The Fighter Jets That Have Defended America’s Skies, Past and Present

Some of the fighter jets that are key to the U.S. Air Force fleet include the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-22 Raptor. These jets are multi-role fighters with maneuverability and the latest technology. Throughout history, there have been many fighter jets developed in the U.S. to defend America’s skies. The list below begins in 1938 when the Curtiss P-36 Hawk was first introduced. (Also check out the newest combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.)

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of U.S. Aircraft from a Military Factory to determine every central fighter plane to have ever been in service for the U.S. military. To help tell the story, they have been ordered chronologically by the year the USAAF introduced them into service. We added supplemental information from Military Factory including the type of aircraft, manufacturer, total aircraft produced, and top speed. This list does not include lesser-known aircraft or those with smaller production runs.

Why Are We Talking about Fighter Planes of the U.S. Air Force?

The U.S. Air Force is an arm of the Department of Defense, whose job is to protect our citizens but which also happens to be the largest employer in the United States. Not only does it keep Americans working, but it is also an innovator of technology. Technology is how we stay ahead on the world’s stage and protect and defend our borders. Fighter planes have been a pivotal instrument in protecting us since World War II, and understanding the development of this tool/weapon is another way to understand better how our country defends itself.

Here is a look at every significant fighter plane in the U.S. military, past and present:

40. Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk)

• Year introduced: 1938
• Type: Monoplane fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane Company
• Total aircraft produced: 1,115
• Top speed: 322 mph

39. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)

• Year introduced: 1939
• Type: Monoplane fighter
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 509
• Top speed: 321 mph

38. Lockheed P-38 Lightning

• Year introduced: 1939
• Type: Heavy fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 9,923
• Top speed: 414 mph

37. Grumman F4F Wildcat

• Year introduced: 1940
• Type: Carrierborne monoplane fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 7,722
• Top speed: 332 mph

36. Bell P-39 Airacobra

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 9588
• Top speed: 386 mph

35. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 16,800
• Top speed: 378 mph

34. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Night-fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Total aircraft produced: 7,478
• Top speed: 339 mph

33. North American P-51 Mustang

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 15,586
• Top speed: 437 mph

32. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 15,660
• Top speed: 433 mph

31. Vought F4U Corsair

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Vought
• Total aircraft produced: 12,571
• Top speed: 446 mph

30. Bell P-63 Kingcobra

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 3,303
• Top speed: 410 mph

29. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Carrierborne single-engine fighter
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 600
• Top speed: 416 mph

28. Grumman F6F Hellcat

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 12,272
• Top speed: 380 mph

27. Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Night fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Northrop
• Total aircraft produced: 742
• Top speed: 366 mph

26. Grumman F8F Bearcat

• Year introduced: 1945
• Type: Carrierborne fighter / interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,266
• Top speed: 421 mph

25. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star

• Year introduced: 1945
• Type: Jet-powered fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 1,715
• Top speed: 577 mph

24. Grumman F9F Panther

• Year introduced: 1949
• Type: Carrierborne fighter
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,382
• Top speed: 545 mph

23. Lockheed F-94 Starfire

• Year introduced: 1950
• Type: All-weather interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 853
• Top speed: 585 mph

22. Grumman F9F Cougar

• Year introduced: 1952
• Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,392
• Top speed: 647 mph

21. F-100 Super Saber

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Tactical reconnaissance / bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,294
• Top speed: 864 mph

20. North American F-100 Super Sabre

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,294
• Top speed: 864 mph

19. North American FJ-2 / FJ-3 Fury

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 741
• Top speed: 676 mph

18. CONVAIR F-102 Delta Dagger

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 825 mph

17. Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Light attack carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 2,960
• Top speed: 645 mph

16. F-102 Delta Dagger

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 825 mph

15. F-101 Voodoo

• Year introduced: 1957
• Type: Twin-engine interceptor
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 885
• Top speed: 1,134 mph

14. Vought F-8 Crusader

• Year introduced: 1957
• Type: Carrierborne naval fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Vought
• Total aircraft produced: 1,219
• Top speed: 1,118 mph

13. F-104 Starfighter

• Year introduced: 1958
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,578
• Top speed: 1,320 mph

12. F-106 Delta Dart

• Year introduced: 1959
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 350
• Top speed: 1,487 mph

11. F-4 Phantom II

• Year introduced: 1960
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 5,195
• Top speed: 1,473 mph

10. F-111 Aardvark

• Year introduced: 1967
• Type: Long-range strategic medium bomber / Tactical strike aircraft
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics
• Total aircraft produced: 554
• Top speed: 1,650 mph

9. Grumman F-14 Tomcat

• Year introduced: 1974
• Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 712
• Top speed: 1,544 mph

8. F-15 Eagle

• Year introduced: 1976
• Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 1,500
• Top speed: 1,875 mph

7. F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Year introduced: 1978
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
• Total aircraft produced: 4,604
• Top speed: 1,317 mph

6. F/A-18 Hornet

• Year introduced: 1983
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
• Total aircraft produced: 1,480
• Top speed: 1,190 mph

5. AV-8B Harrier II

• Year introduced: 1985
• Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAe Systems
• Total aircraft produced: 500
• Top speed: 665 mph

4. F-15E Strike Eagle

• Year introduced: 1988
• Type: Strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 420
• Top speed: 1,653 mph

3. F/A-18 Super Hornet

• Year introduced: 1999
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 615
• Top speed: 1,187 mph

2. F-22 Raptor

• Year introduced: 2005
• Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
• Total aircraft produced: 195
• Top speed: 1,599 mph

1. F-35 Lightning II

• Year introduced: 2016
• Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems
• Total aircraft produced: 785
• Top speed: 1,199 mph

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