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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
Related Links
| Active military aircraft of the United States | 
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