List of United States attack aircraft
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2024) |
This is a list of United States-used attack aircraft, which typically perform tactical bombing and close air support against ground targets.
United States military aircraft |
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1919 - 1924
1924-1962
Name | Role | Manufacturer | Image | Notes | Year of first flight | Introduction | Number built |
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Curtiss Falcon | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company | Family of observation and attack aircraft; composes of the A-3, the main attack version, XA-4, and A-5 and A-6 with more powerful engines. | |||||
Fokker XA-7 | Fokker-America | 1931 | 1 | ||||
Curtiss A-8 | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company | 1931 | 1932 | 13 | |||
Lockheed Y1A-9 | Detroit Lockheed | A version of the Lockheed YP-24 that specialized in ground attack. | 1931 | 1 | |||
Curtiss YA-10 Shrike | Curtiss/Curtiss-Wright | 1932 | 1933 | 2 | |||
Consolidated A-11 | Consolidated Aircraft | Production attack version of the Consolidated P-30 fighters. | |||||
Curtiss A-12 Shrike | Curtiss | 1933 | 46 | ||||
Northrop YA-13/XA-16 | Northrop | Attack version of the Northrop Gamma. A single example was built as a prototype. It was also known as XA-16 after an engine refit. | Never | Never | 1 | ||
Curtiss XA-14 | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company | 1935 | 1 | ||||
Martin A-15 | Glenn L. Martin Company | Proposed attack variant of the Martin B-10; contract fell to the Curtiss XA-14. | Never | Never | 0 | ||
Northrop A-17 / Nomad | Northrop | 1935 | 411 | ||||
Douglas A-26 Invader | Ground attack | Douglas Aircraft Company | Originally designed A-26, then designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965 after the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired, then redesignated to A-26. | 1942[1][2][3] | 1944[1][2][3] | 2,503[2][3][4] | |
Douglas A-1 (AD) Skyraider | Attack aircraft | Douglas Aircraft Company | Formerly designated AD before the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations; served during the Korean War and Vietnam War; had an unusually long career.[5][6] | 1945[5][6] | 1946[6] | 3,180[5][6] | |
North American A-2 (AJ) Savage | Medium bomber | Formerly designated AJ prior to the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations. | 1948 | 1950 | 1960 |
1962 - Present
Name | Role | Manufacturer | Image | Notes | Year of first flight | Introduction | Number built |
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Douglas AC-47 Spooky | Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship | Douglas Aircraft Company | Developed from the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, it itself developed from the acclaimed Douglas DC-3. Succeeded by the Fairchild AC-119 & the Lockheed AC-130.[7] First deployed over Vietnam in 1964.[8] | 1964[9] | 1965 | 53 | |
Bell AH-1 Cobra | Attack helicopter[10] | Bell Helicopter | Developed from the UH-1 Iroquois/ "Huey."World's first dedicated armed attack helicopter.[10] | 1965[10] | 1967[10] | 1,116[10] | |
Lockheed AC-130 | Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship for SOF teams | Modified C-130 Hercules. | 1967 (AC-130A)[11][12] | 1968 (AC-130A)[12] | ??? | ||
Bell AH-1 SeaCobra / SuperCobra | Attack helicopter | Bell Helicopter | 1969 | 1971 | 1,271+ | ||
Bell 309 KingCobra | Attack helicopter prototype | Bell Helicopter | 1971[13]/1972[14] | Never | 2[14] | ||
Northrop YA-9 | Attack aircraft | Northrop Corporation | Developed for the United States Air Force A-X program. However, the YA-9 was dropped in favor of the A-10.[15] | 1972[15] | Never | 2 | |
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II | Close air support attack aircraft | Fairchild Republic | Known for its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger.[16][17] First production version was delivered in October 1975.[16] | 1972[17] | October 1977[17] | 716[18] | |
Bell AH-1Z Viper | Attack helicopter | Bell Helicopter | 2000 | 2011 (IOC)[19] | 195[19] | ||
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet | Multirole fighter | McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997) Northrop (1974–1994) Boeing (1997–2000) | Used extensively by the U.S. Navy | 1978 | 1983 | 1,480 | |
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | Carrier-based multirole fighter | McDonnell Douglas(1995–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security(1997–present) | Upgraded version of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. Replaced its predcessor and the Grumman A-6 Intruder. | 1995 | 1999 2001 (IOC) | ≥632 as of April 2020 | |
Boeing EA-18G Growler | Electronic warfare aircraft | Boeing | Developed from the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. | 2006 | 2009 | 172 as of October 2021 | |
F/A-XX | Program/project | None | Built for as part of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program | Not yet | Not yet | Not yet |
References
- ^ a b "A-26 Invader – A-26 – Douglas A-26 – Aircraft". Army Air Corps Library and Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c "A-26 Invader | Pacific Coast Air Museum | World War II Attack Plane". Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c "A-26C Invader". Air Mobility Command Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "A-26B "Invader" – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum". Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c "A-1H Skyraider". Naval History and Heritage Command - National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c d "A-1E Skyraider". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "AC-47 Spooky". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ "Gunship I: Spooky". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ "Air Force Armament Museum Foundation". Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Bell AH-1 Cobra (Attack)". Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "Spectre-Association: History of Spectre". Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b "AC-130A Spectre". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Bell Model 309 Kingcobra helicopter - development history, photos, technical data". Aviator. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ a b Defense Technical Information Center (1972-07-01). DTIC AD0771151: Attack Helicopter Evaluation, Model 309 KingCobra Helicopter.
- ^ a b "March Field Air Museum In Riverside, CA - YA-9A, Northrop". Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ a b "A-10C Thunderbolt II". Official Website of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b c The A-10 Warthog is 50 years old. Why is it still serving?, Imperial War Museum, retrieved 2023-12-12
- ^ "A-10 Thunderbolt II at the Cradle of Aviation Museum". Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b "Bell Completes U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Program of Record". News - Bellflight. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-27.