Wikipedia

List of United States attack aircraft

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

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

1919 - 1924

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1924-1962

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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 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

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]
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   Formerly designated AJ prior to the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations. 1948 1950 143
Vought F7U Cutlass Naval multirole fighter   1948 1951 320
Douglas A2D Skyshark Douglas Aircraft Company   1950 Never 12

1962 - Present

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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.[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
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.[20] 1997 2005[20]
F/A-XX Program/project None Built for as part of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program Not yet Not yet Not yet

References

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  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. ^ "AC-47 Spooky". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  8. ^ "Gunship I: Spooky". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  9. ^ "Air Force Armament Museum Foundation". Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Bell AH-1 Cobra (Attack)". Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  11. ^ "Spectre-Association: History of Spectre". Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  12. ^ a b "AC-130A Spectre". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  13. ^ "Bell Model 309 Kingcobra helicopter - development history, photos, technical data". Aviator. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  14. ^ a b Defense Technical Information Center (1972-07-01). DTIC AD0771151: Attack Helicopter Evaluation, Model 309 KingCobra Helicopter.
  15. ^ a b "March Field Air Museum In Riverside, CA - YA-9A, Northrop". Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  16. ^ a b "A-10C Thunderbolt II". Official Website of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  17. ^ a b c The A-10 Warthog is 50 years old. Why is it still serving?, Imperial War Museum, retrieved 2023-12-12
  18. ^ "A-10 Thunderbolt II at the Cradle of Aviation Museum". Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  19. ^ a b "Bell Completes U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Program of Record". News - Bellflight. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  20. ^ a b "F-22 Raptor > Fact Sheet". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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