Powerful Militaries Still Employ These Old Combat Aircraft

By Christian Drerup Updated Jan 12, 12:53PM EST · Published Jan 12, 11:52AM EST

Key Points

The F-35 Lightning II leads all orders with 2,703 units on order globally.
Russia is ordering 50 additional Tu-160 Blackjack bombers despite the design dating to 1989.
The oldest aircraft still being purchased is the L-39 Albatros from 1972.

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Powerful Militaries Still Employ These Old Combat Aircraft — © Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr

In this high-tech age of stealth fighters, hypersonic missiles, and autonomous drones, it may seem surprising that military aircraft designed decades ago are still employed in combat missions today. Yet plenty of the world’s most powerful air forces continue to rely on planes first introduced during the Cold War, or even earlier. An aircraft’s effectiveness depends on more than just cutting-edge technology; longevity, reliability, and adaptability are all just as important in military aviation.

This article explores why aging planes are still essential vehicles for modern militaries, long after newer models have entered service. Over many years, these aircraft have been repeatedly upgraded with modern avionics, weapons, and sensors, allowing them to remain relevant on today’s battlefields. Their continued use reveals that sometimes the best aircraft isn’t the newest one; it’s the one that still gets the job done.

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. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft, how many of these aircraft are in active service, and what militaries employ these aircraft.

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.

Here is a look at the oldest combat aircraft on order by the world’s militaries:

25. B-21 Raider

Type: Strategic long-range stealth bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 2028
Total aircraft on order: 100
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: United States

24. KF-21 Boromae

Type: Fifth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2028
Total aircraft on order: 170
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Indonesia, South Korea

23. Calidus B-250 Bader

Type: Light attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2021
Total aircraft on order: 24
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: United Arab Emirates

22. Su-57 Felon

Type: Fifth-generation stealth aircraft
Year introduced: 2019
Total aircraft on order: 62
Total active aircraft: 14
Militaries buying this aircraft: Russia

21. Hurkus C

Type: Counter-insurgency attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2018
Total aircraft on order: 24
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Turkey

20. F-35 Lightning II

Wisconsin National Guard by The National Guard

Wisconsin National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

Type: Fifth-generation strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2016
Total aircraft on order: 2703
Total active aircraft: 661
Militaries buying this aircraft: United States, Israel, Poland, Canada

19. HAL Tejas

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2015
Total aircraft on order: 180
Total active aircraft: 32
Militaries buying this aircraft: India

18. Su-34 Fullback

Su-34+Fullback | Sukhoi SU-34 FULLBACK (DEFENDER) (ÃÂ¡ÃÂ-34)

Type: Strike fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2014
Total aircraft on order: 4
Total active aircraft: 134
Militaries buying this aircraft: Russia

17. Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine

Beechcraft AT-6 'Wolverine' experimental aircraft by aeroman3

Beechcraft AT-6 'Wolverine' experimental aircraft (PDM 1.0) by aeroman3

Type: Light attack / close-air support aircraft
Year introduced: 2013
Total aircraft on order: 12
Total active aircraft: 0
Militaries buying this aircraft: Thailand, Tunisia

16. JF-17 Thunder

Type: Light fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2007
Total aircraft on order: 47
Total active aircraft: 128
Militaries buying this aircraft: Pakistan, Myanmar

15. Chengdu J-10C Vigorous Dragon

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Total aircraft on order: 7
Total active aircraft: 18
Militaries buying this aircraft: Pakistan

14. FA-50 GF/PL Golden Eagle

Type: Light attack aircraft
Year introduced: 2005
Total aircraft on order: 82
Total active aircraft: 2
Militaries buying this aircraft: Poland, Malaysia

13. Eurofighter Typhoon

United+Kingdom+attack+aircraft | Two Eurofighter "Typhoon FGR4 (FGR.Mk 4)" aircraft, flown by 29 (R) Squadron from RAF Coningsby.

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2003
Total aircraft on order: 157
Total active aircraft: 296
Militaries buying this aircraft: Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

12. Dassault Rafale

Type: Fourth-generation fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 2001
Total aircraft on order: 362
Total active aircraft: 211
Militaries buying this aircraft: France, Egypt, Croatia, India, United Arab Emirates