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Aircraft from 1970 to 1989

There are 89 aircraft from 1970 to 1989 in the Military Factory.

Aeritalia G.222
The G.222 was a medium transport produced by the Aeritalia corporation that saw some modest successes. The aircraft was designed to fit the needs of short runway takeoffs from rough airstrips and provide the Italian military ...

Italy
1978

Aermacchi MB.339
The Aermacchi MB.339 was the successor to the successful Aermacchi MB.326 in the advanced trainer and light strike duty roles. This twin-seat trainer proved equally adept at either role and went on to also replace the Fiat G....

Italy
1978

Aero L-39 Albatros (Albatross)
The L-39 series of advanced jet trainer and light strike aircraft followed along the same lines as its predecessor - the L-29 Delphin (detailed elsewhere on this site) - in terms of development. Designed actually just three y...

Czechoslovakia
1972

Aerospatiale / Eurocopter SA 332 Super Puma / AS 532 Cougar
The Aerospatiale Super Puma series was derived from the successful Eurocopter/Aerospatiale Puma series but featured an extended cabin and new powerplants. The Super Puma, coming under the Eurocopter label as of 1992, went on ...

France
1982

Aerospatiale SA 341 / SA 342 Gazelle
A popular light reconnaissance and attack helicopter for export order, the Aerospatiale Gazelle systems are a common site all over the world. Operating in the multirole mode, the system has the capabilities to undergo duties ...

France
1971

Aerospatiale SA 350 AStar
The Aerospatiale AS350 AStar is a successful commercial and military helitopter design....

France
1977

AIDC AT-3 Tzu-Chiang
The AIDC AT-3 series of advanced weapons trainer aircraft was the second design produced by the Aero Industry Development Center of Taiwan (in conjunction with the American firm of Northrop), succeeding the Chung Tsing T-28 T...

Taiwan
1984

Airbus A300
The A300-600 and A310 share a high percentage of commonality in terms of airframe design and construction (decreasing maintenance and repair costs somewhat), with the A300 maintaining the wider cross section - a full 222 inch...

France
1972

Airbus A310
The Airbus A310-300 was produced as a budgeted alternative to the based A300-series (detailed elsewhere on this web site) at a time when Airbus was still awaiting official order placement from potential customers. This interi...

France
1983

Antonov An-124 Ruslan (Condor)
The Antonov-produced AN-124 was the world's largest aircraft before the Russian AN-225 made it's debut, but it remained the largest to go into production nonetheless. The AN-124 was developed foremost as a military transport ...

Soviet Union
1986

Antonov An-225 Mriya (Cossack)
As of this writing, the Antonov An-225 "Mriya" maintains the title of "largest aircraft ever built". The system eclipsed the previous Antonov design attempt in the form of the An-124 Ruslan "Condor" (detailed elsewhere on thi...

Ukraine
1989

Antonov An-32 (Cline)
The An-32 "Cline" was offered up by the Antonov bureau as an improved An-26 model. In essence, the system was quite similar to the preceding An-26 with newer and more powerful engines but offered up better performance in trop...

Soviet Union
1977

Antonov An-72 (Coaler)
The An-72 "Coaler" was another Antonov Design Bureau creation designed to assist the Soviet military in logistical sorties as a tactical transport. The design was of a unique and very identifiable nature, placing the powerful...

Soviet Union
1986

Atlas (Denel) Cheetah
The Denel (formally Atlas) Cheetah came about through a need by the South African Air Force to update / replace its series of aging fighters while its bordering neighbors were receiving updated Soviet Bloc aircraft. Unfortuna...

South Africa
1987

BAe Sea Harrier FRS.1
The Sea Harrier FRS.1 holds a unique distinction stemming from successes in the Falklands War with Argentina where it maintained a kill-to-loss ratio of 28-0. This phenomenal total was thanks in part to the superb training an...

United Kingdom
1976

Beechcraft C-12 Huron
...

United States
1984

Bell 212 / UH-1N/Y Iroquois / AB 212
Continuing in the long line of successful Bell-produced transport/assault helicopters, the Bell 212 airframe - spawning the UH-1N, AB 212 and UH-1Y models - was a further development. The Bell 212 was a joint-production effor...

