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What’s the Nearly 50-Year-Old Combat Aircraft Still in Demand Worldwide?

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By Jennifer Geer Published Dec 11, 2024 at 9:10 AM EST

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What’s the Nearly 50-Year-Old Combat Aircraft Still in Demand Worldwide? — © Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Although militaries around the world spend big portions of their budgets on newly designed aircraft, there are also 50-year-old combat planes that are still bought by countries today. Fighter aircraft are critical for militaries because they are specially designed to perform combat in the air. These fighter jets can attack both ground targets and other aircraft. From the 50-year-old Aero L-39 Albatros used by Hungary to the B-21 Raider, which only made its first test flight last year, we’ve rounded up a list of the combat aircraft the world’s militaries are buying. (Also see the largest air forces around the globe.)

To identify the oldest to the newest combat aircraft that world militaries are still buying, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft chronologically. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft, how many of these aircraft are in active service, and what militaries employ these aircraft.

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding which combat aircraft are used by the militaries around the world provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also knowing what other countries have in their arsenals further explains relative military capabilities.

Here is a look at the oldest to the newest combat aircraft on order by the world’s militaries:

25. B-21 Raider

Type: Strategic long-range stealth bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2028
Total aircraft on order: 100
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: United States

24. KF-21 Boromae

Type: Fifth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2028
Total aircraft on order: 170
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Indonesia, South Korea

23. Calidus B-250 Bader

Type: Light attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2021
Total aircraft on order: 24
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: United Arab Emirates

22. Su-57 Felon

Type: Fifth-generation stealth aircraft
Year introduced: 2019
Total aircraft on order: 62
Total active aircraft: 14
Militaries buying this aircraft: Russia

21. Hurkus C

Type: Counter-insurgency attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2018
Total aircraft on order: 24
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Turkey

20. F-35 Lightning II

Wisconsin National Guard by The National Guard

Wisconsin National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

Type: Fifth-generation strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2016
Total aircraft on order: 2703
Total active aircraft: 661
Militaries buying this aircraft: United States, Israel, Poland, Canada

19. HAL Tejas

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2015
Total aircraft on order: 180
Total active aircraft: 32
Militaries buying this aircraft: India

18. Su-34 Fullback

Su-34+Fullback | Sukhoi SU-34 FULLBACK (DEFENDER) (ÃÂ¡ÃÂ-34)

Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2014
Total aircraft on order: 4
Total active aircraft: 134
Militaries buying this aircraft: Russia

17. Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine

Beechcraft AT-6 'Wolverine' experimental aircraft by aeroman3

Beechcraft AT-6 'Wolverine' experimental aircraft (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Type: Light attack / close-air support aircraft
Year introduced: 2013
Total aircraft on order: 12
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Thailand, Tunisia

16. JF-17 Thunder

Type: Light fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2007
Total aircraft on order: 47
Total active aircraft: 128
Militaries buying this aircraft: Pakistan, Myanmar

15. Chengdu J-10C Vigorous Dragon

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Total aircraft on order: 7
Total active aircraft: 18
Militaries buying this aircraft: Pakistan

14. FA-50 GF/PL Golden Eagle

Type: Light attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Total aircraft on order: 82
Total active aircraft: 2
Militaries buying this aircraft: Poland, Malaysia

13. Eurofighter Typhoon

United+Kingdom+attack+aircraft | Two Eurofighter "Typhoon FGR4 (FGR.Mk 4)" aircraft, flown by 29 (R) Squadron from RAF Coningsby.

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2003
Total aircraft on order: 157
Total active aircraft: 296
Militaries buying this aircraft: Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

12. Dassault Rafale

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2001
Total aircraft on order: 362
Total active aircraft: 211
Militaries buying this aircraft: France, Egypt, Croatia, India, United Arab Emirates