorGrummanDeveloped from the XF5F-1.

Entered into a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) contest for a twin-engine heavy interceptor aircraft. The USAAC placed an order for a prototype on 25 November 1939, designating it XP-50, but it lost the competition to the Lockheed XP-49.

1941 [24] Never1
XP-60 FighterCurtiss-WrightDeveloped as a successor to the P-40. All production models were ultimately canceled.1941Never5
XA-26A Night fighter Douglas Aircraft CompanyA-26 serial no. 41-19505 serving as a prototype night fighter with a crew of two – pilot plus radar-operator/gunner1942Never1
XP-49 Fighter Lockheed Corporation Developed from the P-38 Lightning in response to U.S. Army Air Corps proposal 39-7751942Never1
XP-53 FighterCurtiss Model 88; derivative of XP-46; cancelled in favor of XP-60 in November 1941. Two built, one converted to the XP-60, the other used as a static test airframe.UnknownUnknown1
P-70 Havoc Night fighter Douglas Aircraft Company In October 1940, the USAAC felt a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers. As a result, 60 A-20s were converted to P-70 night fightersUnknown194260
P-59 Airacomet FighterBell AircraftFirst jet produced in the United States. [25] [26] 1942Unknown66
P-61 Black Widow Night fighter Northrop First American specifically designed as a night interceptor. [27] 1942 [28] [29] [30] 1944 [28] [29] [30] 706 [30]
XP-62 InterceptorCurtiss-Wright1943 [31] Never1
XP-54 Fighter Vultee Aircraft For U.S. Army Air Corps request R40C. [32] 1943Never2
XP-55 Ascender FighterCurtiss-WrightUsed an unconventional pusher configuration. For U.S. Army Air Corps request R40C. [32] 1943 [33] Never3
XP-57 Fighter Tucker Aviation Corporation NeverNever0
XP-71 Heavy fighter

Escort fighter

Bomber-destroyer/interceptor

Curtiss-WrightCancelled in 1943NeverNever0
P-75 Eagle Heavy fighter Fisher Body Division of General Motors 1943Never14
P-73/D-2 Fighter-bomber Hughes Aircraft 1943Never1
XF8B FighterBoeing1944Never3
XP-67 Bat/Moonbat Interceptor McDonnell Aircraft 1944Never1
XP-77 Experimental fighterBell AircraftDid not meet its projected performance.1944Never2
P-80 (F-80) Shooting Star Jet fighter Lockheed CorporationAmerica's first successful turbojet-powered fighter. [25] [34] 1944 [25] [35] 1945 [34] 1,715 [34] [36]
XP-79 InterceptorNorthrop CorporationUSAAF project number MX-365.

A rocket/jet-powered flying wing

1945Never1
XP-81 Escort fighter Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation Designed to combine the use of a turbojet and a turboprop. [37] 1945 [37] [38] Never2 [37]
F-82/P-82 Twin Mustang Long-range escort fighter. [39]

Night fighter. All-weather interceptor.

North American AviationLast American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. [39] F-82 and P-51 in formation (060728-F-1234S-017).jpg 1945 [39] 1946 [40] 272 [41] /273 [42]
XP-83 Escort fighterBellIt was quickly outclassed due to the nature of post-WWII aviation developing rapidly. [43] 1945Never2
F-84 Thunderjet Fighter-bomberRepublic AviationInitially sent to escort B-29s on long-range missions over North Korea, it excelled as a close air support and daytime interdiction strike aircraft. [44]

First USAF jet fighter able to carry a tactical atomic weapon. [45]