United States
1970

Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
The AH-1W and AH-1J SuperCobra series of helicopters are an updated and slightly modified version of the AH-1 HueyCobra (or simply "Cobra") detailed elsewhere on this website. Much like the base Cobra, the SuperCobra is a...

United States
1986

Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior / 406CS Combat Scout
The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior was a further development of the successful Bell OH-58 Kiowa. Intended to be fielded alongside the Apache Longbow and provide scouting and observation capabilities in an offensive support capacit...

United States
1985

Boeing / McDonnell Douglas / Hughes AH-64 Apache / Apache Longbow
Originally a Hughes-based design, the YAH-64 faced off against a Bell YAH-63 system in the United States Army's search for an advanced attack helicopter. The system was to field the latest in technology, maneuverability and b...

United States
1984

Boeing / McDonnell Douglas / Northrop F/A-18 Hornet
The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based attack fighter currently in frontline service with a variety of forces worldwide. Derived from the failed YF-17 Cobra attempt at a new USAF lightweight fighter (the F-17 lost o...

United States
1983

Boeing 757-200
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United States
1978

Boeing 767-300
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United States
1981

Boeing AV-8B / BAe GR.7 Harrier II
The AV-8B Harrier II was a follow up design undertaken by the McDonnell Douglas corporation with the junior partner being the British Aerospace Corporation (BAe). The system built upon the successes encountered during use of ...

United States
1985

Boeing CT-43 / T-43A
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United States
1973

Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS
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United States
1977

Boeing E-4 Airborne Command Post
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United States
1975

Dassault Falcon 50
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France
1979

Dassault Super Etendard (Standard)
The Dassault Super Etendard ("Standard") was a further development of the base Etendard platform that performed well in service with the French Navy. The system saw deliveries start from the late 1970's onward and by the end ...

France
1978

Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000
The Mirage 2000 was developed as a replacement for previous versions of the Mirage airframe platform. This new version incorporated many design, engineering and production elements learned from the post-war years of aircraft ...

France
1979

Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet
The Alpha Jet series of aircraft was a joint Franco-German initiative to produce a highly-advanced tactical trainer with close-support capabilities. The French firm of Dassault-Breguet generated the initial evaluation model u...

France
1978

Dornier Do 228
The Dornier Do 228 appeared in the early 1980's and served as a utility transport and maritime patrol aircraft for several global military branches. The high-wing monoplane was a versatile and steady performer, powered by two...

Germany
1981

E-6A Mercury TACAMO
...

United States
1989

Eurocopter BO 105
The Bo 105 is a light utility helicopter system recognized around the globe for its versatility, performance and safety record. The system has served (and continues to do so) in a military and civilian capacity in nations thr...

Germany
1970

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)
The uniquely-designed A-10 Thunderbolt II (its namesake derived from the World War II piston-engine fighter/bomber - the P-47 Thunderbolt) was specifically developed as a close-support anti-tank killing machine. The A-10 woul...

United States
1976

General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111 Raven
The EF-111 Raven was a developed from a United States Air Force need for an electronic warfare aircraft to replace its aging fleet of EB-66 platforms. The EF-111 was born directly from the airframe of the existing F-111 Aardv...

United States
1981

General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 Fighting Falcon can officially go down as one of the most successful aircraft designs of the Cold War. The system was designed in a head-to-head competition with the McDonnell Douglas YF-17 Cobra and successfully def...

United States
1979

General Dynamics F-16XL
Though appearing very much like the F-16 Fighting Falcon base model, the F-16XL was designed as a very different aircraft. The F-16XL was a conversion model development designed to study the effects of laminar airflow at supe...

United States
1982

Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat-series of variable-geometry wing carrier-capable interceptors is one of the true living success stories of Cold War aircraft design. The system was popularized by the Hollywood motion picture "Top Gun"...

United States
1970

Grumman X-29
The Grumman X-29 was a technology demonstrator used to test a variety of aerial elements including direction thrust, canards and forward-swept wing formations....

