List of United States fighter aircraft

This is a list of fighter aircraft used by the United States.

This includes those of the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, 1924–1962 Air Force, pre-1962 Navy, and undesignated military aircraft.

Army + This list includes aircraft operated by the United States Army, Army Signal Corps, and American Expeditionary Forces.NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of first flightIntroductionNumber builtVE-8Lewis & Vought CorporationFour ordered by the U.S. Army on October 11, 1918; two were canceledUnknownUnknown2VE-9Lewis & Vought Corporation2 converted from VE-7 for U.S. Army; 22 built for the U.S. Army, 17 built for the U.S. Navy.UnknownUnknown24 (US Army) 17 (USN)Heinrich PursuitFighterVictor Aircraft CorporationThe only known aircraft designed by Albert S. Heinrich.1917Never4PG-1Pursuit and ground attack aircraftAeromarineDeveloped for and by the army; likely the firm's last place1922Never3XP-4Prototype fighterBoeing1927Never1XP-9Experimental fighterBoeingFirst monoplane fighter produced by Boeing.1930Never1

Air Force + This list includes aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and its predecessors: the United States Army Air Service (USAAS); the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC); and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of first flightIntroductionNumber builtVE-7 "Bluebird"Fighter/trainerLewis & Vought CorporationFirst United States Navy fighter aircraft. Used as a racer and trainer. In 1922, a VE-7 became the first airplane to take off from an American aircraft carrier.1917Unknown128E-1Military trainer/early fighterStandard Aircraft Corporation1917Never168M-8Monoplane fighterLoening Aeronautical Engineering1918Never55Orenco BFighterOrenco1918UnknownUnknownMB-1FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft1918Never1MB-2FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft1918Never2LUSAC-11/21FighterEngineering Division/PackardBroke the world altitude record in 1920 and 19211918Unknown30TP-1Biplane fighterEngineering DivisionUnknownNever2MB-3FighterThomas-Morse Aircraft  & Boeing19191919265VCP/PW-1USAAS pursuit prototypeEngineering Division1920Never2PW-2Monoplane fighterLoening Aeronautical Engineering1920Never7P-6 HawkFighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnknown192770P-11Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyThree ordered with the Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain engine, two were completed with the V-1570 and redesignated P-6DUnknownUnknown3?XP-17 HawkExperimentalCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyTestbed for experimental Wright V-1470 engine.UnknownNeverUnknownXP-21ExperimentalXP-23 Hawk (Model 63)Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyUnfinished P-6E with light alloy monocoque fuselage, improved tail, and a turbocharged G1V-1570C with a geared propeller and the turbocharger removed. Later redesignated YP-23.NeverNever0PA-1FighterLoening Aeronautical Engineering1922Never1XPS-1Fighter interceptorDayton-Wright Airplane Company1923Never3P-4 (PW-9)Pursuit fighter (PW-9)BoeingConflicting designation with PW-8 (XP-4).19231923158P-1 (PW-8)FighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company19231923202P-2 HawkCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyEngine refit of the P-1UnknownUnknown5XP-3/XP-3ACurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyRadial-engined version, converted from a P-1A Curtiss, R-1454 engine, later converted to XP-3A.

