"24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at combat aircraft being ordered by world militaries from older models like the L-39 Albatros to newer fifth-generation fighter jets. To identify the oldest combat aircraft that world militaries are still buying, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft chronologically."
"This post was updated on January 12, 2026 to provide an overview of older military aircraft and why they are still effective in modern warfare.Why Are We Covering This? Understanding which combat aircraft are used by the militaries around the world provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also knowing what other countries have in their arsenals further explains relative military capabilities."
Twenty-five combat aircraft are on order by world militaries, arranged chronologically from the B-21 Raider to the Aero L-39 Albatros. The selection includes modern fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and Su-57, multirole platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale, and legacy types including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, MiG-29/35, and Aero L-39 Albatros. Light attack and trainer aircraft such as the AT-802 Air Tractor, AT-6 Wolverine, and IS-64 Pampa remain in service. Strategic and heavy platforms include the Tu-160 Blackjack.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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