1946 [44] [46] [45] 1947 [34] 7,524 [34]
F-86 Sabre Fighter aircraftNorth American AviationUsed extensively during the Korean War. [34] Built for a 1944 request for a single-seat high-altitude fighter. [47] Derived from the FJ Fury. [47] 1947 [47] 1949 [34] [47] 9,860 [34]
XF-85 Goblin Parasite fighter McDonnell AircraftPart of a conceptualized idea for Airborne aircraft carriers.1948 [48] [49] Never [48] 2 [48] [50]
XF-87 (XP-87) Blackhawk Interceptor Curtiss-Wright Designed as a replacement for the World War II–era P-61 Black Widow, the XF-87 lost the competition to the Northrop F-89. Its company's last aircraft project.1948Never2
XF-88 Voodoo Escort fighterMcDonnell AircraftDeveloped into the supersonic F-101 Voodoo.1948Never2
F-89 Scorpion InterceptorNorthrop CorporationFirst fighter equipped with guided missile ability. [34] 1948 [51] 1950 [34] [52] 1,052 (Including 2 Prototypes) [34] [51]
XF-92 Experimental point-defense interceptor Convair Led Convair to use the delta-wing on a number of designs, including the F-102 Delta Dagger, F-106 Delta Dart,  B-58 Hustler, the US Navy's F2Y Sea Dart as well as the VTOL FY Pogo.1948Never1
F-86D/K/L or YF-95 Sabre Dog [53] [54] All-weather fighter-interceptorNorth American Aviation1949 [53] [54] [55] [56] 1951 [34] [56] 2,847 [34] [54] [56]
XF-90 FighterLockheedBuilt in response to a United States Air Force requirement for a long-range penetration fighter and bomber escort.1949Never2
F-94/YF-97 Starfire All-weather interceptor Lockheed Corporation First jet-powered all-weather fighter to enter combat during the Korean War.19491950 [34] 855 [34]
F-98 Air-to-air missile Hughes Aircraft A brief designation for the AIM-4 Falcon.19491956
F-99 Bomarc Surface-to-air missile Boeing Pilotless Aircraft DivisionA brief designation for the CIM-10 BOMARC.

First operational long-range SAM and the first operational pulse doppler aviation radar, it was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force.

1959
YF-93 FighterNorth American Aviation1950Never2
F-84F/XF-96 Thunderstreak Fighter-bomberRepublic AviationIntended to be a relatively simple upgrade to the F-84 Thunderjet [34] to make it more competitive with the F-86 Sabre.195019543,428
F-100 Super Sabre Fighter, fighter-bomberNorth American AviationCapable of supersonic speed in level flight.195319542,294
F-102 Delta Dagger InterceptorConvairWorld's first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor and the USAF's first operational delta-wing aircraft. [57] 1953 [57] 19561,000 [57]
F-101 Voodoo Fighter aircraft, fighter-bomberMcDonnell AircraftFirst designed at the end of WWII as a penetration fighter, it was adapted for close air support in 1954. [58] [59] 1954 [59] 1957 [59] 807 [59]
F-104 Starfighter Air superiority fighter fighter-bomberLockheed195419582,578
XF-104 Starfighter Interceptor prototype Lockheed Corporation1954Never2
F-105 Thunderchief Fighter-bomberRepublic AviationMach 2-capable19551958833
XF-84H Thunderscreech Experimental fighterRepublic AviationIts name, Thunderscreech, is a reference to its extremely loud supersonic propeller. [60] 1955Never2
F-106 Delta Dart All-weather fighter interceptorConvairDeveloped from the F-102 Delta Dagger. Originally designated F-102B. [61] 1956 [61] [62] 1959 [61] 342 (2 prototypes, 277 F-106As, 63 F-106Bs) [61]
XF-103 Interceptor Republic Aviation Canceled at mock-up stage.

Request Issued by the USAF in 1949 for an advanced supersonic interceptor to equip the Air Defense Command. [63] [64]

NeverNever0
F-107 Fighter-bomberNorth American Aviation North American Aviation's entry in a United States Air Force tactical fighter-bomber design competition of the 1950s, based on the F-100 Super Sabre. Originally designated F-100B1956Never3
XF-108 Rapier InterceptorNorth American AviationNeverNever0 (1 Mock-up)
F-110 Spectre/F-4 Phantom II Interceptor, fighter-bomberMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation

