Editing Attack aircraft (section)

== History ==
{{anchor|World War II}}

=== World War I ===

The attack aircraft as a role was defined by its use during [[World War I]], in support of ground forces on battlefields. Battlefield support is generally divided into [[close air support]] and battlefield air interdiction, the first requiring strict and the latter only general cooperation with friendly surface forces.<ref name=sfts>Hallion [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAdtAIMTReEC&pg=PA5 2010, pp. 3–6.]</ref> Such aircraft also attacked targets in rear areas. Such missions required flying where light anti-aircraft fire<!-- Is it the frequency of AA fire light, or is the AA caliber light? --> was expected and operating at low altitudes to precisely identify targets. Other roles, including those of [[light bomber]]s, [[medium bomber]]s, [[dive bomber]]s, [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]], [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]s, [[fighter-bomber]]s, could and did perform air strikes on battlefields.<ref name=cs>Cooling [https://books.google.com/books?id=_mIq1PP0nCEC&pg=PA123 1990, pp. 101, 123.]</ref> All these types could significantly damage ground targets from a low level flight, either by bombing, machine guns, or both.

Attack aircraft came to diverge from bombers and fighters. While bombers could be used on a battlefield, their slower speeds made them extremely vulnerable to ground fire, as did the lighter construction of fighters. The survivability of attack aircraft was improved by their speed/power, protection (i.e. armor panels) and strength of construction;<ref name=cs/>

Germany was the first country to produce dedicated ground-attack aircraft (designated [[Idflieg aircraft designation system|CL-class]] and [[Idflieg aircraft designation system|J-class]]). They were put into use in autumn 1917,<ref>Thetford 1954, p. 56.</ref> during World War I. Most notable was the [[Junkers J.I]], which pioneered the idea of an armored "bathtub", that was both fuselage structure and protection for engine and crew. The British experimented with the [[Sopwith Salamander|Sopwith TF series]] (termed "trench fighters"), although these did not see combat.

The last battles of 1918 on the Western Front demonstrated that ground-attacking aircraft were a valuable component of [[Combined arms|all-arms]] tactics. [[Close air support|Close support]] ground [[strafing]] ([[Machine gun|machine-gunning]]) and tactical bombing of [[infantry]] (especially when moving between trenches and along roads), [[machine gun]] [[Pillbox (military)|post]]s, [[artillery]], and supply formations was a part of the Allied armies' strength in holding German attacks and supporting Allied counter-attacks and offensives. Admittedly, the cost to the Allies was high, with the [[Royal Flying Corps]] sustaining a loss rate approaching 30% among ground-attack aircraft.

=== 1919&ndash;1939 ===
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}

[[File:Boeing GA-1 on ground.jpg|thumb|left|Boeing GA-1, ~1920]]

After World War I, it was widely believed that using aircraft against tactical targets was of little use other than in harassing and undermining enemy morale; attacking combatants was generally much more dangerous to aircrews than their targets, a problem that was continually becoming more acute with the ongoing refinement of [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft weapon]]s. Within the range of types serving attack roles, [[dive bomber]]s were increasingly being seen{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} as more effective than aircraft designed for [[strafing]] with [[machine gun]]s or [[Autocannon|cannon]]s.

Nevertheless, during the 1920s, the US military, in particular, procured specialized "Attack" aircraft and formed dedicated units, that were trained primarily for that role. The US Army [[Engineering Division]] became involved in designing ground attack aircraft. The 1920 [[Boeing GA-1]] was an armored twin-engine [[triplane]] for ground strafing with eight [[Lewis gun|machine guns]] and about a ton of armor plate, and the 1922 [[Aeromarine PG-1]] was a combined pursuit (fighter) and ground attack design with a 37mm gun. The [[United States Marine Corps Aviation]] applied [[close air support]] tactics in the [[Banana Wars]]. While they did not pioneer dive bombing tactics, Marine aviators were the first to include it in their doctrine during the [[United States occupation of Haiti]] and [[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Nicaragua]].<ref>Corum and Johnson 2003, pp. 23–40.</ref> The [[United States Army Air Corps]] was notable for its creation of a separate "A-" designation for attack types, distinct from and alongside "B-" for bomber types and "P-" for pursuit (later replaced by "F-" for fighter) aircraft. The first designated attack type to be operational with the USAAC was the [[Curtiss Falcon|Curtiss A-2 Falcon]]. Nevertheless, such aircraft, including the A-2's replacement, the [[Curtiss A-12 Shrike]], were unarmored and highly vulnerable to AA fire.

