| The wars of today would be imaginable | | | | that decides the fate of military |
| without the use of military aircraft. Of | | | | conflicts. Thus, most nations invest in |
| course, no country can go to war armed | | | | fighter planes because their ability to |
| with only one type of aircraft. Every | | | | win wars is well-known. |
| nation must invest in different kinds of | | | | However, fighter planes alone cannot win |
| aircraft ranging from fighter aircraft, | | | | wars. Ultimately, it has to be a team |
| bombers, and tankers to observation | | | | effort. That is where ground attack |
| balloons. Each of the different kinds of | | | | aircraft such as the F-104 enters the |
| planes has a separate role to play. And | | | | picture. While the fighter aircraft |
| each of these roles is as essential as | | | | spearhead the attack, ground attack |
| the next. | | | | aircraft strengthen the defense. These |
| While looking at airplanes for defence | | | | planes are also known as tactical |
| purposes, one finds that many of the | | | | fighters. They are put into action at |
| aircraft are multi-functional. For | | | | the head of the battle and are armored |
| instance, the F-4 Phantom is not only a | | | | to protect the pilot against the fire of |
| fighter-bomber. It is also used for the | | | | small arms. |
| purpose of reconnaissance. It also plays | | | | Other military aircraft include bombers, |
| the additional roles of CAS and ECM. | | | | tankers, and trainers. Bombers, as the |
| Moreover, if such an aircraft seems to | | | | name suggests, are designed to drop |
| fall too expensive, there are several | | | | bombs on ground targets. The A-10 |
| other military aircraft to bolster a | | | | Thunderbolt is an example of a bomber |
| nation's defences. For instance, the | | | | that attacks tactical targets. Tankers |
| American F/A-18 Hornet is great as a | | | | are used to refuel other aircraft when |
| fighter plane and also as a striker. | | | | their fuel gets exhausted. There are |
| There are a few basic categories of | | | | also a number of aircraft known as |
| military aircraft. These include fighter | | | | trainers. These are used to teach pilots |
| planes, ground attack aircraft, tankers, | | | | about flying, navigating, and aiming |
| bombers, and trainers. Apart from this, | | | | their weapons. In addition to these we |
| aircraft are also used for transport, | | | | have the aircraft that are used purely |
| observation, and surveillance. Fighter | | | | for transportation and those that are |
| aircraft are designed to attack. As a | | | | used to observe military activity on the |
| result, they are speedy and | | | | ground level. Defence without aircraft |
| easily-manoeuvrable. In the modern | | | | is no longer an option. |
| world, air superiority is the factor | | | | |