McDonnell Douglas

Used extensively during Vietnam. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was initially designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan. It set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.1958 [65] [66] 1963 (USAF) [67] [68] 5,195 [67] [65] [69]
NF-104A Aerospace trainer Lockheed Aircraft Corporation196319633
CL-1200 Lancer / X-27 InterceptorLockheed CorporationCancelled at mock-up stageNeverNever0
YF-12 Interceptor Lockheed Corporation Mach 3+ Capable. Developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s as a potential replacement for the F-106 Delta Dart. Related to the SR-71 and A-12.1963Never3
F-12C Strategic reconnaissance Lockheed CorporationUnofficial cover designation for the SR-711964196632
F-111 Aardvark Attack aircraft; strategic bomber; reconnaissance; electronic warfare General Dynamics 1964 [70] [71] 1967 [70] 536 (total)

76 (FB-111)

EF-111A Raven Electronic warfare General Dynamics/ Grumman1977198342
F-117 Nighthawk Stealth attack aircraft Lockheed CorporationPreviously a black project.1981 [72] 1983 [72] 64
XF-109 / D-188A VTOL fighter Bell Aircraft Corporation Cancelled 1961NeverNever0 (1 Mock-up)
F-X Fighter concept Fairchild Aircraft/Hiller Aircraft Fairchild/Hiller's entry for the F-X program that later resulted in McDonnell Douglas's F-15 Eagle [73]
F-X/NA-335 Fighter concept North American Aviation North American's entry for the F-X program that later resulted in McDonnell Douglas's F-15 Eagle [73]
F-15 Eagle Air superiorityBuilt to counter the newly-appearing MiG-25. Often known as one of the most successful fighter projects. [73] 1972 [74] 1976 [74] 1,198
F-16 Fighting Falcon Multirole fighter, air superiority fighterDesigned as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.197419784,604 (As of June 2018)
YF-17 Cobra Prototype fighter aircraft Northrop The YF-17 was the culmination of several Northrop designs, beginning with the N-102 Fang; continuing through the F-5 family.1974Never2
F-15E Strike Eagle Multirole strike fighter McDonnell Douglas(1985–1997)

Boeing Defense, Space & Security(1997–present)

Evolution of the F-15 Eagle19861988

1989 (IOC)

525
F-15EX Eagle II Multirole strike fighterBoeing Defense, Space & SecurityUpgrade of the F-15 Eagle/F-15E2021 [73] [75]
NF-15B STOL/MTD Technology demonstrator and research aircraftMcDonnell DouglasModified F-15 built for STOL.198819911
F-16XL Experimental fighter General Dynamics Entered the United States Air Force's (USAF) Enhanced Tactical Fighter(ETF) competition in 1981 and lost to the F-15E Strike Eagle. The two prototypes were shelved until turned over to NASA for additional aeronautical research in 1988. Both aircraft were fully retired in 2009 and stored at Edwards Air Force Base.1982Never2 [76]
YF-22 Stealth fighter technology demonstrator Lockheed / Boeing / General DynamicsCompeted against the YF-23 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Further developed into the F-22.1990Never2
YF-23 Stealth fighter/ technology demonstrator Northrop/McDonnell DouglasCompeted against the YF-22 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Unofficially nicknamed Black Widow II. [77] [78] 1990Never2
X-62 (NF-16D) VISTA ExperimentalGeneral Dynamics

(later Lockheed Martin) and

Calspan

VISTA stands for Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft. [79] 1992Never1
F-22 Raptor Air superiority fighter Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

The aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also incorporates ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities.1997 [80] [81] 2005 [81] [82] 187 + 8 test Aircraft
FB-22 Stealth bomber Lockheed Martin Proposal cancelled, developed from the F-22.NeverNever0
F-35A Lighting II Multirole fighter Lockheed MartinFrom the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.2006 [34] [83] 2016 (USAF)1,000+ [84] (in total)
This list includes aircraft operated by the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard.
NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
VE-7 "Bluebird" Fighter/trainer Lewis & Vought Corporation First United States Navy fighter aircraft. Used as a racer and trainer. In 1922, a VE-7 became the first airplane to take off from an American aircraft carrier. [2] 1917 [2] Unknown128 [2]
VE-9 Lewis & Vought Corporation2 converted from VE-7 for U.S. Army; 22 built for the U.S. Army, 17 built for the U.S. Navy.UnknownUnknown24 (US Army)

