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Amilitary aircraft is anyfixed-wing orrotary-wingaircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionarymilitary of any type.[1] Some military aircraft engage directly inaerial warfare, while others take on support roles:
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In 1783, when the first practical aircraft (hot-air and hydrogen balloons) were established, they were quickly adopted for military duties.[2] The first military balloon unit was theFrench Aerostatic Corps, who in 1794 flew anobservation balloon during theBattle of Fleurus, the first major battle to feature aerial observation.[3] Balloons continued to be used throughout the 19th century, including in theNapoleonic Wars and theFranco-Prussian War, for observation andpropaganda distribution.[4] DuringWorld War I, GermanZeppelinairships carried out multipleair raids on British cities, as well as being used for observation.[4] In the 1920s, theU.S. Navy acquired severalnon-rigid airships, the first one to see service being theK-1 in 1931. Use by the U.S. as well as other countries continued intoWorld War II. The U.S. Navy retired its last balloons in 1963.[5] Only a handful of lighter-than-air military aircraft were used since, such as theAmerican Blimp MZ-3, used forresearch and development by the U.S. Navy from 2006 to 2017.
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Soon after the first flight of theWright Flyer, several militaries became interested in powered aircraft. In 1909 theUnited States Army purchased theWright Military Flyer, a two-seat observation aircraft, for theAeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps. It served until 1911, by which time powered aircraft had become an important feature in several armies around the world.[6] Airplanes performedaerial reconnaissance andtactical bombing missions in theItalo-Turkish war, and theFirst Balkan War saw the first naval-air operations. Photoreconnaissance andpropaganda leaflet drops followed in theSecond Balkan War.
Air combat was a notable component of World War I, as fighter aircraft were developed during the war, long-range strategic bombing became a possibility,[7] and airplanes were deployed fromaircraft carriers. Airplanes also took on a greater variety of support roles, notablymedical evacuation, and deployed new weapons likeair-to-air rockets for use against reconnaissance balloons.[8] Aviation technology advanced rapidly in the interwar period, and military aircraft became increasingly capable.Autogyros andhelicopters were also developed at this time.[citation needed] During World War II, military aviation reached new heights. Decisive air battles influenced the outcome of the war, early jet aircraft flew combat missions,cruise missiles andballistic missiles were deployed for the first time, airborne troops and cargo parachuted into battle, and thenuclear weapons that ended the war were delivered by air.
In theCold War era, aviation technology continued to advance at an extremely rapid pace. Jet aircraft exceededMach 1 and Mach 2, armament focus switched mainly to missiles, aircraft began carrying more sophisticated avionics,air-to-air refueling matured into practicality, and transport aircraft grew in size.Stealth aircraft entered development during the 1970s and saw combat in the 1980s.
Combat aircraft, or "warplanes", are divided broadly intofighters,bombers,attackers,electronic warfare,maritime,multirole, andunmanned aircraft. Variations exist between them, includingfighter-bombers, such as theMiG-23ground-attack aircraft and the SovietIlyushin Il-2. Also included among combat aircraft are long-rangemaritime patrol aircraft, such as theHawker Siddeley Nimrod and theS-3 Viking that are often equipped to attack withanti-ship missiles andanti-submarine weapons.
The primary role of fighters is destroying enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat, as part of both offensive and defensive counter air operations. Many fighters also possess a degree of ground attack capability, allowing them to perform surface attack and close air support missions. In addition to their counter air duties they are tasked to perform escort mission for bombers or other aircraft. Fighters are capable of carrying a variety of weapons, including machine guns, autocannons,rockets, guided missiles, andbombs. Many modern fighters can attack enemy fighters from a great distance, before the enemy even sees or detects them. Examples of such fighters include theF-35 Lightning II,F-22 Raptor,F-15 Eagle, andSu-27.
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Bombers are normally larger, heavier, and less maneuverable than fighter aircraft. They are capable of carrying large payloads of bombs, torpedoes or cruise missiles. Bombers are used almost exclusively for ground attacks and are not fast or agile enough to take on enemy fighters head-to-head. Some have a single engine and require one pilot to operate, while others have two or more engines and require crews of two or more. A limited number of bombers, such as theB-2 Spirit, havestealth capabilities that keep them from being detected by enemy radar. An example of a conventional modern bomber would be theB-52 Stratofortress. An example of a World War II bomber would be aB-17 Flying Fortress. An example of a World War I bomber would be aHandley Page O/400. Bombers includelight bombers,medium bombers,heavy bombers,dive bombers, andtorpedo bombers.
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Attack aircraft can be used to provide support for friendly ground troops. Some are able to carry conventional ornuclear weapons far behind enemy lines to strike priority ground targets.Attack helicoptersattack enemy armor and provideclose air support for ground troops. An example of a historical ground-attack aircraft is the SovietIlyushin Il-2. Several types of transport airplanes have been armed with sideways firing weapons asgunships for ground attack. These include theAC-47 andAC-130 gunships.
