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