17 (USN)

HA Fighter/mail plane Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company1918Unknown6
18T Kirkham Two-seated fighter triplane Curtiss Engineering Corporation Intended to protect bombing aircraft over France.19181919Unknown
M-8 Monoplane fighter Loening Aeronautical Engineering 1918Never55
MB-3 FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft  & Boeing 19191919265
TS Naval fighter Naval Aircraft Factory & Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnknown192246
XF10C Carrier fighter-bomberCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyO2C-2 re-engined with a R-1510 engine, temporarily designated XS3C-1UnknownUnknownUnknown
F6C Hawk Carrier-borne/land-based fighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnknown192575
Model 83 BoeingOne prototype with spreader-bar landing gear and 425 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-8 engine, later designated XF4B-1 for Navy evaluation.1
Model 89 BoeingOne prototype with split-axle undercarriage and provision for a 500 lb bomb on ventral rack, later designated XF4B-1 for Navy evaluation.1
FU FighterVought???192720
FB Carrier fighterBoeingConflicting designation with PW-8 (XP-4).19231923158
F3B Carrier-based fighter-bomber BoeingProduction version, the F3B-1, was designated Model 77.1928192874
XF6B / XBFB Carrier-based fighter-bomberBoeingBoeing's last Biplane design for the United States Navy.1933Never1
F2B Carrier fighter (FB series)BoeingGrounded after just 4.5 hours of flight testing.1926192833
NF-1 Fighter prototypeSeverskySingle-seat fighter prototype for U.S. Navy evaluation1
F7C Seahawk FighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company1927Never17
XFG & XF2G Fighter Eberhart Aeroplane and Motor Company 1927Never1
F8C Falcon/Helldiver Carrier fighter-bomberCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyPart of the Curtiss Falcon family. Four F8C-1 built in 19281928Unknown153
P-12/F4B Biplane FighterBoeing1928 [4] 1930586
XF2U FighterVought1929 [85] Never1
XF5B Prototype monoplane fighterBoeingEssentially a monoplane version of the Boeing P-12, differing in having the lower wing omitted and in having all-metal construction as well as altered ailerons. The XP-15 had a split-axle undercarriage and a tail wheel.1930Never2
XFJ Naval fighterBerliner-Joyce1931Never?
XFD Fighter Douglas Aircraft Company A victim of changing requirements, no production was undertaken.1933Never1
XF2J Two-seat carrier-based fighterBerliner-Joyce1933Never1
XFT FighterNorthrop Corporation1933Never1
XF7B FighterAttempt to produce a more advanced version of the P-26. Although slight gains were made in performance, the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy did not order the aircraft.1934Never4
XFL Fighter Loening Aeronautical Engineering Won a 1933 competition, but Loening was busy building other aircraft, so the contract was canceled.NeverNever0
BF2C Goshawk Carrier-based Fighter and fighter-bomberCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company1930s naval biplane aircraft that saw limited success and was part of a long line of Hawk Series airplanes made by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the American military, and for export as the Model 68 Hawk III.???1933166
F9C Sparrowhawk Parasite fighter Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyA specialized aircraft part of the conceptualized plan for Airborne Aircraftt Carriers. Carried by the United States Navy airships USS Akron and Macon.193119317+[ citation needed ]
FF Naval fighter Grumman First carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear. The FF-1 was Grumman's first complete aircraft design for the US Navy. Considered highly successful and setting a standard for Grumman Aircraft. [86] 1931193385
