Military aircraft

Military aircraft
Various military aircraft; Top left to right:
1. Dassault Rafale (multirole fighter)
2. Mikoyan MiG-29 (fighter)
3. Boeing P-8 (maritime patrol)
4. Boeing C-17 (strategic airlifter)
5. Elbit Hermes 900 (UAV)
6. Boeing B-52 (bomber)

A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary military of any type. Some military aircraft engage directly in aerial warfare, while others take on support roles:

  • Combat aircraft, such as fighters and bombers, are designed to destroy enemy equipment or personnel using their own ordnance. Combat aircraft are typically developed and procured only by military forces.
  • Non-combat aircraft, such as transports and tankers, are not designed for combat as their primary function but may carry weapons for self-defense. These mainly operate in support roles, and may be developed by either military forces or civilian organizations.
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