The British [[Royal Air Force]] focused primarily on strategic bombing, rather than ground attack. However, like most air arms of the period it did operate attack aircraft, named Army Cooperation in RAF parlance, which included the [[Hawker Hector]], [[Westland Lysander]] and others.

[[File:Aspecto do avanço da infantaria paulista no setor sul na Revolução de 1932.jpg|thumb|Rebel infantry advancing under air attack by a [[Waco CSO]] (or [[Potez 25]]) airplane of the Brazilian government during the [[Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932]]]]
Aviation played a role in the Brazilian [[Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932]], although both sides had few aircraft. The federal government had approximately 58 aircraft divided between the [[Brazilian Navy|Navy]] and the [[Brazilian Army|Army]], as the [[Brazilian Air Force|Air Force]] at this time did not constitute an independent branch. In contrast, the rebels had only two [[Potez 25]] planes and two [[Waco CSO]], plus a small number of private aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cambeses Júnior  |first= Manuel  |url=https://www2.fab.mil.br/incaer/images/eventgallery/instituto/Opusculos/Textos/opusculo_rev32.pdf |title=
O Emprego do Avião na Revolução Constitucionalista de 1932|website=www2.fab.mil.br|date=November 30, 2022 |access-date=December 13, 2022}}</ref>

During the 1930s, [[Nazi Germany]] had begun to field a class of ''Schlacht'' ("battle") aircraft, such as the [[Henschel Hs 123]]. Moreover, the experiences of German [[Condor Legion]] during the [[Spanish Civil War]], against an enemy with few fighter aircraft, changed ideas about ground attack. Though equipped with generally unsuitable designs such as the [[Henschel Hs 123]] and [[Autocannon|cannon]]-armed versions of the [[Heinkel He 112]], their armament and pilots proved that aircraft were a very effective weapon, even without bombs. This led to some support within the [[Luftwaffe]] for the creation of an aircraft dedicated to this role, resulting in tenders for a new "attack aircraft". This led to the introduction (in 1942) of a unique single-seat, twin-engine attack aircraft, the slow-moving but heavily armored and formidably armed [[Henschel Hs 129]] ''Panzerknacker'' ("Safecracker" /"Tank Cracker").

In Japan, the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] had developed the [[Aichi D3A]] dive bomber (based on the [[Heinkel He 70]]) and the [[Mitsubishi B5M]] light attack bomber. Both, like their US counterparts, were lightly armored types, and were critically reliant on surprise attacks and the absence of significant fighter or AA opposition.

During the [[Winter War]], the [[Soviet Air Forces]] used the [[Polikarpov R-5]]SSS, and [[Polikarpov R-Z]]Sh, as attack aircraft.

[[File:IL-2VVSWWII.jpg|thumb|right|An [[Ilyushin Il-2]] ''Sturmovik'' formation over Berlin, May 1945.]]

Perhaps the most notable attack type to emerge during the late 1930s was the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Ilyushin Il-2]] ''Sturmovik'', which became the most-produced military aircraft type in history.

As [[World War II]] approached, the concept of an attack aircraft was not well defined, and various air services used many different names for widely differing types, all performing similar roles (sometimes in tandem with non-attack roles of bombers, fighters, reconnaissance and other roles.

; Army co-operation

{{main|Army co-operation}}

The British concept of a light aircraft mixing all the roles that required extensive communication with land forces: reconnaissance, liaison, [[artillery spotting]], aerial supply, and, last but not least, occasional strikes on the battlefield.<ref>Cooling 1990, pp. 1, 158, 244, 263.</ref><ref>Hallion 2010, p. 152.</ref><ref>Gunston 2009, p. 61.</ref> The concept was similar to front-line aircraft used in the World War I, which was called the [[Idflieg aircraft designation system|CL]] class in the German Empire.<ref name=h16>Hallion 2010, pp. 16-22, 77.</ref> Eventually the RAF's experience showed types such as [[Westland Lysander]] to be unacceptably vulnerable and it was replaced by faster fighter types for photo-reconnaissance, and light aircraft for artillery spotting.

