Aircraft are chosen for all sorts of reasons when it comes to military applications. Not every mission flown needs a state-of-the-art fighter jet bristling with missiles and ordnance. Sometimes, reconnaissance and logistics can be handled by fairly basic aircraft. Today, we’re looking at the most popular military aircraft in the world.
Are All Military Planes Armed?
No, and that comes down mostly to logistics and mission intent. Military planes fit all sorts of roles, and not all of that comes down to combat. Some are just intended for reconnaissance, which can be done with a basic propeller-driven plane.
Do Militaries Use Civilian Planes?
Certainly, and it isn’t hard to see why. A civilian Cessna is cheap, easy to service, and robust to operate. As such, it makes perfect sense why militaries are using civilian planes for certain missions.
22. AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
- Number produced: 13,000
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 2003
- Notably used during: War in Afghanistan
- Crew size: 0
- Max speed: 35 mph
- Roles: Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, special forces, unmanned capability
21. Hawker Hurricane
- Number produced: 14,583
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Year entered service: 1937
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 318 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter
20. Boeing 737
- Number produced: 14,725
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1968
- Notably used during: Global War on Terrorism
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 544 mph
- Roles: Military transport, commercial aviation
19. WACO Hadrian (CG-4)
- Number produced: 14,972
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1942
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 149 mph
- Roles: Military transport
18. Junkers Ju 88
- Number produced: 15,183
- Country of origin: Nazi Germany
- Year entered service: 1939
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 4
- Max speed: 317 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air support, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, anti-ship, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
17. North American T-6 Texan
- Number produced: 15,495
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1936
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 209 mph
- Roles: Close-air support, training
16. North American P-51 Mustang
- Number produced: 15,586
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1942
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 437 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training
14. Douglas DC-3
- Number produced: 16,079
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1936
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 0
- Max speed: 237 mph
- Roles: Military transport, commercial aviation
13. Yakovlev Yak-9 (Frank)
- Number produced: 16,769
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Year entered service: 1943
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 434 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
12. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
- Number produced: 16,800
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1941
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 378 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
11. Beechcraft Bonanza
- Number produced: 17,000
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1947
- Notably used during: Vietnam War
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 203 mph
- Roles: Transport, commercial aviation, VIP service, training
10. Antonov An-2 (Colt)
- Number produced: 18,000
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Year entered service: 1947
- Notably used during: Korean War
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 160 mph
- Roles: Close-air support, Maritime / Navy, transport, commercial aviation, VIP service, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training
9. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (Fagot)
- Number produced: 18,000
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Year entered service: 1949
- Notably used during: Korean War
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 668 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support, ground attack (bombing, strafing), training
8. Consolidated B-24 Liberator
- Number produced: 18,482
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1941
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 0
- Max speed: 290 mph
- Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), anti-submarine warfare, transport, VIP service, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
7. Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (Wurger)
- Number produced: 20,000
- Country of origin: Nazi Germany
- Year entered service: 1941
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 426 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing, training
6. Supermarine Spitfire
- Number produced: 20,351
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Year entered service: 1938
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 369 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
5. Cessna 182 (Skylane)
- Number produced: 23,240
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1956
- Notably used during: Vietnam War
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 174 mph
- Roles: Close-air support, MEDEVAC, search & rescue, commercial aviation, training
4. Messerschmitt Bf 109
- Number produced: 35,500
- Country of origin: Nazi Germany
- Year entered service: 1937
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 359 mph
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
3. Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik (Bark)
- Number produced: 36,183
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Year entered service: 1941
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 258 mph
- Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support
2. Polikarpov Po-2 (Mule)
- Number produced: 40,200
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Year entered service: 1929
- Notably used during: World War II
- Crew size: 2
- Max speed: 94 mph
- Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, MEDEVAC, search & rescue, Maritime / Navy, commercial aviation, VIP service, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training
1. Cessna 172 (Skyhawk)
- Number produced: 44,000
- Country of origin: United States
- Year entered service: 1956
- Notably used during: Vietnam War
- Crew size: 1
- Max speed: 186 mph
- Roles: MEDEVAC, search & rescue, Maritime / Navy, transport, commercial aviation, VIP service, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training
The image featured at the top of this post is ©User Rlandmann on en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