XP-3A

XP-3 re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-1.UnknownUnknown1?XP-4 HawkCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyP-1A modified with a Packard 1A-1530.UnknownUnknown1?P-5 SuperhawkModified P-1A5 (1 Prototype)XP-10Biplane fighterCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor CompanyRejected due to performance issues and problems with the cooling systems. Retired 1928UnknownUnknown1XP-13 ViperPrototype biplane fighterThomas-Morse1929XP-7Experimental fighterBoeing1928Never1XP-8Experimental fighterBoeing1928Never1P-12/F4BBiplane fighterBoeing19281930586XP-15 / XF5B-1Prototype monoplane fighterBoeingEssentially a monoplane version of the Boeing P-12, differing in having the lower wing omitted and in having all-metal construction as well as altered ailerons. The XP-15 had a split-axle undercarriage and a tail wheel.1930Never2P-16Two-seat fighterBerliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation1930193226YP-20Biplane fighterCurtissNeverNever1YP-24Two-seat fighterDetroit LockheedFirst fighter to bear Lockheed's name.1931Never1Y1P-25Consolidated AircraftFurther development of Lockheed YP-24 with all-metal wing and Curtiss V-1570-27 Conqueror engine.UnknownNever1P-26 PeashooterFighterBoeingFirst American produced all-metal fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane to enter squadron service with the United States Army Air Corps.1932Unknown151XP-31 SwiftExperimental monoplane fighterCurtissDespite its innovations, the XP-31 did not offer any advantages compared to its rival the Boeing P-26 Peashooter.1932Never1P-29FighterAttempt to produce a more advanced version of the P-26. Although slight gains were made in performance, the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy did not order the aircraft.1934Never4P-30 (PB-2)FighterConsolidated Aircraft1934Never60P-35FighterSeversky19351937196AP-1SeverskyP-35 with a Pratt & Whitney R1830 engine.1AP-2SeverskyFrom SEV-1-XPAP-9SeverskyFighter trials aircraft developed in parallel to the AP-7P-36 HawkCurtiss-Wright19351938215 + 900 export variants.XPB-3/XFM-2Heavy fighter/bomber destroyerLockheed CorporationCancelled in 1936NeverNever0V-141 / V-143FighterVought1936Never1YFM-1 AiracudaInterceptorBell AircraftFirst military aircraft produced by Bell.1937194013YP-37Curtiss-Wright1937Never14P-39 AiracobraFighterBellThe P-39 was used by the Soviet Air Force, enabling individual Soviet pilots to collect the highest number of kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type flown by any air force in any conflict.193819419,558P-40 WarhawkFighterCurtiss-WrightThe P-40 design was a further development of the P-36 Hawk.1938193913,738P-38 Lightning Fighter Fighter-bomber Aerial reconnaissanceLockheed CorporationIncorporated a twin-boom design.1939194110,037XP-41FighterSeversky Aircraft1939Never1P-66 VanguardFighterVultee Aircraft19391941146P-64FighterNorth American AviationSeries of fighters.1939/1940Never13P-51 MustangFighterNorth American AviationUsed largely in WWII.1940194215,000+P-43 LancerFighterRepublic AviationA proposed development was the P-44 Rocket.19401941272P-44 RocketFighterRepublic AviationProposed P-43 version with Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 engineNeverNever0XP-46FighterCurtiss-Wright1941Never2P-47 ThunderboltFighter-bomberRepublic AviationLargest single-engine fighter airplane built and flown by any nation during World War II. Features a massive air cooled engine.1941194215,636XP-48FighterDouglas Aircraft CompanyCancelled in 1940NeverNever0XP-50Heavy fighter/InterceptorGrummanDeveloped from the XF5F-1. Entered into a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) contest for a twin-engine heavy interceptor aircraft. The USAAC placed an order for a prototype on 25 November 1939, designating it XP-50, but it lost the competition to the Lockheed XP-49.1941Never1XP-60FighterCurtiss-WrightDeveloped as a successor to the P-40. All production models were ultimately canceled.1941Never5XA-26ANight fighterDouglas Aircraft CompanyA-26 serial no. 41-19505 serving as a prototype night fighter with a crew of two – pilot plus radar-operator/gunner1942Never1XP-49FighterLockheed CorporationDeveloped from the P-38 Lightning in response to U.S. Army Air Corps proposal 39-7751942Never1XP-53FighterCurtiss Model 88; derivative of XP-46; cancelled in favor of XP-60 in November 1941. Two built, one