Strategic bombers are primarily designed for long-range bombing missions against strategic targets such as supply bases, bridges, factories, shipyards, and cities themselves, in order to damage an enemy's war effort. Current examples include the nuclear-armed: B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear', Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfire'; historically notable examples are the: Gotha G, Avro Lancaster, Heinkel He-111, Junkers Ju 88, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress, and Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger'.
Tactical bombing, aimed at enemy's military units and installations, is typically assigned to smaller aircraft operating at shorter ranges, typically along the troops on the ground or sea. This role is filled by various aircraft classes, as different as light bombers, medium bombers, dive bombers, fighter-bombers, ground-attack aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, among others. Current examples: F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, Sukhoi Su-34 'Fullback', Chengdu J-10, Xian JH-7, Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000, and the Panavia Tornado; historical examples: Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, P-47 Thunderbolt, Hawker Typhoon, and F-4 Phantom II.
The list of Aircraft Bomber in the world:| Bomber | Picture | Specifications | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (Stealth Bomber) |  | Max speed: Mach 0.95 (550 knots, 630 mph, 1,010 km/h) Range: 6,000 nmi (11,100 km) Armament: 2 internal bays for 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of ordnance. 80× 500 lb (Mk-82) 36× 750 lb CBU class bombs 16× 2000 lb class weapons (Mk-84, JDAM-84, JDAM-102) 16× B61 or B83 nuclear |  US | 1997 |
| Tupolev Tu-160 (Blackjack) |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 (2,220 km/h, 1,200 knots, 1,380 mph) Range: 12,300 km (7,643 mi) Armament: 2 internal bays for 40,000 kg 2 internal rotary launchers each holding 6 × Raduga Kh-55 cruise missiles or 12× Raduga Kh-15 short-range nuclear missiles |  Soviet Union | 1989 |
| Rockwell / Boeing B-1 Lancer |  | Maximum speed: Mach 1.25 (721 knots, 830 mph, 1,340 km/h Range: 6,478 nmi (11,998 km) Armament: 6 external hardpoints for 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) of ordnance 3 internal bomb bays for 75,000 lb (34,000 kg) of ordnance. etc | US | 1985 |
| A-12 Avenger II |  | Maximum speed: 500 knots (580 mph, 930 km/h) Range: 800 nmi (920 mi, 1,480 km) Armament: 5,160 pounds (2,300 kg) in internal weapons bay including: 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles 2× AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles Unguided or precision-guided bombs | US | 1983 |
| F-117 Nighthawk |  | Maximum speed: Mach 0.92 (617 mph, 993 km/h) Cruise speed: Mach 0.92 Range: 930 NM (1720 km) Service ceiling: 69,000 ft (20,000 m) Wing loading: 65 lb/ft² (330 kg/m²) Thrust/weight: 0.40 | US | 1982 |
| Tupolev Tu-22 |  | Maximum speed: 1,510 km/h (938 mph, Mach 1.42) Range: 4,900 km (3,045 mi) Armament: Guns: 1 × AM-23 23 mm cannon Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) or Missiles: 1 × Kh-22 (AS-4 'Kitchen') cruise missile | Soviet Union | 1975 |
| Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer |  | Maximum speed: 1,315 km/h (710 kn, 815 mph, Mach 1.08) Range: 2,775 km (1,500 nm, 1,725 mi) Armament: 1 × GSh-6-23 cannon, Up to 8,000 kg (17,640 lb) ordnance on 8 up to 4 × Kh-23; up to 4 × Kh-25ML laser-guided missiles; up to 2 × Kh-28, Kh-58, or Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles; up to 3 × Kh-29L/T laser/TV-guided missiles; up to 2 × Kh-59 TV-command guided missiles, or KAB-500KR TV-guided and KAB-500L laser-guided bombs. Unguided rocket launchers with 55 mm S-5 rockets, 80 mm S-8 rockets, or 120 mm S-13 2 × R-60 air-to-air missiles are normally carried for self-defense; upgrade aircraft can carry R-73 as well. | Soviet Union | 1974 |
| Grumman A-6 Intruder |  | Maximum speed: 563 knots (648 mph, 1,040 km/h) Range: 2,819 nmi (3,245 mi, 5,222 km) Armament: 5 total: 4× wing and 1× fuselage with 18,000 lb (8,170 kg) | US | 1968 |
| F-111 Aardvark |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph, 2,655 km/h Range: 4,200 mi (3,700 nmi, 6,760 km) Armament: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 9 in total (8× under-wing, 1× under-fuselage between engines) plus 2 attach points in weapons bay with a capacity of 31,500 lb (14,300 kg) and provisions to carry combinations | US | 1967 |
