Current US military aircraft and their Russian and Chinese counterparts (95 Pics)
Air Superiority Fighter:
USA:
1. McDonell Douglas F-15C Eagle.
Russia:
2. Sukhoi Su-27SM "Flanker-B".
China:
3. Shenyang J-11B "Flanker-B+".
Multirole Strike Fighter:
USA:
4. McDonell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle.
Russia:
5. Sukhoi Su-30SM "Flanker-C".
China:
6. Shenyang J-16.
Multirole Lightweight Fighter:
USA:
7. General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 50/52.
Russia:
8. Mikoyan MiG-29SMT "Fulcrum-E".
China:
9. Chengdu J-10A "Firebird".
Carrier-based Multirole Fighter:
USA:
10. McDonell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet.
Note: The Super Hornet doesn't compare very well to the Russian and Chinese counterparts, so I used the lagacy Hornet.
Russia:
11. Mikoyan MiG-29K "Fulcrum-E".
Note: The Russians also use the Sukhoi Su-33, but it doesn't compare to the F/A-18 Hornet very well.
China:
12. Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark.
Note: The J-15 doesn't compare very well to the legacy Hornet, but it's the only carrier-based fighter the Chinese have.
Primary Trainer:
USA:
13. Beechcraft T-6A/B Texan II.
Russia:
14. Yakovlev Yak-152.
China:
15. Nanchang CJ-6.
Note: While the USA uses a turboprop for primary training, the Russians and the Chinese usually prefer to use jets like the Aero L-39 Albatross, and the Hongdu JL-8, and occasionally use propeller aircraft for training. I've heard Russian generals say that propeller trainers can potentially ruin fighter pilots.
Advanced Jet Trainer:
USA:
16. Northrop T-38C Talon.
Russia:
17. Yakovlev Yak-130 "Mitten".
China:
18. Hongdu L-15 Falcon.
Note: China also uses the Guizhou JL-9 for advanced jet training.
Carrier-based Trainer:
19. Boeing T-45 Goshawk.
China:
20. Guizhou JL-9G.
Note 1: The JL-9G is not Carrier capable, and can only simulate Carrier landings on land with arresting wires placed on normal runways, whereas the T-45 is fully Carrier capable.
Note 2: Russia does not possess a dedicated trainer for Carrier operations, it simply uses a two-seat training version of the MiG-29K.
Attack Aircraft:
USA:
21. Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II.
Russia:
22. Sukhoi Su-25 Grach "Frogfoot".
China:
23. Nanchang Q-5 "Fantan".
Note: The Q-5 was retired in 2017 and was replaced by the JH-7 "Flounder" Fighter-Bomber.
Strategic Bomber:
USA:
24. Boeing B-52H Stratofortress.
Russia:
25. Tupolev Tu-95MS "Bear-H".
China:
26. Xian H-6K.
Supersonic Strategic Bomber:
27. Rockwell B-1B Lancer.
28. Tupolev Tu-160M "Blackjack".
Note: China does not possess a supersonic strategic bomber.
Large Strategic Airlifter:
USA:
29. Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy.
Russia:
30. Antonov An-124 Ruslan.
Note 1: Antonov is from Ukraine, and is getting a special pass for now.
Note 2: China does not possess a large strategic airlifter.
Strategic Airlifter:
USA:
31. Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.
Russia:
32. Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A "Candid".
China:
33. Xian Y-20.
Tactical Airlifter:
USA:
34. Lockheed C-130H Hercules.
Russia:
35. Antonov An-12BP "Cub".
China:
36. Shaanxi Y-8C.
Modern Tactical Airlifter:
USA:
37. Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules.
China:
38. Shaanxi Y-9.
Note: Russia does not possess a modern tactical airlifter, as the sale of the Antonov An-70 has been stopped by Ukraine due to conflict between the two countries. Russia now has to wait until the Ilyushin Il-276 is ready.
AWACS Aircraft:
USA:
39. Boeing E-3G Sentry.
Russia:
40. Beriev A-50U "Mainstay".
China:
41. KJ-2000 "Mainring".
Note 1: The KJ-2000 and the A-50 are both based on the Il-76. China made the KJ-2000 after the US government blocked the sale of the China-specific A-50I due to its Israeli radar.
Note 2: China operates multiple AWACS aircraft including the Y-8-based KJ-200 "Moth", and the Y-9-based KJ-500.
Maritime Patrol and Anti-submarine Warfare Aircraft:
USA:
42. Lockheed P-3C Orion.
Note: The US Navy's P-3 Orions are going to be fully replaced by P-8 Poseidon in the coming months.
