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 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 US 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.
Attack
Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force
Navy
Unified system, after 1962
Attack helicopters
Fixed wing gunships
Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Bomber
Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force
XB-1 - Huff-Daland (Keystone)
B-2 Condor - Curtiss
B-3 - Keystone
B-4 - Keystone
B-5 - Keystone
B-6 - Keystone
Y1B-7 - Douglas
XB-8 - Fokker
Y1B-9 - Boeing
B-10 - Martin, first mass-produced monoplane bomber
YB-11 - Douglas
B-12 - Martin, B-10 variant, Wright engines
XB-13 proposed B-10 variant, cancelled
XB-14 - Martin, B-10 variant
XB-15 - Boeing
XB-16 proposed by Martin, cancelled before any built
B-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing
B-18 Bolo - Douglas, replacement for B-10
XB-19 - Douglas
Y1B-20 - improved XB-15, cancelled
XB-21 - North American
XB-22 - improved B-18 proposed by Douglas, cancelled
B-23 Dragon - Douglas, replacement for B-18
B-24 Liberator - Consolidated
B-25 Mitchell - North American
B-26 Marauder - Martin
XB-27 - high-altitude B-26 proposed by Martin, cancelled
XB-28 Dragon - North American
B-29 Superfortress - Boeing, replacement for B-17 and B-24
XB-30 - Lockheed proposal
XB-31 - Douglas proposal
Navy
Unified system, after 1962
Cargo/Transport
Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force
Navy
Unified system, after 1962
Cargo Helicopter
US Army Chinook loads a Howitzer Gun
Electronic
Fighter
Navy, from 1922
(alpha by Navy-assigned mfgr letter)
F2A - Brewster
F3A - Brewster version of Corsair
FB - Boeing
F2B-1 - Boeing
F3B Seahawk - Boeing
F4B - Boeing
F5B - naval designation of Boeing XP-15
F6B - Boeing
F7B - Boeing
F8B - Boeing
FC, F2C, F3C paper designation of racers
F4C - Curtiss
F5C skipped
F6C Hawk - Curtiss
F7C Seahawk - Curtiss
F8C Falcon - Curtiss
F8C-2 Helldiver - Curtiss, different from F8C-1 and F8C-3
F9C Sparrowhawk - Curtiss
F10C Helldiver - Curtiss, modified F8C-2
F11C Goshawk - Curtiss Hawk II or Goshawk, redesig BFC
F12C - Curtiss, became SBC
F13C - Curtiss
F14C - Curtiss contra-rotating propellors
F15C - Curtiss jet + turboprop
FD - Douglas
F2D Banshee - Douglas, later redesignated F2H
F3D Skyknight - Douglas
F4D Skyray - Douglas, later F-6
F5D Skylancer - Douglas, semi-operational
F6D Missileer - Douglas
FF Fifi - biplane, first Navy fighter by Grumman
F2F - Grumman
F3F - Grumman
F4F Wildcat - Grumman
XF5F Skyrocket - Grumman twin-engine carrier-based fighter prototype
F6F Hellcat - Grumman
F7F Tigercat - Grumman
F8F Bearcat - Grumman
F9F Cougar - (Panther variant) Grumman
F9F Panther - Grumman
XF10F Jaguar - Grumman variable-wing prototype
F11F Tiger - Grumman, first supersonic aircraft in Navy
F12F - Grumman, proposed all-weather interceptor
Eberhart FG, F2G
FG - Goodyear version of Corsair with fixed wings
Goodyear F2G - proposed low-altitude Corsair
Hall FH
FH Phantom - McDonnell
F2H Banshee - McDonnell, later F-2
F3H Demon - McDonnell, later F-3
F4H Phantom II - McDonnell, later F-4
FJ - Berliner-Joyce
F2J - Berliner-Joyce, P-16 in AAC
FJ Fury - North American
FL - Loening
FL Airabonita - Bell, USN version of P-39
F2L Kingcobra - Bell, USN version of P-63
