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List of military aircraft of the United States

This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are never expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed "Y".


USAF A10 Thunderbolt.

Table of contents
1 Attack
2 Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)
3 Bomber
4 Cargo/Transport
5 Cargo Helicopter
6 Electronic
7 Fighter
8 Tanker
9 Observation
10 Orbiter Vehicle
11 Patrol
12 Pursuit
13 Drone
14 Reconnaissance
15 Trainer
16 Utility
17 Vertical Take off and Landing
18 Experimental

Attack

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force:

Navy:

Unified system, after 1962:


A-1 Skyraider, USA 2003.


P-3 Orion of the US Navy.

Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)

Bomber

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force:


USAF B52.

Navy:

Unified system, after 1962:

United States Air Force B-2 Spirit

Cargo/Transport

Old system, Army Air Corps/Force; Air Force

Navy:

Unified system, after 1962:

Cargo Helicopter


U.S. Army Chinook loads a howitzer gun.

Electronic


United States Air Force E-3 Sentry

Fighter

Navy, from 1922 (alpha by Navy-assigned mfgr letter)

Air Force, from 1948

Unified system, from 1962

Tanker

Observation

Orbiter Vehicle

Patrol

Pursuit

Pursuit Aircraft of the US Army Air Service/Corps/Force, 1918-1948. After formation of US Air Force (USAF), all "P" designations were changed to "F" while retaining number.

Initially, "PW" was used to indicate "Pursuit, Water-cooled engine".

List in numerical order of designations:

Drone

Reconnaissance

Trainer

Utility

Vertical Take off and Landing

Experimental