Recognized as one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the world, Northrop Grumman has over 95,000 employees and generated revenues exceeding $36 billion in 2022. They produce firearms, vehicles, aircraft, and various other products. While its financial accomplishments are impressive, the true gems in its portfolio are its aircraft, several of which have achieved iconic status.
Founded in 1994 as a result of a merger between Northrop Corporation and Grumman Corporation, the company resulted in a combination of two separate businesses that had already gained renown for their aircraft that played vital roles in WWII and other conflicts.
Currently, Northrop Grumman is at the forefront of the B-21 Raider’s development, which is slated to become the next generation stealth bomber in the U.S. Air Force. The B-21, along with various other fighter jets, adds to the impressive collection of combat aircraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
In identifying the most iconic combat aircraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. This list includes aircraft that each company produced before the merger as well as aircraft produced since, excluding drones and helicopters. The aircraft is listed alphabetically and includes supplemental information regarding type of aircraft, year introduced, units manufactured, top speed, and armament.
The B-21 Raider is currently in development, and the U.S. Air Force plans to add these stealth bombers to the fleet within the next five years. Due to the highly classified nature of these stealth bombers, the program is surrounded by a high level of secrecy.
Currently, the U.S. Air Force employs the B-2 Spirit, representing the previous generation of stealth bombers, as part of America’s Nuclear Triad. These bombers, in coordination with nuclear submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles, form the cornerstone of U.S. national security by serving as a deterrent to any foreign power equipped with nuclear weapons.
Here are the classic combat aircraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman:
A-6 Intruder
- Type: Carrierborne heavy strike aircraft
- Year introduced: 1963
- Total units produced: 693
- Top speed: 644 mph
- Armament: Cluster bombs, Maverick missiles, Harpoon missiles, HARM anti-radiation missiles, Sparrow missiles, Paveway II/III laser-guided bombs
AF Guardian
- Type: Carrierborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft
- Year introduced: 1950
- Total units produced: 389
- Top speed: 317 mph
- Armament: Conventional drop bombs, depth charges, torpedoes, rockets
B-2 Spirit
- Type: Strategic heavy stealth bomber
- Year introduced: 1997
- Total units produced: 21
- Top speed: 628 mph
- Armament: Air-launched cruise missiles, nuclear bombs, conventional drop bombs, joint-direct attack munitions, air-to-surface stand-off missiles
B-21 Raider
Source: Tech. Sgt. William OBrien, 94th Airlift Wing photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Sixth-generation long-range strategic bomber
- Year introduced: Expected in 2028
- Total units produced: In-development
- Top speed: 621 mph
- Armament: Conventional drop bombs, precision-guided bombs, nuclear ordnance
EA-6 Prowler
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Carrierborne electronic warfare aircraft
- Year introduced: 1963
- Total units produced: 197
- Top speed: 652 mph
- Armament: HARM anti-radiation missiles, ALQ-99 tactical jamming system mission pods
F-14 Tomcat
Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Carrierborne fleet defense fighter
- Year introduced: 1974
- Total units produced: 712
- Top speed: 1544 mph
- Armament: 20mm M61A1 Vulcan internal cannon, Phoenix missiles, Sparrow missiles, Sidewinder missiles, laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions, precision-guided bombs
F-35 Lightning II
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Type: Fifth-generation multirole strike fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 2016
- Total units produced: 785
- Top speed: 1199 mph
- Armament: 25mm GAU-12/U internal automatic cannon, Sidewinder missiles, Paveway II/III guided bombs, cluster bombs, Stormshadow cruise missiles, conventional drop bombs, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles
F-5 Freedom Fighter / Tiger / Tiger II
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Type: Lightweight multirole aircraft
- Year introduced: 1962
- Total units produced: 2246
- Top speed: 1077 mph
- Armament: 20mm M39A2 internal automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles, Maverick missiles, rocket pods
F-89 Scorpion
Source: FPG / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- Type: Interceptor aircraft
- Year introduced: 1950
- Total units produced: 1050
- Top speed: 636 mph
- Armament: 20mm T-31 internal automatic cannons, Mighty mouse rockets, Falcon missiles
F11F / F-11 Tiger
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1956
- Total units produced: 201
- Top speed: 750 mph
- Armament: 20mm Colt Mk 12 internal automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles
F3F
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Type: Carrierborne biplane fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1936
- Total units produced: 147
- Top speed: 264 mph
- Armament: 7.62mm Browning M1919 machine guns, 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns, conventional drop bombs
F4F Wildcat
Source: KGrif / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Carrierborne monoplane fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1940
- Total units produced: 7722
- Top speed: 332 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns, conventional drop bombs
F6F Hellcat
Source: rancho_runner / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
- Year introduced: 1943
- Total units produced: 12272
- Top speed: 380 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns, 20mm automatic cannons, Tiny Tim unguided rockets, conventional drop bombs, torpedoes
F8F Bearcat
- Type: Carrierborne fighter / interceptor aircraft
- Year introduced: 1945
- Total units produced: 1266
- Top speed: 421 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 20mm cannons, rockets, conventional drop bombs
F9F Cougar
- Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1952
- Total units produced: 1392
- Top speed: 647 mph
- Armament: 20mm M2 cannons, air-to-surface rockets, Sidewinder missiles, conventional drop bombs
F9F Panther
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
- Year introduced: 1949
- Total units produced: 1382
- Top speed: 545 mph
- Armament: 20mm M2 cannons, air-to-surface rockets
N-3PB Nomad
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
- Type: Reconnaissance / bomber floatplane
- Year introduced: 1941
- Total units produced: 24
- Top speed: 257 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm heavy machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, conventional drop bombs
Orbital ATK AC-208 Eliminator
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia
- Type: Close-air support / reconnaissance aircraft
- Year introduced: 2008
- Total units produced: 50
- Top speed: 214 mph
- Armament: Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods
P-61 / F-61 Black Widow
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Night fighter / reconnaissance aircraft
- Year introduced: 1943
- Total units produced: 742
- Top speed: 366 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns, 20mm Hispano M2 automatic cannons, unguided aerial rockets, precision-guided bombs
S-2 Tacker (S2F)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia
- Type: Anti-submarine warfare aircraft
- Year introduced: 1954
- Total units produced: 1284
- Top speed: 280 mph
- Armament: Torpedoes, depth charges, naval mines, rockets
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