; Light bomber

{{main|Light bomber}}

During the inter-war period, the British flew the [[Fairey Battle]], a light bomber which originated in a 1932 specification. Designs in 1938 for a replacement were adapted as a target tug. The last [[List of Air Ministry specifications|British specification]] issued for a light bomber was B.20/40 described as a "Close Army Support Bomber" capable of dive bombing and photo-reconnaissance. However, the specification was dropped before an aircraft went into production.<ref>Buttler p. 67.</ref>

<!-- ; Heavy fighter

{{main|Heavy fighter}}

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; Dive bomber

{{main|Dive bomber}}

In some air services, dive bombers did not equip ground-attack units, but were treated as a separate class. In Nazi Germany, the Luftwaffe distinguished between the ''Stuka'' (''Sturzkampf-'', "dive bombing") units, equipped with [[Junkers Ju 87]] from ''Schlacht'' ("battle") units, using strafing/low-level bombing types such as the [[Henschel Hs 123]]).

; Fighter-bomber

{{main|fighter-bomber}}

Although not a synonymous class with ground-attack aircraft, fighter-bombers were usually used for the role, and proved to excel at it, even when they were only lightly armored. The Royal Air Force{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} and [[United States Army Air Forces]] relegated obsolescent fighters to this role, while cutting-edge fighters would serve as [[interceptor aircraft|interceptors]] and establish [[air superiority]].

The [[United States Navy]], in distinction to the USAAF, preferred the older term "Scout-Bomber", under a "SB-" designation, such as the [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]].

=== World War II ===
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}
[[File:Junkers Ju 87B dropping bombs.jpg|thumb|right|[[Junkers Ju 87B|Junkers Ju 87B ''Stuka'']] dropping bombs]]

The [[Junkers Ju 87]]s of the German Luftwaffe became virtually synonymous with close air support during the early months of World War II. The British Commonwealth's [[Desert Air Force]], led by Arthur Tedder, became the first Allied tactical formation to emphasize the attack role,{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} usually in the form of single-engine [[Hawker Hurricane]] and [[Curtiss P-40]] fighter-bombers or specialized "tank-busters", such as the Hurricane Mk IID, armed with two 40&nbsp;mm [[Vickers S gun]]s (notably [[No. 6 Squadron RAF]]).
At around the same time, a massive invasion by Axis forces had forced the Soviet air forces to quickly expand their army support capacity, such as the [[Ilyushin Il-2]] Sturmovik. The women pilots known as the "[[Night Witches]]" utilised an obsolescent, wooden light trainer biplane type, the [[Polikarpov Po-2]] and small anti-personnel bombs in "harassment bombing" attacks that proved difficult to counter.

Wartime experience showed that poorly armored and/or lightly built, pre-war types were unacceptably vulnerable, especially to fighters. Nevertheless, skilled crews could be highly successful in those types, such as the leading ''Stuka'' ace, [[Hans-Ulrich Rudel]], who claimed 500 tanks,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Germany at war : 400 years of military history|others=Zabecki, David T.,, Showalter, Dennis E.|isbn=978-1-59884-981-3|location=Santa Barbara, California|oclc=896872865|date = 2014-10-28}}</ref> a battleship, a cruiser, and two destroyers in 2,300 combat missions.

The [[Bristol Beaufighter]], based on an obsolescent RAF bomber, became a versatile twin-engine attack aircraft and served in almost every [[Theater (warfare)|theatre]] of the war, in the maritime strike and ground attack roles as well as that of night fighter.

Conversely, some mid-war attack types emerged as adaptations of fighters, including several versions of the German [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]], the British [[Hawker Typhoon]] and the US [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]. The Typhoon, which was disappointing as a fighter, due to poor high altitude performance, was very fast at low altitudes and thus became the RAF's premier ground attack fighter. It was armed with four [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404|20mm cannon]], augmented first with bombs, then rockets. Likewise the P-47 was designed and intended for use as a high altitude bomber escort, but gradually found that role filled by the [[North American P-51 Mustang]] (because of its much longer range and greater maneuverability). The P-47 was also heavier and more robust than the P-51 and regarded therefore, as an "[[Basic fighter maneuvers#Specific energy|energy fighter]]": ideal for high-speed dive-and-climb tactics, including strafing attacks. Its armament of eight [[M2 Browning|0.50 caliber machine guns]] was effective against Axis infantry and light vehicles in both [[European theatre of World War II|Europe]] and the [[Pacific War|Pacific]].