United States
1982

Gulfstream II / III / C-20 / SRA-1
...

United States
1983

IAI Kfir
The Israeli Aircraft Industries Kfir (Lion Cub) series is considered by many to be the ultimate version of the French-made Dassault Mirage 5 series. The system was produced locally from existing French-made Mirage III series ...

Israel
1974

IAI RQ-2 Pioneer
The RQ-2 Pioneer series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) was one of the first operational entries into the United States Military family of UAVs. In its early form, the system served battleship vessels with artillery spottin...

Israel
1986

Ilyushin IL-76 Candid
...

Soviet Union
1975

Kamov Ka-27 (Helix)
The Ka-27 Helix was designed and built as a replacement for the aging Soviet-era Ka-25 navy helicopter - also built by Kamov. The Ka-27 is designated as an anti-ship helicopter for the Russian Navy but fulfills a variety o...

Soviet Union
1975

Lockheed / Vought S-3 Viking
The S-3 Viking series of carrier-borne aircraft was a joint production effort from the Lockheed and Vought aircraft firms. Selected from no fewer than five proposals from various other companies an including the two aforement...

United States
1974

Lockheed AC-130H Spectre / AC-130U Spooky
Since the advent of the airplane as an instrument of war, warplanners have relied on the power of mobile aerial attacks to keep an enemy on its toes. From the simple dropping of flechettes on entrenched enemy positions in Wor...

United States
1972

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
At one time the Lockheed-built C-5 Galaxy was the largest aircraft ever produced, being able to field a compliment of 350 troops, 10 LAV-type systems, 5 Humvee vehicles, 2 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or a single CH-47 Chinook...

United States
1980

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk (Stealth Fighter)
Aptly-named, the Lockheed-produced F-117 Nighthawk became the world’s first operational stealth aircraft in the world. Conceived of and developed from the late 1970’s, the Nighthawk was the subject of much speculation before ...

United States
1982

Lockheed MC-130 Combat Shadow
The MC-130 platform has served special forces operations since the Vietnam War and is based on the successful Lockheed C-130 cargo aircraft platform. The MC-130P Combat Shadow specifically serves as an inflight refueling vehi...

United States
1986

Lun Ekranoplan
The Lun-class Ekranoplan floatplane was one of the most distinct designs to emerge from the Cold War. The aircraft was designed around the idea known as "wing-in-ground" effect, which basically allowed for an increased weight...

Soviet Union
1987

McDonnell Douglas / Boeing F-15 Eagle
For a time, the F-15 Eagle series was the pinnacle of American air superiority incorporating technolgy and design that produced a highly manuervable and performanced enhanced multi-role fighter platform. The F-15 was designed...

United States
1974

McDonnell Douglas / Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle
The F-15E "Strike Eagle" expands the role of one of the Cold War's most potent aircraft designs - the F-15 Eagle. Strike Eagle capabilities were introduced in the latter 1980's to provide the F-15 Eagle base aircraft the abil...

United States
1988

McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
...

United States
1981

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger)
Original models designed to replace the short-range yet successful MiG-21 Fishbed were accepted and reviewed by the Soviet military powers. One such version was actually an enlarged model of the base MiG-21 whilst the other w...

Soviet Union
1973

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Foxbat)
The MiG-25 Foxbat was designed as a high-speed pure interceptor to combat the developing XB-70 Valkyrie American bomber capable of Mach 3. Though the Valkyrie never materialized for US war planners, the MiG-25 was kept in pro...

Soviet Union
1972

Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-27 (Flogger)
The MiG-27 (NATO designation of "Flogger"), like the MiG-23 before it, was a stop-gap measure until the full arrival of the Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot". The MiG-27 stood as a strike-fighter derivative to the highly-acclaimed swin...

Soviet Union
1970

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 (Fulcrum)
The MiG-29 Fulcrum was and continues to be a highly prized and respected multirole fighter in service with Russia and a plethora of countries worldwide. The system has proven very robust, flexible and highly maneuverable in t...

