Arikah Map

List of military aircraft of the United States

This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production and operational types. For aircraft currently in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed "Y".

The United States Air Force currently employs a designation and naming system to identify all aircraft type with distinct names. Until 1962, both the Army and Air Force maintained one system, while the United States Navy maintained a separate system. In 1962, these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Army/Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.

List of military aircraft of the United States:A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including the X-31, F-15 S/MTD, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.
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A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including the X-31, F-15 S/MTD, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.

Contents

Airship

Airship, commissioned vessel

This series of four airships (two one-offs and two production Akron-class vessels) were the only airships in American history to be commissioned as ships of the United States Navy.

Airship, Airborne Early Warning, 1952-?

Airship, Patrol , 1947-1962

Airship, Scout, 1954-?

Airship, Training, 1947-?

Unified system, 1962-present

Ambulance

Army Air Service, 1919-1924

Hospital, 1929-1942

Ambulance, 1943

Attack

Army Air Service, 1919-1924

Pursuit, Ground Attack, 1922

Ground Attack, 1920-1922

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force, 1924-1948

Attack, 1946-1962

List of military aircraft of the United States:A-1 Skyraider, United States, 2003
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A-1 Skyraider, United States, 2003

Unified system, 1962-present

List of military aircraft of the United States:USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II
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USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II

Attack helicopters

Modififed Mission Identifier prefix

Fixed wing gunships

Modififed Mission Identifier prefix

List of military aircraft of the United States:P-3 Orion of the US navy
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P-3 Orion of the US navy

Bomber

Army Air Service, before 1919

Army Air Service, 1919-1924

Day Bombardment

Night Bombardment, Long Distance

Night Bombardment, Short Distance

Army Air Corps, 1926-1931

Light Bomber

Medium Bomber

Heavy Bomber

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force, 1926-1962

In 1926, the newly formed Army Air Corps decided to unify all bombers under the B- series. Two already existed in this series, so the series was taken up at the designation B-3.

Beginning with #68, missile and bomber series continued separately. The following missiles, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, therefore never used a B-series designation:

Bomber

Bomber Fighter

Bomber Torpedo

Patrol Bomber

Patrol Torpedo Bomber

Scout Bomber

Torpedo Bomber

Unified system, after 1962

List of military aircraft of the United States:USAF B-2 Spirit
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USAF B-2 Spirit

Cargo/Transport

Army Air Service, 1919-1925

Transport

Army Air Service/Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force 1925-1948

Cargo

*Never officially C-143 - Curtiss-Wright, designated X-19

Helicopter, Transport

Transport, Single Engine

Transport

Utility Transport

Army, 1956-1962

Airplane, Cargo, 1956-1962

Unified system, 1962-present

Cargo

Cargo Helicopter

List of military aircraft of the United States:Army Chinook sling-loads a Howitzer Gun
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Army Chinook sling-loads a Howitzer Gun

Drone

Army Air Forces, 1941-1948

Aerial Target, 1940-1941

Aerial Target (Man Carrying), 1942-1947

Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942-1947

Bomb, Controllable, 1942-1945

Target Control (1942-1947)

Air Force, 1948-1962

Aerial Target, 1948-1962

Drone, 1945-1962

Drone, Antisubmarine, 1959-1962

Target Drone, 1942-1946

Unpiloted Drone, 1946-1955

Unified system, 1962-present

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, 1997-present

Electronic

Modified aircraft, before 1962

Modified aircraft, 1962-present

Airborne Early Warning

Unified system, 1962-present

List of military aircraft of the United States:USAF E-3 Sentry
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USAF E-3 Sentry

Fighter

Army Air Service, 1919-1924

Pursuit, Air-cooled

Pursuit, Ground Attack

Pursuit Night

Pursuit Special/Alert Pursuit

Pursuit Watercooled

Two-seat Pursuit

Army Air Corps, 1924-1941

Fighter, Multiplace

Pursuit, Biplace

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces, 1924-1948

Designated P- for "pursuit" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained. The designation PW- indicates "pursuit, water-cooled engine".

Air Force, from 1948