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An electronic warfare aircraft is a military aircraft equipped forelectronic warfare, i.e. degrading the effectiveness of enemy radar and radio systems. They are generally modified versions of other preexisting aircraft. A recent example would be theEA-18G Growler, which is a modified version of theF/A-18F Super Hornet.[9]
A maritime patrol aircraft is a fixed-wing military aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles—in particularanti-submarine,anti-ship, andsearch and rescue. Some patrol aircraft were designed for this purpose, like theKawasaki P-1.[10] Many others are modified designs of pre-existing aircraft, such as theBoeing P-8 Poseidon, which is based on theBoeing 737-800 airliner.[11] While the term maritime patrol aircraft generally refers to fixed wing aircraft, other aircraft types, such as blimps and helicopters, have also been used in the same roles.
Many combat aircraft in the modern day have multirole capabilities. Normally only applied to fixed-wing aircraft, the term signifies the ability to transition between air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, sometimes even during the same mission. An example of a multirole design is theF-15E Strike Eagle,Eurofighter Typhoon,the Rafale Dassault andPanavia Tornado. A World War II example would be theP-38 Lightning.[12] Autility helicopter could also count as a multirole aircraft and can fill roles such asclose-air support,air assault,military logistics,CASEVAC,medical evacuation,command and control, andtroop transport.[13]
Unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) have no crew, but are controlled by a remote operator. They may have varying degrees ofautonomy. UCAVs are often armed withbombs,air-to-surface missiles, or otheraircraft ordinance. Their uses typically includetargeted killings,precision airstrikes, andair interdictions, as well as other forms ofdrone warfare.
Non-combat roles of military aircraft includesearch and rescue,reconnaissance,observation/surveillance,Airborne Early Warning and Control,transport,training, andaerial refueling.
Many civil aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary wing, have been produced in separate models for military use, such as the civilianDouglas DC-3 airliner, which became the militaryC-47 Skytrain, and British "Dakota" transport planes, and decades later, the USAF'sAC-47 Spooky gunships. Even the fabric-covered two-seatPiper J-3 Cub had a military version.Gliders andballoons have also been used as military aircraft; for example, balloons were used for observation during theAmerican Civil War and duringWorld War I, andmilitary gliders were used duringWorld War II to deliver ground troops inairborne assaults.
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Military transport (logistics) aircraft are primarily used to transport troops and war supplies. Cargo can be attached to pallets, which are easily loaded, secured for flight, and quickly unloaded for delivery. Cargo also may be discharged from flying aircraft onparachutes, eliminating the need for landing. Also included in this category areaerial tankers; these planes can refuel other aircraft whilein flight. An example of a transport aircraft is theC-17 Globemaster III. A World War II example would be theC-47. An example of a tanker craft would be theKC-135 Stratotanker.Transport helicopters andgliders can transport troops and supplies to areas where other aircraft would be unable to land.Calling a military transport aircraft a "cargo plane" is inaccurate, because military transport planes are able to carryparatroopers and other personnel.
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft, ships and ground vehicles at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes. AEW&C units are also used to carry out surveillance, including over ground targets and frequently perform C2BM (command and control, battle management) functions similar to an Airport Traffic Controller given military command over other forces. Used at a high altitude, the radars on the aircraft allow the operators to distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft hundreds of miles away.
AEW&C aircraft are used for both defensive and offensive air operations, and are to the NATO and American trained or integrated air forces what thecombat information center is to anaval vessel, plus a highly mobile and powerful radar platform. The system is used offensively to direct fighters to their target locations, and defensively in order to counterattacks by enemy forces, both air and ground. So useful is the advantage of command and control from a high altitude, the United States Navy operates AEW&C aircraft off its Supercarriers to augment and protect its carriercombat information center (CICs).
AEW&C is also known by the older terms "airborne early warning" (AEW) and "airborne warning and control system" (AWACS, /ˈeɪwæks/ ay-waks) although AWACS is the name ofa specific system currently used by NATO and the USAF and is often used in error to describe similar systems.
Reconnaissance aircraft are primarily used to gather intelligence. They are equipped with cameras and other sensors. These aircraft may be specially designed or may be modified from a basic fighter or bomber type. This role is increasingly being filled bymilitary satellites andunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Surveillance and observation aircraft use radar and other sensors for battlefield surveillance,airspace surveillance,maritime patrol, andartillery spotting. They include modified civil aircraft designs, moored balloons and UAVs.
Experimental aircraft are designed in order to test advanced aerodynamic, structural, avionic, or propulsion concepts. These are usually well instrumented, with performance data telemetered on radio-frequency data links to ground stations located at the test ranges where they are flown. An example of an experimental aircraft is theBristol 188.
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