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