Russia:
43. Ilyushin Il-38N Dolphin "May".
China:
44. Shaanxi Y-8FQ/GX-6.
Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) Aircraft:
USA:
45. Lockheed EP-3E Aries II.
Russia:
46. Ilyushin Il-20M "Coot-A".
China:
47. Shaanxi Y-9JB/GX-8.
Electronic Warfare Aircraft:
USA:
48. Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call.
Russia:
49. Ilyushin Il-22PP "Coot-B".
Note: Russia also uses the Antonov An-12BK-PPS in the electronic warfare role, but it's Ukrainian, so I chose the Il-22PP instead.
China:
50. Shaanxi Y-9G/GX-11.
Note: The Y-9G/GX-11 is a replacement for the Y-8G/GX-1.
Aerial Refuelling Aircraft:
USA:
51. McDonell Douglas KC-10A Extender.
52. Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.
Note 1: I only put one aircraft type per country, but the KC-135 gets special permission because it's awesome.
Note 2: The US also uses multiple types of C-130-based KC-130s for aerial refueling.
Russia:
53. Ilyushin Il-78MK "Midas".
Note: Only western refueling aircraft use the flying boom method of aerial refueling, usually in conjunction with the probe and drogue method (like the KC-10 above). Other refueling aircraft only use the probe and drogue method of aerial refueling.
China:
54. Xian HY-6DU.
Note: The HY-6 is based on the H-6 bomber.
Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) Aircraft:
USA:
55. Lockheed Martin EC-130J Commando Solo III.
China:
56. Shaanxi Y-8GX-7.
Note 1: PSYOPS Aircraft are basically flying broadcasting machines. They're used to broadcast propaganda, safe areas during disaster relief operations, enforce no-fly zones, etc.
Note 2: Russia does not possess a PSYOPS aircraft.
Airborne Command Post Aircraft:
USA:
57. Boeing E-4B Nightwatch.
Note: The US also uses the Boeing 707-based E-6C Mercury in the Airborne Command Post role.
Russia:
58. Ilyushin Il-96-400.
Note: Russia also uses the Il-80 "Maxdome", Il-87, and Il-22M "Coot-B" in the airborne command post role.
China:
59. Shaanxi Y-8GX-3.
Presidential Transport Aircraft:
USA:
60. Boeing VC-25A.
Russia:
61. Ilyushin Il-96-300PU.
China:
62. Winnie the Pooh man just borrows an Air China Boeing 747-400.
Reconnaissance Aircraft:
USA:
63. Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint.
Russia:
64. Tupolev Tu-214R.
China:
65. Tupolev Tu-154M.
Open Skies Aircraft:
USA:
66. Boeing OC-135B Open Skies.
Russia:
67. Tupolev Tu-214ON.
Note: China doesn't participate in the Open Skies Treaty, because it is asshoe.
Fifth Generation Stealth Air Superiority Fighter:
USA:
68. Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor.
Russia:
69. Sukhoi Su-57.
EDIT: The Su-57 just got its NATO reporting name yesterday, it's codenamed "Felon". How fitting.
China:
70. Chengdu J-20.
Search and Rescue Aircraft:
USA:
71. Lockheed HC-130J Combat King II
Russia:
72. Antonov An-12PS.
73. China:
73. Shaanxi Y-8GX-2.
Attack Helicopter:
USA:
74. Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian.
Russia:
75. Mil Mi-28N "Havoc".
China:
76. CAIC WZ-10H.
Light Attack Helicopter:
USA:
77. Bell AH-1Z Viper.
China:
78. Harbin Z-19.
Note: Russia doesn't know what "lightweight" means, so they don't possess a light attack helicopter.
Heavy Lift Helicopter:
USA:
79. Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion.
Russia:
80. Mil Mi-26 "Halo".
81. Changhe Z-8A.
Utility Transport Helicopter:
USA:
82. Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk.
Russia:
83. Mil Mi-8MTV-5 "Hip".
China:
84. Harbin Z-20.
Armed Utility Helicopter:
USA:
85. Sikorsky MH-60M DAP (Direct Action Penetrator).
Russia:
86. Mil Mi-8AMTSh "Hip".
China:
87. Harbin Z-9WA.
Anti-submarine Warfare Helicopter:
USA:
88. Sikorsky MH-60R Sea Hawk.
Russia:
89. Kamov Ka-27M "Helix-D".
China:
90. Harbin Z-9E.
Search and Rescue Helicopter:
USA:
91. Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk.
Russia:
92. Kamov Ka-27PS "Helix-D".
China:
93. Changhe Z-8KA.
Presidential Transport Helicopter:
USA:
94. Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk.
Russia:
95. Mil Mi-8MTV-1 "Hip".