FM - General Motors version of Wildcat
FM Wildcat - General Motors built version of F4F
F2M Wildcat - General Motors built version of F4F, different engine to FM
F3M - General Motors built version of F8F
Seversky FN
FO Lightning - Lockheed, USN version of P-38
FR Fireball - Ryan
XF2R Dark Shark - Ryan
FT - Northrop, USN A-17 derived design
F2T Black Widow - Northrop, USN trainer version of P-61
FU, F2U, F3U
F4U Corsair - Chance Vought
XF5U - Chance Vought's "flying pancake", built but never flown
F6U Pirate - Chance Vought
F7U Cutlass - Chance Vought
F8U Crusader - Chance Vought
Lockheed FV
F2W - Wright
F3W Apache - Wright
FY Pogo - Convair
F2Y Sea Dart - Convair
Air Force, pre-1948
(designated P- for 'Pursuit')
Air Force, from 1948
Unified system, from 1962
Tanker
KA-2 Savage - North American
KA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
KA-6 Intruder - Grumman
KB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
KB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
KB-50 Superfortress - Boeing
KC-10 Extender - McDonnell-Douglas
KC-97 Stratotanker - Boeing
KC-124 Globemaster II - Douglas
KC-130 Hercules - Lockheed
KC-135 Stratotanker - Boeing
Observation
O-1 - Curtiss Falcon
O-2 - Douglas
O-31/O-43/O-46 - Douglas
O-47 - North American
OS2U Kingfisher - Vought
OH-6A Cayuse
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".
PW-8 - Curtiss
PW-9 - Boeing, FB in navy
P-1 Hawk - Curtiss, derived from PW-8; US Navy designation was F6C
P-2 Hawk - Curtiss
P-3 Hawk - Curtiss
P-4 - Boeing
P-5 Superhawk - Curtiss
P-6 Hawk - Curtiss, derived from P-1
XP-7 - Boeing
XP-8 - Boeing
XP-9 - Boeing
XP-10 - Curtiss
P-11 Hawk - Curtiss
P-12 - Boeing, F4B in Navy
XP-13
XP-14 - Curtiss
XP-15 - Boeing
P-16 - Berliner-Joyce, F2J to Navy
XP-17 - Curtiss
XP-18 - Curtiss
XP-19 - Curtiss
YP-20 - Curtiss, derived from P-6
XP-21 - Curtiss
XP-22 - derived from P-6
XP-23 - Curtiss
YP-24 - Lockheed
Y1P-25 - Consolidated
P-26 - Boeing "Peashooter" monoplane
XP-27 - Consolidated
XP-28 - Consolidated
F7B - Boeing, modified F7B
P-30 - Consolidated, aka PB-2A
XP-31 - Curtiss
XP-32 - Boeing
XP-33 - Consolidated
XP-34 - Wedell-Williams
P-35 - Seversky
P-36 - Curtiss Model 75A, radial engine
YP-37 - Curtiss Model 75I, in-line engine
P-38 Lightning - Lockheed, twin-engine twin-boom
P-39 Airacobra - Bell, engine mounted behind pilot
P-40 - Curtiss, Tomahawk (P-40A to P-40C), Kittyhawk (P-40D to P-40M), Warhawk (P-40N to P-40Q)
XP-41 - Seversky, derived from Seversky P-35
XP-42 - Curtiss P-36 with experimental engine cowlings
P-43 Lancer - Republic, derived from XP-41
P-44 Rocket - cancelled
P-45 designation changed to P-39C
XP-46 - Curtiss
P-47 Thunderbolt - Republic
XP-48 - Douglas
XP-49 - Lockheed, derived from P-38
XP-50 - Grumman, derived from US Navy XF5F
P-51 Mustang - North American, originally for export to Britain
XP-52 - Bell, twin-boom pusher configuration, never built
XP-53 - Curtiss P-40 with laminar-flow wing, cancelled during construction
XP-54 - Vultee, twin-boom pusher configuration
XP-55 Ascender - Curtiss, flying-wing configuration with pusher engine
XP-56 - Northrop, tail-less with pusher engine, magnesium construction
XP-57 - Tucker , cancelled before construction
XP-58 - Lockheed, another twin-engine, twin-boom