converted to the XP-60, the other used as a static test airframe.UnknownUnknown1P-70 HavocNight fighterDouglas Aircraft CompanyIn October 1940, the USAAC felt a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers. As a result, 60 A-20s were converted to P-70 night fightersUnknown194260P-59 AiracometFighterBell AircraftFirst jet produced in the United States.1942Unknown66P-61 Black WidowNight fighterNorthropFirst American specifically designed as a night interceptor.19421944706XP-62InterceptorCurtiss-Wright1943Never1XP-54FighterVultee AircraftFor U.S. Army Air Corps request R40C.1943Never2XP-55 AscenderFighterCurtiss-WrightUsed an unconventional pusher configuration. For U.S. Army Air Corps request R40C.1943Never3XP-57FighterTucker Aviation CorporationNeverNever0XP-71 Heavy fighter Escort fighter Bomber-destroyer/interceptorCurtiss-WrightCancelled in 1943NeverNever0P-75 EagleHeavy fighterFisher Body Division of General Motors1943Never14P-73/D-2Fighter-bomberHughes Aircraft1943Never1XF8BFighterBoeing1944Never3XP-67 Bat/MoonbatInterceptorMcDonnell Aircraft1944Never1XP-77Experimental fighterBell AircraftDid not meet its projected performance.1944Never2P-80 (F-80) Shooting StarJet fighterLockheed CorporationAmerica's first successful turbojet-powered fighter.194419451,715XP-79InterceptorNorthrop CorporationUSAAF project number MX-365. A rocket/jet-powered flying wing1945Never1XP-81Escort fighterConsolidated Vultee Aircraft CorporationDesigned to combine the use of a turbojet and a turboprop.1945Never2F-82/P-82 Twin Mustang Long-range escort fighter Night fighter All-weather interceptorNorth American AviationLast American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force.19451946272/273XP-83Escort fighterBellIt was quickly outclassed due to the nature of post-WWII aviation developing rapidly.1945Never2F-84 ThunderjetFighter-bomberRepublic AviationInitially sent to escort B-29s on long-range missions over North Korea, it excelled as a close air support and daytime interdiction strike aircraft. First USAF jet fighter able to carry a tactical atomic weapon.194619477,524F-86 SabreFighter aircraftNorth American AviationUsed extensively during the Korean War. Built for a 1944 request for a single-seat high-altitude fighter. Derived from the FJ Fury.194719496,353, at leastXF-85 GoblinParasite fighterMcDonnell AircraftPart of a conceptualized idea for Airborne aircraft carriers.1948Never2XF-87 (XP-87) BlackhawkInterceptorCurtiss-WrightDesigned as a replacement for the World War II–era P-61 Black Widow, the XF-87 lost the competition to the Northrop F-89. Its company's last aircraft project.1948Never2XF-88 VoodooEscort fighterMcDonnell AircraftDeveloped into the supersonic F-101 Voodoo.1948Never2F-89 ScorpionInterceptorNorthrop CorporationFirst fighter equipped with guided missile ability.194819501,052 (Including 2 Prototypes)XF-92Experimental point-defense interceptorConvairLed Convair to use the delta-wing on a number of designs, including the F-102 Delta Dagger, F-106 Delta Dart,  B-58 Hustler, the US Navy's F2Y Sea Dart as well as the VTOL FY Pogo.1948Never1F-86D/K/L or YF-95 "Sabre Dog"All-weather fighter-interceptorNorth American Aviation194919512,847XF-90FighterLockheedBuilt in response to a United States Air Force requirement for a long-range penetration fighter and bomber escort.1949Never2F-94/YF-97 StarfireAll-weather interceptorLockheed CorporationFirst jet-powered all-weather fighter to enter combat during the Korean War.19491950855F-98Air-to-air missileHughes AircraftA brief designation for the AIM-4 Falcon.19491956F-99 BomarcSurface-to-air missileBoeing Pilotless Aircraft DivisionA brief designation for the CIM-10 BOMARC. First operational long-range SAM and the first operational pulse doppler aviation radar, it was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force.1959YF-93FighterNorth American Aviation1950Never2F-84F/XF-96 ThunderstreakFighter-bomberRepublic AviationIntended to be a relatively simple upgrade to the F-84 Thunderjet to make it more competitive with the F-86 Sabre.195019543,428F-100 Super Sabre Fighter Fighter-bomberNorth American AviationCapable of supersonic speed in level flight.195319542,294F-102 Delta DaggerInterceptorConvairWorld's first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor and the USAF's first operational delta-wing aircraft.195319561,000F-101 Voodoo Fighter aircraft