F11C Goshawk Carrier-based fighter and fighter-bomberCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyNaval biplane fighter aircraft that saw limited success1932193230
XF12C-1 Prototype parasol-wing fighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyPowered by a 625 hp (466 kW) R-1510-92 radial, later converted into biplane as the XS4C-1.1933Never1
F2F Naval fighterGrummanDesigned for both carrier- and land-based operation, it served as a standard for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940.1933193555
XF3U FighterVought1933Never1
XF3J Carrier fighter.Berliner-Joyce1934Never1
XF13C FighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company1934Never3
SBC Helldiver Dive bomber Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company19351938257
F3F Naval fighterGrummanLast biplane to be delivered to any American military air arm19351936147
F2A Buffalo Fighter Brewster Aeronautical Corporation Won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the U.S. Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft. Although superior to the Grumman F3F biplane it replaced, and early F4Fs, the Buffalo was largely obsolete when the United States entered the war, being unstable and overweight, especially when compared to the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.19371939509
F4F Wildcat Carrier-based fighter aircraftGrummanFirst used by the British in the North Atlantic, the Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy & Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during the early part of the Second World War. [87] [88] The Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available.1937 [87] 1940 [88] 7,885 [87]
F4U Corsair Carrier-based fighter-bomberChance VoughtEarly problems with carrier landings and logistics led to it being eclipsed by the Grumman F6F Hellcat.1940194212,571
XF5F Skyrocket Naval fighterGrumman1940Never1
XFL Airabonita Carrier-based interceptor aircraftBellDeveloped from the P-39 Airacobra1940Never1
F6F Hellcat Naval fighterGrummanDesigned to replace the F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero; it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. It prevailed over its faster competitor, the Vought F4U Corsair, which initially had problems with visibility and carrier landings.19421943 [89] 12,275
YF2L-1 Airacomet Fighter/Jet trainer Bell AircraftFirst jet produced in the United States. [26] [25] 1942Unknown66
F7F Tigercat Heavy fighterGrummanSaw action as a night fighter and attack aircraft during the Korean War. The aircraft was only used in combat once, when Marine Corps night fighter squadron VMF(N)-513 flying F7F-3Ns saw action in the early stages of the Korean War, shooting down two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes.1943 [90] [91] 1944 [90] [91] 364 [91]
XF5U FighterVoughtCancelled in 19471943Never2
XF8B FighterBoeing1944Never3
P-80 (F-80) Shooting Star Jet fighter Lockheed CorporationAmerica's first successful turbojet-powered fighter. [25] 1944 [25] [35] 19451,715 [36]
F8F Bearcat FighterGrummanGrumman Aircraft's last piston-engined fighter aircraft.1944 [92] [93] 1945 [92] [93] [94] 1,265 [93]
FR Fireball Fighter Ryan Aeronautical Navy's first aircraft with a jet engine.1944194571
FH Phantom Carrier-based fighter [34] McDonnell Aircraft19451947 [34] 62 [34]
F2G Corsair Carrier-based fighter aircraft Goodyear Aircraft Developed from the Vought F4U Corsair.1945194510 + 1 Prototype
FH Phantom Carrier-based fighter aircraft McDonnell Aircraft First purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier in 1946. [95] [96] 1945 [95] 1947 [34] [95] [96] 62 [34] [95]
FJ-1 Fury FighterNorth American AviationFirst jet aircraft in USN service to serve at sea under operational conditions.