P-59 Airacomet - Bell, 1st American aircraft powered by jet engine
YP-60 - Curtiss
P-61 Black Widow - Northrop
XP-62 - Curtiss
P-63 Kingcobra - Bell, engine again mounted behind pilot
P-64 - North American, intended for export, but used by USAAF as fighter trainer
XP-65 - Grumman, derived from XP-50
P-66 Vanguard - Vultee, intended for export, but used by USAAF as fighter trainer
XP-67 - McDonnell
XP-68 - Vultee
XP-69 - Republic
P-70 Havoc - Douglas, "Havoc" night-fighter derived from A-20
XP-71 - Curtiss
XP-72 - Republic
XP-73 - mysterious Hughes project
P-74 skipped
P-75 Eagle - Fisher division of General Motors
XP-76 - Bell
XP-77 - Bell, lightweight fighter of wooden construction
XP-78 - North American, changed to XP-51B during construction
XP-79 , Northrop
P-80/F-80 Shooting Star - Lockheed, turbo-jet engine
Convair XP-81 - Convair, turbo-prop + turbo-jet engines
P-82/F-82 Twin Mustang - North American
XP-83 - Bell, two jet engines
Drone
Reconnaissance
RA-2 Savage
RA-3 Skywarrior
RA-5 Vigilante - North American
RB-17 Flying Fortress
RB-26 Invader
RB-29 Superfortress
RB-36 Peacemaker
RB-45 Tornado
RB-47 Stratojet
RB-52 Stratofortress
RB-57 Canberra
RB-58 Hustler
RB-66 Destroyer
RB-69 Neptune
RC-7 Caribou
RC-12 Guard Rail - Beech Aircraft
RC-45 Expeditor
RC-47 Skytrain
RC-54 Skymaster
RC-121 Warning Star
RC-130 Hercules
RC-131 Samaritan
RC-135 Rivet Joint - Boeing
RF-4 Phantom II - McDonnell-Douglas
RF-5 Tigereye
RF-8 Crusader - Chance Vought
RF-9 Cougar
RF-51 Mustang
RF-61 Reporter
RF-80 Shooting Star
RF-84 Thunderflash
RF-86 Sabre
RF-87 Blackhawk
RF-100 Super Sabre
RF-101 Voodoo
RF-104 Starfighter
RF-105 Thunderchief
SR-71 Blackbird - Lockheed
U-2 - Lockheed
Trainer
Utility
Vertical Take off and Landing
Experimental
Main article: X-plane
X-1 - Bell, first supersonic aircraft
X-2 - Bell
X-3 Stiletto - Douglas
X-4 Bantam - Northrop
X-5 - Bell swing-wing
X-6 - Convair
X-7 - Lockheed missile propulsion testbed
X-8 - Aerojet General missile
X-9 Shrike - Bell missile
X-10 - North American missile
X-11 - Convair ICBM prototype
X-12 - Convair ICBM
X-13 - Ryan VATOL
X-14 - Bell VTOL
X-15 - North American rocket plane
X-16 - Bell, cancelled U-2 competitor
X-17 - Lockheed experimental rocket
X-18 - Hiller tilt-wing
X-19 - Curtiss-Wright
X-20 Dyna-Soar - Boeing
X-21 - Northrop
X-22 - Bell
X-23 - Martin Marietta
X-24 - Martin Marietta lifting body
X-25 - Bensen
X-26 Frigate - Schweizer
X-27 - Lockheed
X-28 Sea Skimmer - Pereira
X-29 - Grumman forward-swept wing jet
X-30 - Hypersonic jet or "Orient Express"
X-31 - Rockwell/MBB Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator
X-32 - Boeing Joint Strike Fighter candidate
X-33 - Lockheed Martin
X-34 - Orbital Sciences
X-35 - Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter winner
X-36 - McDonnell Douglas
X-37 Future-X - Boeing
X-38 - Scaled Composites crew return vehicle
X-39 - unused designation reserved for Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements program
X-40 - Boeing
X-41 - classified re-entry vehicle
X-42 - classified upper stage rocket
X-43 - Boeing with others, scramjet-powered
X-44 MANTA - Lockheed Martin
X-45 - Boeing UCAV (unpiloted)
X-46 - Boeing
X-47 Pegasus - Northrop Grumman
X-48 - Boeing
X-49 - Sikorsky Piasecki
X-50 - Boeing
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