Bombers could well have been one of the most important military aircraft to serve in war. They are capable of flying long distances, taking massive payloads to major targets, and wreaking all manner of destruction on those below. And as time has gone on, they’ve got smaller, as multi-role aircraft have become the norm.

There have been some incredible bombers over the years. From the mighty Boeing B-17 of the second world war to the crazy advanced Soviet machines such as the Tu-160 and Tu-22. These are some of the most advanced bombers the world has ever seen.

What we have done here is a list of 15 of the deadliest bombers that the militaries of the world have utilized. There is an eclectic mix of aircraft from World War II and up to more modern times, each being highly effective in the jobs they were assigned.

15/15 Boeing B-52

The Boeing B-52 is the same age as the British Avro Vulcan, both taking to the skies in the early 1950s. But whilst the Vulcan was retired in the early 1990s and the last one flying was in civilian hands for airshow, the B-52 may well be flying until it is over 100 years old. Famous for its long-range bombing missions in the Gulf War and its involvement in Vietnam, the ‘Buff’ looks set to be with us for many more years.

14/15 Avro Vulcan

What endeared the Vulcan to people the world over was that unique delta wing shape, and the awesome sound it made from its engines – the famous Vulcan howl. One of three V-bomber aircraft, the V-bombers were all originally built as nuclear bombers, charted here by BAE systems, before becoming low-level, conventional bombers in later life.

Retired in 1993, the XH558, the last flying Vulcan, flew again from 2007 to 2015 in civilian hands at air shows, before retiring in October of 2015 for good.

13/15 Boeing B-29

The Boeing B-29 was the biggest American bomber of the Second World War, but perhaps what made it the most deadly was that it was the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which in a way makes the aircraft infamous. Later versions served in the Korean war, before the advent of the B-47 and later B-52 put it out of service.

12/15 Boeing B-17

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress became famous as the primary daylight bomber during World War 2. These things dropped thousands of tons of bombs on Nazi Germany but were hampered as they were easy pickings in the daytime. Only when long-range fuel tanks were fitted to the P-51D Mustang did they have a chance of surviving.

11/15 Avro Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster was Britain’s main, and best, heavy bomber of the Second World War. Developed from the twin-engine Avro Manchester, the Lancaster was primarily a night bomber, with the RAF taking up that workload as the US took over in the day. Modified versions of the Lancaster were credited with sinking the German battleship, Tirpitz.

10/15 Tu-160 Blackjack

Onto something a bit more modern now, the Tu-160 Blackjack is effectively the Soviet version of the Rockwell B-1B Lancer. Except it was much bigger. It is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft built, yet no more than 39 have reportedly been built. Even then, the Soviets could only operate 16 at a time due to how much they cost.

9/15 B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber

The B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber was nothing short of an engineering marvel. Designed during the cold war, it was kept secret almost until it entered service and is one of the most advanced aircraft ever built. One of the best bombers ever? It’s certainly up there. And with an 18,000kg payload, it can certainly pack plenty of punch.

8/15 Heinkel HE-111

The Heinkel HE-111 was one of the mainstays of Luftwaffe operation during world war 2, used a lot during the Battle of Britain as the air arms main bomber. It was speedy enough, had plenty of turrets, and did a good job. But that Perspex, alien-like cockpit wasn’t very good in head-on attacks.

7/15 Rockwell B-1 Lancer

The B-1 Lancer went through a troubled development. Initially developed as a Mach 2 bomber in the B-1A, that idea was shelved and lead to the creation of the B-2 Spirit. However, the project was revived and spec’s reduced to produce a Mach 1 bomber, and the B-1B is still in service to this very day.

6/15 Junkers JU-87 Stuka

The Junkers JU-87 Stuka was probably one of the best dive bombers of the Second World War. The only issue it had was that it was not up to the job when on its own, as it would be vulnerable to fighters that were prowling around. But with its siren, it struck fear into those on the ground that it was up against.

5/15 Junkers JU-88

Another mainstay of German bombing operations in World War 2, the Junkers 88 was better than the Heinkel ‘111. Mostly because it didn’t have that dodgy cockpit that was a magnet for a frontal attack by fighters. But it spawned various versions, tank hunters, rocket launchers, and torpedo bombers as well.

4/15 Panavia Tornado

The Panavia Tornado was effectively the RAF replacement for the Blackburn Buccaneer. But it was a multi-national aircraft, developed by Britain, Germany, Spain, and Italy. A swing-wing, multi-role machine it spawned dedicated fighter versions as well, and only recently was retired from RAF service, where it earned most of its fame.

3/15 Tupolev TU-95

While it might be quite dated and antiquated, the TU-95 Bear has been the mainstay of Soviet bomber operations for many, many years. And regularly are the spotted on patrol in the Atlantic and most notably, near British territory. Although given their ages, I can’t imagine they are much fun to fly in. It even spawned an airliner variant, the TU-114, and VIP variant, the TU-116.

2/15 Tupolev TU-22

The Tu-22 Backfire is surely one of the most awesome looking bombers that the Soviet Union ever developed. NATO nickname Backfire, it’s supersonic, long-range, and can also become a maritime attack aircraft as well. One of the most advanced Soviet bombers has also served with Ukraine and Indian Air Forces in its service life.

1/15 F-22 Raptor

Possibly the most expensive aircraft on this list, the F-22 Raptor is the ultimate, multi-role bomber. It is a fighter as well but is perfectly capable of attacking ground targets, plus the shape and design lend to it a degree of stealth. The F-22 is perhaps the craziest aircraft on this list, and man is it awesome!