Also the first American jet fighter to employ a single, straight ram duct in its nose. [97]

1946 [21] 1947 [34] /1948 [21] 30 + 3 Prototypes
F6U Pirate FighterChance Vought Vought's first jet fighter,1946Never33
XF2R Dark Shark Fighter Ryan Aeronautical Combined turboprop and turbojet propulsion.1946Never1
F-9 (F9F) Panther Carrier-based fighter-bomberGrummanFirst jet-powered fighter aircraft operated by the United States Navy and Grumman's first jet fighter. Development commenced in the final months of World War II to harness the recent innovation of the jet engine19471949 [34] 1,385 [34]
F-2 (F2H) Banshee Carrier-based fighterMcDonnell AircraftThe only jet-powered fighter to ever be deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy.19471948 [34] 895 [34]
F7U Cutlass Naval multirole fighter Chance VoughtFirst tailless production fighter in the United States as well as United States Navy's first jet equipped with swept wings and the first to be designed with afterburners.19481951320
F-10 (F3D) Skyknight FighterDouglas Aircraft CompanyDesigned in response to a requirement issued by the United States Navy in 1945 for a jet-powered, radar-equipped, carrier-based night fighter.19481951265
F-1 (FJ-2/3) Fury FighterNorth American AviationDeveloped as a navalised F-86. 1951 [98] [99] [100] 1954 [98] [99] [100] 741 [98]
F-6 (F4D) Skray Fighter aircraftDouglas Aircraft CompanyThe last fighter produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company prior to its merge with McDonnell Aircraft to become McDonnell Douglas.19511956422
F-3 (F3H) Demon Carrier-based all-weather interceptorMcDonnell AircraftThe first swept wing jet fighter and the only single-engined carrier-based fighter McDonnell produced. Provided the basis for the F-4 Phantom. [101] 1951 [101] 1956 [101] 519 [101]
F-9 (F9F-6/7/9) Cougar FighterGrumman195119521,988
XF10F Jaguar Prototype swing-wing fighter aircraftGrummanAlthough it never entered service, its research paved the way towards the General Dynamics F-111 and Grumman's F-14 Tomcat.1952Never1
F-7 (F2Y) Sea Dart Seaplane fighter Convair The program was canceled after a series of unsatisfactory results and a tragic accident in which test pilot Charles E. Richbourg was killed when the Sea Dart disintegrated in midair. [102] 1953 [103] Never5 [102] [103]
F-1E/F (FJ-4) Fury FighterNorth American Aviation1954Unknown374
XFV Tailsitting Experimental VTOL fighter aircraftLockheed Corporation1954Never1
XFY Pogo Experimental VTOL fighter aircraftConvair Cold War-era vehicle.1954Never1
F-11 (F11F) Tiger FighterGrummanWork on what would become the Tiger commended in 1952 as a design study, internally designated G-98, to improve the F9F-6/7 Cougar.1954 [104] [105] 1956 [106] 204 [105]
F-8 (F8U) Crusader FighterVought195519571,219
F5D Skylancer Fighter aircraftDouglas Aircraft CompanyA development of the F4D Skyray jet fighter for the United States Navy. Starting out as the F4D-2N, an all-weather version of the Skyray.1956Never4
F11F-1F/F-11B Super Tiger FighterGrummanCompany Designation Grumman(G)-98J1956 [106] Never2 [104] [107]
XF8U-3 Crusader III FighterChance Vought1958Never5
F-110 Spectre Redesignated and renamed to F-4 Phantom II in 1962
F-4 Phantom II Interceptor, fighter-bomberMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation

McDonnell Douglas

Used extensively during Vietnam.The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was initially designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan. It set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.1958 [65] [66] 1960/1961 (USN) [67] [68] [108] 5,195 [67] [65] [69]
F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II Light fighter Northrop Corporation Popular export aircraft19591964 [109] [110] 2,603
F-111B InterceptorGeneral Dynamics and GrummanPlanned as a follow-on to the F-4 Phantom II for the United States Navy (USN).1965Never7
CL-1400 Lockheed Corporation Proposed CL-1200 for the Navy.NeverNever0
XF3L / D-188A VTOL fighter Bell Aircraft Corporation Cancelled 1961NeverNever0 (1 Mock-up)
F6D Missileer Fleet defense fighter Douglas Aircraft CompanyDesigned in response to a 1959 United States Navy requirement.NeverNever0
XFV-12 VTOL fighter Rockwell International Intended to combine the speed and armament of the F-4 Phantom II with V/STOL capabilities.UnknownNever1
F-14 Tomcat Interceptor; air superiority; multiroleGrummanDeveloped for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the collapse of the General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B project. [111] 1970 [112] [111] [113] 1974 [111] 712 [111]
F/A-18 Hornet Multirole fighter McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997)

Northrop (1974–1994) Boeing (1997–2000)

Used extensively by the U.S Navy 197819831,480
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Carrier-based multirole fighterMcDonnell Douglas(1995–1997)

Boeing Defense, Space & Security(1997–present)

19951999

2001 (IOC)

≥632 as of April 2020
F-35 Lighting II Multirole fighter Lockheed MartinFrom the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

USMC use F-35B; USN use F-35C.

