List of United States attack aircraft explained

This is a list of United States-used attack aircraft, which typically perform tactical bombing and close air support against ground targets.

1924-1962

NameRoleManufacturerImageNotesYear offirst flightIntroductionNumber built
Curtiss FalconCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyFamily 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-7Fokker-America19311
Curtiss A-8Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company1931193213
Lockheed Y1A-9Detroit LockheedA version of the Lockheed YP-24 that specialized in ground attack.19311
Curtiss YA-10 ShrikeCurtiss/Curtiss-Wright193219332
Consolidated A-11Consolidated AircraftProduction attack version of the Consolidated P-30 fighters.
Curtiss A-12 ShrikeCurtiss193346
Northrop YA-13/XA-16NorthropAttack version of the Northrop Gamma. A single example was built as a prototype. It was also known as XA-16 after an engine refit.NeverN/A1
Curtiss XA-14Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company19351
Martin A-15Glenn L. Martin CompanyProposed attack variant of the Martin B-10; contract fell to the Curtiss XA-14.NeverN/A0
Northrop A-17 / NomadNorthrop1935411
North American A-36Ground attack/dive bomberNorth American AviationDeveloped from the North American P-51 Mustang.19421942500
Douglas A-26 InvaderGround attackLight bomberDouglas Aircraft CompanyOriginally 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] 19442,503[4]
Vultee XA-41Ground attackVultee Aircraft1944N/A1
Douglas A-1 (AD) SkyraiderDouglas Aircraft CompanyFormerly 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] 194519463,180
North American A-2 (AJ) SavageMedium bomberNorth American AviationFormerly designated AJ prior to the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations.19481950143
Vought F7U CutlassNaval multirole fighterChance Vought19481951320
Douglas A2D SkysharkPrototype carrier-based attack aircraftDouglas Aircraft Company1950N/A12
Douglas A-3 (A3D) SkywarriorCarrier-based strategic bomberDouglas Aircraft Company19521956282
Douglas A-4 (A4D) SkyhawkAttack aircraft, fighter, aggressor aircraftDouglas Aircraft Company / McDonnell Douglas195419562,960
North American A-5 (A3J) VigilanteCarrier-based nuclear bomber /reconnaissance aircraft[7] North American Aviation19581961167
Grumman A-6 IntruderAttack aircraftGrumman19601963693

1962 - Present

NameRoleManufacturerImageNotesYear offirst flightIntroductionNumber built
Douglas AC-47 SpookyGround-attack aircraft and close air support gunshipDouglas Aircraft CompanyDeveloped 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] 196553
Bell AH-1 CobraAttack helicopter[11] Bell HelicopterDeveloped from the UH-1 Iroquois/ "Huey."World's first dedicated armed attack helicopter.[12] 1965[13] 1967[14] 1,116
LTV A-7 Corsair IILing-Temco-VoughtReplacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was derived from the Vought F-8 Crusader.196519671,545
Lockheed AC-130Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship for SOF teams Modified C-130 Hercules.1967 (AC-130A)[15] [16] 1968 (AC-130A)???
Bell AH-1 SeaCobra / SuperCobraAttack helicopterBell Helicopter196919711,271+
Bell 309 KingCobraAttack helicopter prototypeBell Helicopter1971 (twin-engined)/1972 (single-engined)[17] N/A2
Fairchild AU-23 PeacemakerArmed gunship, counter-insurgency, utility transportFairchild AircraftUsed in the Vietnam War by the USAF and RVNAF.[18] 1971UnknownUnknown
Northrop YA-9Attack aircraftNorthrop CorporationDeveloped for the United States Air Force A-X program. However, the YA-9 was dropped in favor of the A-10.[19] 1972N/A2
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air support attack aircraftFairchild RepublicKnown for its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger.[20] First production version was delivered in October 1975.1972October 1977716[21]
McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger IIAll-weather naval stealth bomber/attack aircraftMcDonnell 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.[22] NeverN/A0
Vought YA-7FLing-Temco-Vought/Vought1989N/A0
Bell AH-1Z ViperAttack helicopterBell Helicopter20002011 (IOC)[23] 195
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 HornetMultirole fighterMcDonnell Douglas (1974–1997)Northrop (1974–1994) Boeing (1997–2000)Used extensively by the U.S. Navy197819831,480
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super HornetCarrier-based multirole fighterMcDonnell 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.199519992001 (IOC)≥632 as of April 2020
Boeing EA-18G GrowlerElectronic warfare aircraftBoeingDeveloped from the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.20062009172 as of October 2021
Lockheed Martin F/A-22 RaptorAir superiority fighterLockheed Martin Aeronautics / Boeing Integrated Defense SystemsRe-designated the F-22 when it entered service in December 2005.[24] 19972005
F/A-XXProgram/projectNoneBuilt for as part of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.N/AN/AN/A

Notes and References

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

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