Soviet Union
1984

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 (Foxhound)
The Mikoyan-Gurevich produced MiG-31 was the culmination of work that began with the development of the MiG-25 Foxbat series of high-altitude, high-speed interceptors challenged with taking out the new generation of long-rang...

Soviet Union
1979

Mil Mi-14 (Haze)
The Mil Mi-14 (NATO codename "Haze") was a dedicated naval anti-submarine helicopter appearing in limited production numbers throughout the Cold War beginning in 1975. The system was a further development of the Mil Mi-8 seri...

Soviet Union
1975

Mil Mi-24 / Mi-25 / Mi-35 (Hind)
The Mil-produced series of "Hind" helicopters was a favorite Cold War-relic and continues (albeit modernized) in many of today's armies including Russias. The heavy helicopter is capable of commanding various battlefield role...

Soviet Union
1973

Mil Mi-26 (Halo)
At the time of its inception, the Cold War-era Mi-26 (codenamed "Halo" by NATO) was - and still remains - the most powerful operational helicopter in the world. Intended to replace the aging Mil Mi-6 series, the Mi-26 accompl...

Soviet Union
1983

Mil Mi-28 (Havoc)
The Mi-28 (NATO reporting name of "Havoc") was a product of the Cold War designed as an anti-tank attack platform similar in nature to the American-produced AH-64 Apache series. Like the Apache, the Mi-28 featured an armored ...

Soviet Union
1983

Mitsubishi F-1
The Mitsubishi F-1 fighter aircraft was a milestone design for the small island country as it represented the nations first all-Japanese design and produced fighter since the closing days of World War 2. Based highly on the e...

Japan
1977

Nanchang Q-5 (Fantan)
With China already in possession of what was essentially the Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 "Farmer" in the Chinese copy known as the Shenyang J-6, it was decided upon developing a ground attack version of the aircraft ...

China
1970

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter / F-5 Tiger II
The Northrop-produced F-5 Tiger series was intended as a low-cost, low-maintenance alternative for Allies of the United States during the Cold War years. The initial model was the F-5 "Freedom Fighter", which in turn spawned ...

United States
1976

Northrop YF-17 Cobra
The YF-17 Cobra was a Northrop Aviation creation through NASA to support further testing and research of aircraft at transonic speeds (meaning just underneath the speed of sound, or 700-780mph / 1,127-1,255kph). The YF-17 Cob...

United States
1972

Panavia Tornado ADV
The Panavia Tornado series of strike aircraft was developed through a consortium featuring the nations of Britain, Germany (West) and Italy. Each country would be responsible for the design and construction of a specialized p...

United Kingdom
1984

Panavia Tornado GR.1
The Panavia Tornado GR.1 (or GR.Mk 1) is a slightly differing variant of the Tornado IDS base model. The Tornado is produced by an international consortium of European countries that include Germany and Italy all of which ope...

United Kingdom
1979

Panavia Tornado IDS / ECR
The Panavia Tornado was produced from a consortium of companies in the UK, Germany and Italy. The weapon system was designed from the beginning to operate from extremely short or battle-damaged runways, with the assumption be...

United Kingdom
1979

Rockwell / Boeing B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 Lancer series was a variable sweep wing low-altitude penetration aircraft capable of delivering nuclear free-fall bombs at high speeds. The system was designed from a Cold War initiative in 1965 by the United...

United States
1985

Rockwell XFV-12
The XFV-12 aircraft was a proposed Rockwell International design to a United States Navy requirement for a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft system. Though a promising concept from the beginning, the XFV-12 was te...

United States
1977

SEPECAT Jaguar
The Jaguar became the first ever international aircraft joint development product when Britain and France expressed interest in a similar multi-role supersonic performer. The British were in the market for an advanced jet tra...

France
1972

Shenyang J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)
The Shenyang J-8 series (NATO codename of "Finback") was an indigenous Chinese multi-role fighter design appearing in 1980. As China was already in the habit of purchasing Soviet equipment, it was only natural that the design...