2006(F-35B) 2015 (USMC) [114]

(F-35C) 2019 (USN) [115]

1,000+ [84] (in total)
F/A-XX Program/projectNoneBuilt for as part of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programNot yetNot yetNot yet

Foreign-built fighters

NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
R.11 Heavy fighter Caudron From France.19161918370
S.E.5 Single-seat fighter Royal Aircraft Factory From the British.191619175,205
Camel Biplane fighter Sopwith Aviation Company From the British.191619175,490
D.VII Fighter Fokker-Flugzeugwerke 1918Unknown~3,300
D.VIII FighterFokker-Flugzeugwerke1918~381
PW-5 FighterFokker-Flugzeugwerke1921192222
F-21 Kfir Fighter-bomber, multirole fighter Israel Aircraft Industries Export from Israel19731976220+
YF-110B Mikoyan-Gurevich Captured MiG-21F-13 under Have Doughnut. [116]
YF-110C Chengdu Aircraft Corporation/Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation Captured J-7B. [116]
YF-110D Mikoyan-GurevichCaptured MiG-21MF under Have Doughnut. [116]
YF-110E/L/MCaptured aircraft of unknown type under Have Phoenix. [116]
YF-112C/D Sukhoi East German Su-22M4. [116]
YF-113A Mikoyan-GurevichCaptured MiG-17F under Have Drill. [116]
YF-113B Mikoyan-GurevichCaptured MiG-23BN. [116]
YF-113C Shenyang Captured J-5 under Have Privilege, later reused for unknown type under Have Phoenix. [116]
YF-113D Mikoyan-GurevichCaptured MiG-23MS. [116]
YF-113GPossible USAF black project. [116]
YF-113HCaptured aircraft of unknown type under Have Phoenix. [116]

Export-only fighters

NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
Model 100A/D/E/F Civil application and experimentalBoeingModel 100E exported to Siamese Air Force, two built, one later transferred to the Japanese Navy1929Unknown9
Hawk III Fighter-bomberCurtissExport version of BF2C-1137
Hawk IV
Fighter-bomberCurtissExport version of BF2C-11
Model 218 BoeingPrototype of the P-12E/F4B-3 variant, after evaluation sold to the Chinese Air Force.
Model 256 BoeingExport version of the F4B-4 for Brazilian Navy 14
Model 267 BoeingExport version for Brazil with an F4B-3 fuselage and P-12E wings.9
P-400 Export fighterBellExport model of the P-39, uses a 20mm Hispano cannon rather than the 37mm.UnknownUnknownUnknown
CW-21 Fighter Curtiss-Wright Corporation 1938193962
F-86K Fighter North American Aviation NATO version of F-86D
CF-104 Starfighter Interceptor aircraft, fighter-bomber Canadair Modified version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter supersonic fighter aircraft built in Canada by Canadair under licence19611962200
F-104S Starfighter Interceptor Aeritalia Licensed production Italian version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.19661969246
F-111C Fighter-bomber & reconnaissance aircraftGeneral DynamicsNicknamed the "Pig." An export variant for Australia.1968197328
F-111K Tactical Strike

Low-Level Interdiction

Reconnaissance

General DynamicsThe project was initiated in 1965 following the cancellation of the BAC TSR-2 strike aircraft, producing an aircraft for the specific needs of the United Kingdom.NeverNever0
CF-5/CF-116/NF-5 Freedom Fighter Fighter-bomber CanadairCanadian licensed-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. In service with the Royal Netherlands Air Force as the NF-5.19681968[ citation needed ]240
F-15J/DJ Air superiority fighter Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