| XB-70 Valkyrie |  | Maximum speed: Mach 3.1 (2,056 mph, 3,309 km/h) Range: 3,725 nmi (4,288 mi, 6,900 km) on combat mission | US | 1964 |
| Dassault Mirage IV |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,340 km/h, 1,264 knots, 1,454 mph) at 13,125 m (40,000 ft) Range: 4,000 km (2,160 nm, 2,484 mi) Armament: 1× AN-11 free-fall nuclear bomb or 1× AN-22 free-fall nuclear bomb or 16× 454 kg (1,000 lb) free-fall conventional bombs |  France | 1963 |
| A-5 Vigilante |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (1,149 knots, 1,320 mph, 2,123 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,200 m) Range: 1,571 nmi (1,807 mi, 2,909 km) Armament: 1× Mark 27 nuclear bomb, B28 or B43 freefall nuclear bomb in internal weapons bay 2× B43, Mark 83, or Mark 84 bombs on two external hardpoints | US | 1961 |
| Convair B-58 Hustler |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (1,319mph) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m) Range: 4,100 mi (4,700 nmi, 7,600 km) Armament: Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.79 in) T171 cannon Bombs: 4× B-43 or B61 nuclear bombs; maximum weapons load was 19,450 lb (8,820 kg) | US | 1960 |
| BAC TSR-2 |  | Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 at 40,000 ft/12,000 m (Mach 0.9 at sea level) Range: 2,500 nmi (2,880, mi, 4,630 km) Armament: Total weapons load of 10,000 lb (4,500 kg); 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) internal and 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) external |  UK | 1959 |
| Myasishchev M-4 Molot |  | Maximum speed: 947 km/h (588 mph) Range: 8,100 km (5,030 mi) ferry; 5,600 km (3,480 mi) combat radius Armament: Guns: 9×23 mm NR-23 cannon or 6×23 mm AM-23 cannon in ventral, Missiles: Up to four cruise missiles Bombs: Typically 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of internal stores. Up to 24,000 kg (52,910 lb) could be carried, including nuclear and conventional bombs | Soviet Union | 1959 |
| Xian H-6 |  | Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (656 mph) Range: 6,000 km (3,200 nm, 3,700 mi) Armament: Guns: 2× 23 mm (0.906 in) Nudelman-Rikhter Missiles: 6 or 7 KD-88 missile, C-601 anti-ship missile, YJ-62 (C-602) anti-ship missile, C-301 anti-ship missile, C-101 anti-ship missile Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weapons | Soviet Union | 1958 |
| Handley Page Victor |  | Maximum speed: 1,009 km/h (627 mph) Range: 6,000 km (3,200 nm, 3,700 mi) Armament: Up to 35 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs or 1× Yellow Sun free-fall nuclear bomb | UK | 1957 |
| Tupolev Tu-95 (Bear) |  | Maximum speed: 920 km/h (510 knots, 575 mph) Range: 15,000 km (8,100 nmi, 9,400 mi) unrefueled Armament: 1 or 2 × 23 mm AM-23 autocannon in tail turret. 15,000 kg (33,000 lb), including the Raduga Kh-20, Kh-22, Kh-26, and Kh-55 air-to-surface missiles. | Soviet Union | 1957 |
| Avro Vulcan Strategic Bomber |  | Maximum speed: Mach 0.96 (607 mph (1,040 km/h)) Range: 2,607 mi (4,171 km) Armament: 21 x 1,000 pounds (454 kg) of conventional bombs, 1 x Blue Danube nuclear gravity bomb 1 x Violet Club 400 kT nuclear gravity bomb, 1 x US Mark 5 nuclear gravity bomb supplied under Project E, 1 x Yellow Sun Mk.1 400 kT nuclear gravity bomb, 1 x Yellow Sun Mk 2 1.1 MT thermonuclear gravity bomb, 1 x Red Beard nuclear gravity bomb | UK | 1956 |
| B-66 Destroyer Bomber |  | Maximum speed: 631 mph (548 kn, 1,020 km/h) Range: 2,470 mi (2,150 nmi, 3,970 km) Armament: Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) M24 cannons in radar-controlled/remotely operated tail turret Bombs: 15,000 pounds (6,803.9 kg) | US | 1956 |
| Boeing B-52 Stratofortress |  | Maximum speed: 560 kt (650 mph, 1,047 km/h) Combat radius: 4,480 mi (3,890 nmi, 7,210 km) Armament: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan cannon 70,000 pounds (31,500 kg) bombs, mines, missiles, | US | 1955 |
| Myasishchev M-4 Molot |  | Maximum speed: 947 km/h (588 mph) Range: 8,100 km (5,030 mi) ferry; 5,600 km (3,480 mi) combat radius Guns: 9×23 mm NR-23 cannon or 6×23 mm AM-23 cannon in ventral, dorsal and tail barbettes. 1,100 rounds in ventral and dorsal barbettes, 2,000 rounds in tail barbette. Missiles: Up to four cruise missiles carried externally. Bombs: Typically 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of internal stores. Up to 24,000 kg (52,910 lb) could be carried, including nuclear and conventional bombs | Soviet Union | 1955 |
| Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant |  | Maximum speed: 567 mph (493 knots, 913 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,150 m) Range: 4,500 mi (3,910 nmi, 7,245 km) with underwing tanks Bombs: 1 × 10,000 lb (4500 kg) Blue Danube nuclear bomb or 21 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs | UK | 1955 |
| Tupolev Tu-16 |  | Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (650 mph; 570 kn) Range: 7,200 km (4,474 mi; 3,888 nmi) Guns: 6-7 × 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons, Missiles: 2 × Raduga KS-1 Komet (AS-1 Kennel) anti-ship missile on underwing hardpoints, or 1 × Raduga K-10S (AS-2 Kipper) anti-ship missile semi-recessed in bomb bay, or 2 × Raduga KSR-5 (AS-6 Kingfish) anti-ship missile on underwing hardpoints Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weapons | Soviet Union | 1954 |
| Boeing B-47 Stratojet |  | Maximum speed: 607 mph (528 kn, 977 km/h) Cruise speed: 557 mph (484 kn, 896 km/h) Combat radius: 2,013 mi (1,749 nmi, 3,240 km) with 20,000 lb (9,000 kg) Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) M24A1 autocannons Bombs: 25,000 lb (11,000 kg) of ordnance, including: 2 × Mk15 nuclear bombs (3.8 megaton yield each), or 1 × B41 nuclear bomb (25 megaton yield), or 1 × B53 nuclear bomb (9 megaton yield), or 28 × 500 lb (230 kg) conventional bombs | US | 1951 |
| Martin B-57 Canberra |  | Maximum speed: Mach 0.79 (598 mph, 960 km/h) at 2,500 ft (760 m) Cruise speed: 476 mph (414 knots, 765 km/h) Combat radius: 950 mi (825 nm, 1,530 km) with 5,250 lb (2,380 kg) of bombs Ferry range: 2,720 mi (2,360 nm, 4,380 km) Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39 cannon, 290 rounds/gun Bombs: 4,500 lb (2,000 kg) in bomb bay, including nuclear bombs 2,800 lb (1,300 kg) on four external hardpoints | US | 1951 |
| Short Sturgeon |  | Maximum speed: 318 knots (366 mph, 590 km/h) at 24,200 ft Cruise speed: 312 mph (502 km/h) at 15,000 ft Service ceiling: 35,200 ft (10,700 m) | UK | 1949 |
| Ilyushin Il-28 |  | Maximum speed: 902 km/h (487 knots, 560 mph) at 4,500 m (14,760 ft) Cruise speed: 770 km/h (415 knots, 478 mph) Range: 2,180 km (1,176 nmi, 1,355 mi) at 770 km/h (415 knots, 478 mph) and 10,000 m (32,800 ft) Guns: 4 × Nudelman NR-23 cannons (2 in nose and 2 in tail barbette) Bombs: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) of bombs in internal bay (1,000 kg (2,200 lb) normal) | Soviet Union | 1949 |
| North American AJ Savage |  | Maximum speed: 471 mph (409 kn, 758 km/h) Range: 1,731 mi (1,505 nmi, 2,787 km) Bombs: 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) conventional bombs, or 1× nuclear bomb | US | 1949 |
| Tupolev Tu-4 |  | Maximum speed: 558 km/h at 10,250 m (33,600 ft) (349 mph) Range: 6,200 km (with 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) bomb load) (3,875 mi) Guns: 10× 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 aircraft cannons, Bombs: 6× 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) bombs or 1× atomic bomb (only Tu-4A) or 2× KS-1 Komet standoff missiles | Soviet Union | 1949 |
| Boeing B-50 Superfortress |  | Maximum speed: 394 mph (343 knots, 635 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,150 m) Cruise speed: 244 mph (212 knots, 393 km/h) Combat radius: 2,394 mi (2,082 nmi, 3,855 km) Guns: 13× .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in 4 × remote controlled and manned tail turret Bombs: 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) internally 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) on external hardpoints | US | 1948 |
| North American B-45 Tornado |  | Maximum speed: 570 mph (500 kn, 920 km/h) Range: 1,000 mi (870 nmi, 1,600 km) Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M3 machine guns Bombs: 22,000 lb (10,000 kg) | US | 1948 |
| Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" |  | Maximum speed: 418 mph (363 knots, 672 km/h) Cruise speed: 230 mph (200 knots, 370 km/h) Combat radius: 3,985 mi (3,465 nmi, 6,415 km) Guns: 1 remotely operated tail turret with 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) M24A1 autocannons Bombs: 86,000 lb (39,000 kg) with weight restrictions, 72,000 lb (32,700 kg) normal | US | 1947 |
