What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack & fighter?

I was wondering, what is the difference between the two designations attack %26amp; fighter in the US military? I mean the other designations like cargo and bomber i get, but attack %26amp; fighter i just dont know.What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack %26amp; fighter?Attackers don't fair so much a chance in Air-Air combat. But dominate the ground war. Fighters are more of air superiority and fight off other aircraft. In this war we don't see much or any air-air combat. So the ground specific attackers (helicopters usually play bigger roles in here and UAV's) such as A-10 Warthogs get the job done. F-18 F/A were designed also with these roles in mind. Really cool looking airplanes too. Have the maneuverability of attackers with the weapons of both.What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack %26amp; fighter?
attack aircraft provide relative small aircraft capable of carrying substantial payload and long loiter capability, to strike enemy high payoff surface targets in the tactical and operational depth. their effect against air threats is limited.



fighters are designed to destroy enemy air threats, manned and unmanned, and are required to be agile, potent, and long loiter capability, as well.



finally there are interceptors, which basically don't need a loiter time, but potent targetting equipment and potent missiles. they scramble upon detection of enemy air threat, reach the operational altitude and engage threats with standoff weapons.What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack %26amp; fighter?They are pretty much interchangeable, but "Attack" originally meant an aircraft designed or at least configured for air/ground and-or air/sea strike, with air/air being completely secondary. The T-37 was up-engined, given hardpoints and more radios and became the "A-37". The C47/119/130 was altered with sensors and guns and became AC47/119/130 as two examples. The Hornet was going to have two versions: the F-18 for the Navy and the A-18 for the USMC; however the designers found the firecontrol system could easily handle the software for both modes, hence the F-18 (though technically it's "F/A-18"). In its campaign for the F22, the USAF started calling it F/A-22 a completely misleading nomenclature as it was totally designed for the air-air role.

Basically its mission and programatic issues, not what's hanging on the weapons station. For instance the F15E Mudhen should by doctrine be called the "A-15" as it's a different structural design, but there's HUGE issues in acquisition and logistics support with a new designation, so no one's seriously looked at it.

To correct some misconceptions the Viper was never designed as an interceptor. It was an ACTD to show the F15 mafia in the USAF that using new composites and FBW a cheap dogfighter could be built. The A-model was never considered to be more than day-only fighter with the ability to carry some air/ground ordnance. The first aircraft actually designed from the ground up to perform both roles was the F100: air/air and tactical nuclear strike....What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack %26amp; fighter?
Attack aircraft are fighter style aircraft who can take the ground or sea attack roles whereas fighters or interceptors are used solely in the air to air combat role. Planes who fit into the Bomber designation are not considered as attack aircraft but rather by their designation as Bombers.



Though i the F 18/A ( CF-18\A) is the most recent, other aircraft that have been in this role include the F4U, F4UA, P 51, P47, P-38 as well as several German and Russian aircraft..What is the difference between the us military aircraft designations: attack %26amp; fighter?Attack airplanes are meant to attack targets on the ground (buildings, troops, vehicles, facilities) (A-7, A-10)



Fighters are intended to engage and destroy other fighters in air to air combat, or other airplanes (bombers, cargo). (F-16, F-15)



The F/A-18 is the first airplane designed to be used in both roles.