Every German Military Aircraft — Complete List
Germany has operated 76 distinct aircraft types across its military history — 21 still in active service, 5 on order or entering service and 50 retired or former.
Service status76 types
Fighters & Combat Aircraft
12 types
Typhoon
Status In service Service entry2003
Tornado
Status In service Service entry1980
F-35 Lightning II
Status Entering Service entry2013
Alpha Jet
Status Retired Service entry1978
OV-10 Bronco
Status Retired Service entry1967
F-4 Phantom II
Status Retired Service entry1962
G.91 Gina
Status Retired Service entry1959
F-104 Starfighter
Status Retired Service entry1958
MiG-21 Fishbed
Status Retired Service entry1958
F-84F Thunderstreak
Status Retired Service entry1954
F-84 Thunderjet
Status Retired Service entry1950
F-86 Sabre
Status Retired Service entry1949Military Helicopters
21 types
NH90 / Caiman
Status In service Service entry2004
EC665 Tiger
Status In service Service entry2002
H145M / EC645
Status In service Service entry2002
H135M / EC365
Status In service Service entry1996
H215M / AS532 Cougar
Status In service Service entry1978
Westland Lynx
Status In service Service entry1978
CH-53 Sea Stallion
Status In service Service entry1966
CH-47 Chinook
Status Entering Service entry1962
AS332 Super Puma
Status Retired Service entry1981
Mi-14 Haze
Status Retired Service entry1975
Mi-35M
Status Retired Service entry1972
MBB Bo 105
Status Retired Service entry1970
206 JetRanger
Status Retired Service entry1967
Mi-8 Hip
Status Retired Service entry1967
Mi-2 Hoplite
Status Retired Service entry1965
SH-3 Sea King
Status Retired Service entry1961
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
Status Retired Service entry1959
SA315 Alouette II
Status Retired Service entry1957
Mi-4 Hound
Status Retired Service entry1953
H-19 Chickasaw
Status Retired Service entry1950
Bell 47
Status Retired Service entry1946Transport & Tanker Aircraft
17 types
Airbus A350
Status In service Service entry2015
A400M Atlas
Status In service Service entry2013
BD-700 Global Express
Status In service Service entry1999
Airbus A319 CJ
Status In service Service entry1995
Airbus A321
Status In service Service entry1994
Do 228
Status In service Service entry1982
C-130 Hercules
Status In service Service entry1956
Airbus A330 MRTT
Status Retired Service entry2011
M28 Skytruck
Status Retired Service entry1996
Do 328
Status Retired Service entry1993
CL-600 Challenger
Status Retired Service entry1980
Tu-154 Careless
Status Retired Service entry1972
Let L-410
Status Retired Service entry1970
Yak-40 Codling
Status Retired Service entry1968
C-160 Transall
Status Retired Service entry1967
Il-62 Classic
Status Retired Service entry1967
Douglas DC-3
Status Retired Service entry1936Special Mission Aircraft
7 types
P-8 Poseidon
Status In service Service entry2013
KC-130 Hercules
Status In service Service entry1962
Airbus A310 MRTT
Status Retired Service entry2004
King Air 350
Status Retired Service entry1990
P-3 Orion
Status Retired Service entry1962
Boeing 707
Status Retired Service entry1958
Fairey Gannet
Status Retired Service entry1953Trainers
9 types
Grob G-120
Status In service Service entry1999
Pilatus PC-21
Status Entering Service entry2008
Grob G-115
Status Retired Service entry1999
Tu-134 Crusty
Status Retired Service entry1970
T-37 Tweet
Status Retired Service entry1957
CM 170 Magister
Status Retired Service entry1956
T-33 Shooting Star
Status Retired Service entry1948
Yak-18 Max
Status Retired Service entry1946
Po-2 Mule
Status Retired Service entry1929Unmanned Aircraft
10 types
Eitan (Heron TP)
Status In service Service entry2010KZO
Status In service Service entry—
Eurodrone
Status Entering Service entry2028
MQ-9B SkyGuardian
Status Entering Service entry2020Skeldar V-200
Status Retired Service entry2024RQ-20 Puma
Status Retired Service entry2008
IAI Heron
Status Retired Service entry2005EMT Luna
Status Retired Service entry2000Canadair CL-289
Status Retired Service entry1990
BQM-74 Chukar
Status Retired Service entry1968Other National Fleets
National fleets — aircraft in service by country
- 🇺🇸 United States · all-time
- 🇷🇺 Russia · all-time
- 🇨🇳 China · all-time
- 🇮🇳 India · all-time
- 🇰🇷 South Korea · all-time
- 🇯🇵 Japan · all-time
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan · all-time
- 🇰🇵 North Korea · all-time
- 🇪🇬 Egypt · all-time
- 🇹🇷 Turkey · all-time
- 🇫🇷 France · all-time
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · all-time
- 🇮🇹 Italy · all-time
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan · all-time
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · all-time
- 🇮🇷 Iran · all-time
- 🇬🇷 Greece · all-time
- 🇩🇿 Algeria · all-time
- 🇩🇪 Germany · all-time
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · all-time
- 🇮🇱 Israel · all-time
- 🇧🇷 Brazil · all-time
- 🇪🇸 Spain · all-time
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia · all-time
- 🇵🇱 Poland · all-time
- 🇮🇶 Iraq · all-time
- 🇦🇺 Australia · all-time
- 🇨🇦 Canada · all-time
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine · all-time
- 🇦🇷 Argentina · all-time
Frequently Asked Questions
How many aircraft types has the Germany military ever operated?
Germany has operated 76 distinct aircraft types across its history and current inventory, including 21 still in active service and 50 retired or former types.
Does this list include retired Germany military aircraft?
Yes. This page covers every aircraft type the country has operated — past, present, and future — with a green In service, blue Entering service, or grey Retired status badge on each tile. For the current-only fleet, see the in-service listicle.
What about prototypes and test aircraft?
This page tracks operational service types. Pure prototypes, X-planes and test aircraft that never entered squadron service are not included.