While machine guns and cannon were initially sufficient, the evolution of well-armored tanks required heavier weapons. To augment bombs, [[Missile|high explosive rockets]] were introduced, although these unguided projectiles were still "barely adequate" because of their inaccuracy.<ref>Gooderson [https://books.google.com/books?id=rZmMDolRSrsC&pg=PA74 1998, p. 121.]</ref> For the British [[RP-3|RP3]], one hit per sortie<!-- w h a t --> was considered acceptable.<ref>Mason 1998,  p. 50.</ref> However, even a near miss with rockets could cause damage or injuries to "soft targets," and patrols by Allied rocket-armed aircraft over Normandy disrupted or even completely paralyzed German road traffic. They also affected morale, because even the prospect of a rocket attack was unnerving.<ref>Shores and Thomas 2005, pp. 245–250.</ref>

[[File:Republic P-47N Thunderbolt in flight (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[P-47 Thunderbolt|Republic P-47N]] Thunderbolt, flew combat missions during World War II]]

The ultimate development of the cannon-armed light attack aircraft was the small production run in 1944 of the [[Henschel Hs 129]]B-3, armed with a modified [[7.5 cm Pak 40|PAK 40 75 mm]] anti-tank gun. This weapon, the ''Bordkanone BK 7,5'', was the most powerful forward-firing weapon fitted to a production [[military aircraft]] during World War II. The only other aircraft to be factory-equipped with similar guns were the 1,420 maritime strike variants of the North American [[North American B-25 Mitchell#Variants|B-25 Mitchell]]G/H, which mounted either a [[75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6|M4 cannon]], or light-weight T13E1 or M5 versions of the same gun. These weapons, however, were hand-loaded, had shorter barrels and/or a lower [[muzzle velocity]] than the BK 7,5 and, therefore, poorer armor penetration, accuracy and rate of fire. (Except for versions of the [[Piaggio P.108]] armed with a 102mm anti-ship cannon, The BK 7,5 was unsurpassed as an aircraft-fitted gun until 1971, when the four-engine [[Lockheed AC-130]]E Spectre; equipped with a 105&nbsp;mm [[M102 howitzer]], entered service with the US Air Force.)

=== Post-World War II ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2021}}

In the immediate post war era the [[Piston-Engines|piston-engined]] ground-attack aircraft remained useful since all of the early jets lacked endurance due to the fuel consumption rates of the jet engines. The higher powered piston engine types that had been too late for World War II were still capable of holding their own against the jets as they were able to both out accelerate and out maneuver the jets. The [[Royal Navy]] [[Hawker Sea Fury]] fighters and the U.S. [[Vought F4U Corsair]] and [[Douglas A-1 Skyraider]] were operated during the [[Korean War]] while the latter continued to be used throughout the [[Vietnam War]].

[[File:OA-37B-1 (centered).jpg|thumb|left|[[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly|OA-37B Dragonfly]] of the [[169th Airlift Squadron]]]]

Many post-World War II era air forces have been reluctant to adopt fixed-wing jet aircraft developed specifically for ground attack. Although close air support and interdiction remain crucial to the modern battlefield, attack aircraft are less glamorous than fighters, while [[air force]] pilots and military planners have a certain well-cultivated contempt for "mud-movers". More practically, the cost of operating a specialized ground-attack aircraft is harder to justify when compared with [[multirole combat aircraft]]. [[Jet aircraft|Jet]] attack aircraft were designed and employed during the Cold War era, such as the [[Carrier-based aircraft|carrier-based]] nuclear strike [[Douglas A-3 Skywarrior]] and [[North American A-5 Vigilante]], while the [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]], [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief|F-105 Thunderchief]], [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|F-111]], [[Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk|F-117 Nighthawk]], [[LTV A-7 Corsair II]], [[Sukhoi Su-25]], [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10 Thunderbolt II]], [[Panavia Tornado]], [[AMX International AMX|AMX]], [[Dassault Étendard IV|Dassault Étendard]], [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super Étendard]] and others were designed specifically for ground-attack, [[Air interdiction|strike]], [[Close air support|close support]] and [[Anti-tank warfare|anti-armor]] work, with little or no [[Air combat manoeuvring|air-to-air]] capability.

Ground attack has increasingly become a task of converted trainers, like the [[BAE Systems Hawk]] or [[Aero L-39 Albatros]], and many trainers are built with this task in mind, like the [[CASA C-101]] or the [[Aermacchi MB-339]]. Such [[counter-insurgency aircraft]] are popular with air forces which cannot afford to purchase more expensive multirole aircraft, or do not wish to risk the few such aircraft they have on light ground attack missions. A proliferation of [[low intensity conflict]]s in the post-World War II era has also expanded need for these types of aircraft to conduct [[counter-insurgency]] and light ground attack operations.

