What are military aircraft like?

Under the label "military aircraft" live machines that barely resemble each other. Fighters are small, supersonic and highly maneuverable. Attack aircraft and bombers trade agility for payload and range: a B-52 has a 56 m wingspan and carries over 30 tonnes of weapons. Transports like the C-130, the A400M or the C-17 have high wings, wide fuselages, rear ramps and landing gear built for unpaved runways. Tankers, early-warning aircraft and maritime patrol planes are usually derived from airliners, such as the Boeing 767 of the KC-46 or the 737 of the P-8, fitted with refueling booms, dome-mounted radars or sonobuoy bays.

Despite the variety, there are traits that set any military aircraft apart from a civilian one. The structure is designed for heavier loads and to keep flying after taking damage. Critical systems are duplicated or armored, especially on attack aircraft and helicopters. The paint is low-visibility, in grays or camouflage patterns. Almost all carry radar warning receivers, flare and chaff dispensers and encrypted radios, and many can refuel in flight. National roundels are mandatory so the aircraft is recognized as belonging to the State.

A fighter carries one or two occupants; a patrol or early-warning aircraft, a dozen systems operators. Military aircraft fly few hours per year compared with a commercial airliner, between 150 and 300 per unit, but under demanding conditions, and they remain in service for decades: the B-52 entered service in 1955 and will remain active past 2040. The crewed fleet is increasingly joined by drones, from reconnaissance quadcopters to high-altitude aircraft like the MQ-9 Reaper, with a 20 m wingspan and over 24 hours of endurance.