List of United States attack aircraft

An AC-130U "Spooky", a type of attack aircraft, over Hulburt Field

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
  • Airships
  • Airborne early warning aircraft
  • Anti-submarine aircraft
  • Bomber aircraft
  • Command and control aircraft
  • Electronic warfare aircraft
  • Experimental aircraft
  • Fighter aircraft
  • Patrol aircraft
  • Reconnaissance
  • Tankers
  • Trainers
  • Transport aircraft
  • Utility aircraft
  • Military helicopters
  • UAVs
    		•

    1919 - 1924

    1924-1962

    Name Role Manufacturer Image Notes Year of

    first flight

    		Introduction Number built
    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 N/A 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 N/A 0
    Northrop A-17 / Nomad Northrop 1935 411
    Curtiss SB2C Helldiver / A-25 Shrike Dive bomber Curtiss-Wright 1940 1942 7,140
    Martin A-30 Baltimore Light bomber /reconnaissance Glenn L. Martin Company 1941 1941 1,575
    Vultee A-31 / A-35 Vengeance Dive bomber Vultee Aircraft 1941 Unknown 1,931
    North American A-36 Ground attack/dive bomber North American Aviation Developed from the North American P-51 Mustang. 1942 1942 500
    Douglas A-26 Invader Ground attack

    Light bomber

    		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]
    Brewster XA-32 Brewster Aeronautical Corporation 1943 N/A 2
    Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beechcraft 1944 N/A 2
    Vultee XA-41 Ground attack Vultee Aircraft 1944 N/A 1
    Convair XA-44 / XB-53 Convair Project cancelled before two prototypes were built N/A N/A 0
    Douglas A-1 (AD) Skyraider 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 North American Aviation Formerly designated AJ prior to the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations. 1948 1950 143
    Vought F7U Cutlass Naval multirole fighter Chance Vought 1948 1951 320
    Douglas A2D Skyshark Prototype carrier-based attack aircraft Douglas Aircraft Company 1950 N/A 12
    Douglas A-3 (A3D) Skywarrior Carrier-based strategic bomber Douglas Aircraft Company 1952 1956 282
    Douglas A-4 (A4D) Skyhawk Attack aircraft, fighter, aggressor aircraft Douglas Aircraft Company / McDonnell Douglas 1954 1956 2,960
    North American A-5 (A3J) Vigilante Carrier-based nuclear bomber /reconnaissance aircraft[7] North American Aviation 1958 1961 167
    Grumman A-6 Intruder Attack aircraft Grumman 1960 1963 693

    1962 - Present

    Name Role Manufacturer Image Notes Year of

    first flight

    		Introduction Number built
    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.[8] First deployed over Vietnam in 1964.[9] 1964[10] 1965 53
    Bell AH-1 Cobra Attack helicopter[11] Bell Helicopter Developed from the UH-1 Iroquois/ "Huey."

    World's first dedicated armed attack helicopter.[12]

    		1965[13] 1967[14] 1,116[14]
    LTV A-7 Corsair II Ling-Temco-Vought Replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was derived from the Vought F-8 Crusader. 1965 1967 1,545
    Lockheed AC-130 Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship for SOF teams Modified C-130 Hercules. 1967 (AC-130A)[15][16] 1968 (AC-130A)[16] ???
    Bell AH-1 SeaCobra / SuperCobra Attack helicopter Bell Helicopter 1969 1971 1,271+
    Bell 309 KingCobra Attack helicopter prototype Bell Helicopter 1971 (twin-engined)/1972 (single-engined)[17] N/A 2[17]
    Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker Armed gunship, counter-insurgency, utility transport Fairchild Aircraft Used in the Vietnam War by the USAF and RVNAF.[18] 1971 Unknown Unknown
    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.[19] 1972[19] N/A 2
    Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Close air support attack aircraft Fairchild Republic Known for its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger.[20][21] First production version was delivered in October 1975.[20] 1972[21] October 1977[21] 716[22]
    McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II All-weather naval stealth bomber/attack aircraft McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics (planned) Planned attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps; only entered mock-up stage; originally planned to replace the A-6 Intruder.[23] Never N/A 0
    Vought YA-7F Prototype transonic attack aircraft Ling-Temco-Vought/Vought 1989 N/A 0
    LTV A-7P Corsair II Ling-Temco-Vought Export LTV A-7 Corsair IIfor the Portuguese Air Force Unknown Unknown Unknown
    Bell AH-1Z Viper Attack helicopter Bell Helicopter 2000 2011 (IOC)[24] 195[24]
    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 predecessor 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
    Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor Air superiority fighter Lockheed Martin Aeronautics / Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Re-designated the F-22 when it entered service in December 2005.[25] 1997 2005[25]
    F/A-XX Program/project None Built for as part of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. N/A N/A N/A

    References

    1. ^ a b "A-26 Invader – A-26 – Douglas A-26 – Aircraft". Army Air Corps Library and Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
    2. ^ a b c "A-26 Invader | Pacific Coast Air Museum | World War II Attack Plane". Retrieved 2023-12-13.
    3. ^ a b c "A-26C Invader". Air Mobility Command Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
    4. ^ "A-26B "Invader" – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum". Retrieved 2023-12-13.
    5. ^ a b c "A-1H Skyraider". Naval History and Heritage Command - National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
    6. ^ a b c d "A-1E Skyraider". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
    7. ^ "RA-5C Vigilante". National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
    8. ^ "AC-47 Spooky". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
    9. ^ "Gunship I: Spooky". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
    10. ^ "Air Force Armament Museum Foundation". Retrieved 2024-03-05.
    11. ^ "Bell AH-1F Cobra". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
    12. ^ "AH-1W Super Cobra". NAVAIR. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
    13. ^ "AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N Huey". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
    14. ^ a b Pfau, Nathan (21 December 2017). "Vietnam-era AH-1 Cobra ushered in modern attack fleet". U.S. Army. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
    15. ^ "Spectre-Association: History of Spectre". Retrieved 2023-12-22.
    16. ^ a b "AC-130A Spectre". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
    17. ^ a b Defense Technical Information Center (1972-07-01). DTIC AD0771151: Attack Helicopter Evaluation, Model 309 KingCobra Helicopter.
    18. ^ Green, Brian M. (June 2014). "Niche Aircraft Acquisitions: Complex Things Come In Small Packages" (PDF). DTIC. pp. 38–40. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
    19. ^ a b "March Field Air Museum In Riverside, CA - YA-9A, Northrop". Retrieved 2023-12-27.
    20. ^ a b "A-10C Thunderbolt II". Official Website of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
    21. ^ a b c The A-10 Warthog is 50 years old. Why is it still serving?, Imperial War Museum, retrieved 2023-12-12
    22. ^ "A-10 Thunderbolt II at the Cradle of Aviation Museum". Retrieved 2023-12-12.
    23. ^ "Department of Defense Procurement Coding Manual: Volume 1" (PDF). DTIC. 1989. p. 51. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
    24. ^ a b "Bell Completes U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Program of Record". News - Bellflight. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
    25. ^ a b "F-22 Raptor > Fact Sheet". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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