China
1980

Sikorsky CH-53 Super Stallion
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United States
1981

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low
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United States
1981

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
The Sikorsky-produced UH-60 Black Hawk series of transport helicopters is the current standard infantry and MedEvac helicopter of the United States Army. Charged with replacing the much loved and respected Bell UH-1 "Huey" se...

United States
1979

Sikorsky VH-60 Night Hawk
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United States
1989

Sukhoi Su-17 / Su-20 / Su-22 (Fitter)
The Su-17 "Fitter-C" series of aircraft was a variant of the successful Su-7 "Fitter-A" fighter program. Though sharing similarities with the aforementioned system, the Su-17 was in fact a swing-wing derivative of the fixed-w...

Soviet Union
1971

Sukhoi Su-20 (Fitter-C)
The Su-20 "Fitter-C" is nothing more than the export version of the Su-17 "Fitter-B" and "Fitter-C" series of swing-wing aircraft which, themselves, are derivatives of the fixed-wing Su-7 "Fitter-A" series. The Su-20 is based...

Soviet Union
1970

Sukhoi Su-24 (Fencer)
The Su-24 (NATO series name of "Fencer") was a successful Sukhoi product requested by the Soviet government to replace their aging IL-28 and Yak-28 medium-class bombers. Though initial research resulted in a delta-wing design...

Soviet Union
1974

Sukhoi Su-25 (Frogfoot)
The Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot" series of aircraft harkened back to the successes of the Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik close-support fighter-bombers. The Su-25 was quite a departure from traditional jet aircraft designs of the time and i...

Soviet Union
1981

Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
The Su-27 "Flanker" series of aircraft is regarded by most airplane aficionados as the ultimate in Russian fighter design. The Su-27 first appeared in the middle of the 1980's, completely taking NATO and American warplanners ...

Russia
1984

Sukhoi Su-35 / Su-37 (Super Flanker)
The Su-35 (and similar Su-37) is known as the "Super Flanker". The Su-35 is based on the Su-27 Flanker air-superiority fighter developed in the 1980's with the Su-35 representing a 'more-capable' Su-27. The Su-35 features ...

Soviet Union
1985

Tupolev Tu-160 (Blackjack)
At the time of it's inception, the Tupolev-produced Tu-160 "Blackjack" was the largest swing-wing bomber ever produced also mounting the most powerful engines to an aircraft platform ever. Developed as a direct counter to the...

Russia
1989

Tupolev Tu-22 (Backfire)
The Tupolev Tu-22 "Backfire" series is a variable-geometry swing-wing aircraft classified as a medium bomber - of the only true remaining modern "medium bomber" designated aircraft currently flying. The system was originally ...

Soviet Union
1975

Westland Lynx
The Westland/AugustaWestland Lynx is a series of successful maritime/transport/attack helicopters from Europe. The Lynx originated from a civilian design when military interest was raised about the capabilities of the aircraf...

United Kingdom
1977

Westland Lynx HAS.8
The Super Lynx HMA.8 represents the naval version of the successful line of Lynx attack/transport/maritime helicopters. In the navy role (utilized by many a NATO country), the Super Lynx HMA.8 can be armed with an array of an...

United Kingdom
1976

Yakovlev Yak-38 (Forger)
The Yakovlev Yak-38 Forger became the first (and last) VTOL service aircraft for the Soviet Union / Russian Federation. Attempting to fulfill the same role as did the British Aerospace Harrier VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Land...

Soviet Union
1971

With the Cold War in full swing, the eyes of the world were focused on the Vietnam conflict in Southeast Asia. American technology faced off against Soviet in a battle of super powers through satellite states. Military technological dominance was not to be the victory piece for the Americans as they gave up hope in defending South Vietnam from Northern aggression.

The world was then focused on the emerging threat of renegade satellite states throughout the world as the former empires in Europe and elsewhere gave up holding on to their former colonies. New presidents in the east and west would give into a period of piece and dismantling of nuclear weapons, though technology continued to push the envelope of flight in the form of swing-wing fighter/bomber designs, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft and the emerging realm of stealth technology. 1989 would also see the fall of the Soviet Union as an official Communist world power. This listing represents aircraft reaching operational service from 1970 - 1989.

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