McDonnell Douglas

Licensed built F-15 for Japan.1980 [117] 1982 [117] 213 [117]
F-15I Ra'am F-15E Strike Eagle for Israel
F-15K Slam Eagle Derivative of the Strike Eagle for the Republic of Korea Air Force
F-15S Derivative of the Strike Eagle for the Royal Saudi Air Force
F-15SA Advanced version of the F-15S. [118]

Saudi Advanced. [119]

84 [118]
F-15SG (F-15T) Derivative of the Strike Eagle for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
F-15QA Qatar Advanced. [120]
F-15IA Israel Advanced. Based on the F-15EX
F-15H Hellas. Proposed variant for the Hellenic AF.
F-15GA German Advanced.

Proposed variant for the Luftwaffe. Chose F-35s and Eurofighter Typhoons instead.

F-16I Sufa For Israel
F-16IN For the Indian MRCA competition for the Indian Air Force, Lockheed Martin offered the F-16IN Super Viper.
F-35I Adir For Israel

Experimental fighters not for military service.

Does not include those with a predesignated service had the aircraft been implemented. For example, the F2Y Sea Dart is not listed below as it was intended for naval service.

NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of

first flight

IntroductionNumber built
Pigeon-Fraser Pursuit/fighter George N. Albree First pursuit aircraft project for the United States Government.1917Never3
TM-23 Biplane fighter [121] Thomas-Morse Aircraft1924Never1
HT-2 Speed Scout Experimental observation fighter seaplane Burgess Company 1917?Never8
Model S Fighter Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company Curtiss' first attempt at a fast and maneuverable single-seat fighter. First triplane in service in the United States1917
Orenco D FighterOrenco/Curtiss AircraftFirst fighter type of completely indigenous design (as opposed to foreign types or American-built versions of foreign types) to enter US military service1919Unknown54
YP-27 ProposalConsolidated AircraftProposed variant of Y1P-25NeverNever0
Y1P-28 ProposalConsolidated AircraftProposed variant of Y1P-25NeverNever0
XP-33 ProposalProposed version; unbuilt0
MB-9 FighterThomas-Morse AircraftQuickly abandoned project1922Never1
XFH Fighter Hall Aluminum Company First fighter with a semi-monocoque metal fuselage.1929Never1
XP-18 Proposed monoplane biplane fighter Curtiss Ordered in 1930. Cancelled before any were built.NeverNever0
XP-19 Proposed monoplane biplane fighterCurtissDesign was cancelled before any were built.NeverNever0
XP-52/XP-59 Cancelled fighter projectBell Aircraft CorporationWhen the project was canceled the designation XP-59A was used as a cover for a secret jet fighter prototype, which would enter production as the P-59 Airacomet.NeverNever0
XP-56 Black Bullet FighterNorthrop Corporation1943Never2
XP-58 Chain Lighting Heavy fighterLockheedPlagued by technical problems with its engines that led to the project's cancellation.19441
XP-68 Tornado FighterVultee Aircraft World War II-era high-altitude interceptor aircraft. Cancelled project.NeverNever0
XP-72 Fighter-interceptor Republic AviationDevelopment of the P-47 Thunderbolt.1944Never2
XF-91 Thunderceptor Prototype interceptor Republic Aviation 1949 [122] Never2
F-20/F-5G Tigershark Fighter aircraft Northrop Corporation An evolution of the F-51982Never3
AFTI/F-111A Aardvark Research aircraft General Dynamics/Boeing198519851
CL-288 Conceptual Interceptor aircraftLockheed CorporationNeverNever0
X-32 JSF Experimental stealth fighterBoeingBeaten by the Lockheed Martin X-35 in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.2000Never1
X-35 JSF Concept demonstrator aircraft (CDA) & experimental stealth fighter Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Further developed into the F-35 Lighting II in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. [123] [124] 2000 [124] [125] Never [124] 2
F-19 Speculative designation. Possibly classified.

See also

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