A primary distinction of post-World War II [[Military aviation|aviation]] between the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] and the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] was that latter had generally been allocated all [[fixed-wing aircraft]], while [[helicopter]]s were under control of the former; this was governed by the 1948 [[Key West Agreement]]. The Army, wishing to have its own resources to support its troops in combat and faced with a lack of Air Force enthusiasm for the ground-attack role, developed the dedicated [[attack helicopter]].

=== Recent history ===

On 17 January 1991, Task Force Normandy began its attack on two Iraqi anti-aircraft missile sites. TF Normandy, under the command of LTC [[Richard A. Cody|Richard A. "Dick" Cody]], consisted of nine [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64 Apache]]s, one [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60 Black Hawk]] and four Air Force [[MH-53J Pave Low]] helicopters. The purpose of this mission was to create a safe corridor through the Iraqi air defense system. The attack was a huge success and cleared the way for the beginning of the Allied bombing campaign of [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]].<ref>Bradin 1994</ref>

[[File:RNLAF AH-64 Apache at the Oirschotse Heide Low Flying Area (36570605232).jpg|thumb|An [[AH-64D Apache]] of the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]]]

One concern involving the Apache arose when a unit of these helicopters was very slow to deploy during U.S. military involvement in Kosovo. According to the ''[[Army Times]]'',<ref>[http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/003682.html#more  "TRADOC cuts Apaches’ role in deep attack."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505022108/http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/003682.html |date=2006-05-05 }} ''Murdoc Online'', 1 May 2006. Retrieved: 28 November 2015.</ref> the Army is shifting its doctrine to favor ground-attack aircraft over [[attack helicopter]]s for deep strike attack missions because ground-attack helicopters have proved to be highly vulnerable to small-arms fire; the U.S. Marine Corps has noted similar problems.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trimble|first= Stephen|url= http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news/urb07303.xml |title=General: Deep-Strike, Urban Tactics For Attack Helicopters May Need Review|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051110033556/http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news%2Furb07303.xml |archive-date=2005-11-10 |work= Aviation Week|date= 30 July 2003|accessdate= 28 November 2015}}</ref>

In the late 1960s the [[United States Air Force]] requested a dedicated [[close air support]] (CAS) plane that became the [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II]]. The A-10 was originally conceived as an [[Anti-tank warfare|anti-armor]] weapon (the [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II#A-X program|A-X program]] requirements specifically called for an aircraft mounting a large rotary cannon to destroy massed Warsaw Pact armored forces) with limited secondary capability in the [[Air interdiction|interdiction]] and [[tactical bombing]] roles. Today it remains the only dedicated fixed-wing ground-attack aircraft in any U.S. military service. Overall U.S. experience in the [[Gulf War]], [[Kosovo War]], [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]], and [[Iraq War]] has resulted in renewed interest in such aircraft. The U.S. Air Force is currently researching a replacement for the A-10 and started the [[Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance|OA-X]] program to procure a light attack aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/05/20/who-will-replace-the-a-10-warthog-textron-has-a-2.aspx|title=Who Will Replace the A-10 Warthog? Textron Has a 2-in-3 Chance|first=Rich|last=Smith|website=fool.com|date=20 May 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912055403/https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/05/20/who-will-replace-the-a-10-warthog-textron-has-a-2.aspx|archive-date=2017-09-12}}</ref>
The Soviets' similar [[Sukhoi Su-25]] (''Frogfoot'') found success in the "flying artillery" role with many air forces.
The UK has completely retired the [[British Aerospace Harrier II|BAE Harrier II]] in 2011,<ref>Perry, Dominic. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-harrier-fleet-sold-as-115-million-worth-of-spare-parts-365277/ "UK Harrier fleet sold as £115 million worth of spare parts."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306155452/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-harrier-fleet-sold-as-115-million-worth-of-spare-parts-365277/ |date=2016-03-06 }} ''Flight International'', 24 November 2011. Retrieved: 7 December 2011.</ref> and the [[Panavia Tornado]] dedicated attack-reconnaissance aircraft in 2019. It obtained the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35]] in 2018 and it retains its fleet of [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] multirole fighters.

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