Compare the best military aircraft add-ons for MSFS 2020, from carrier fighters and bombers to AWACS and tankers, with install and realism advice.
The best military aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS 2020) are the Dassault Rafale M for carrier flying, F/A-18 Hornet for a familiar multirole fighter, Avro Vulcan B2 for Cold War operations, B-21 Raider for a modern bomber concept, and A330 MRTT or E-3 Sentry for support missions.
Which military aircraft add-on should I choose?
Choose according to the mission you want to fly, because carrier fighters, strategic bombers and tankers provide very different experiences in MSFS 2020.
| Aircraft | Best for | Why it stands out | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier-capable Rafale M package | Carrier and multirole flying | Refined handling, cockpit improvements, catapult launches and arrested recoveries make this our strongest all-round fighter choice. | Use the package's documented carrier setup; runway flying alone does not test its main strength. |
| Legacy F/A-18 Hornet package | A recognisable multirole fighter | Provides a classic Hornet alternative to the F/A-18E Super Hornet included with the simulator. | The Hornet and Super Hornet are different variants. Do not assume their models, handling or cockpit systems are interchangeable. |
| Cold War Avro Vulcan B2 package | Historical strategic-bomber flights | Offers a distinctive delta-wing bomber rather than another modern tactical jet. | Choose it for the aircraft and period, then check whether its cockpit depth matches your expectations. |
| B-21 Raider | A modern stealth-bomber concept | Includes an interactive cockpit, aerial refuelling, simulated bomb releases and several liveries. | Much of the real B-21 remains classified, so no consumer add-on can offer verifiable study-level accuracy. |
| E-3 Sentry | AWACS and command-role flights | Adds a large military support aircraft for airborne early-warning scenarios. | A visible radar dome does not guarantee a working tactical radar or command station. Check the documented systems. |
| A330 MRTT tanker package | Tankering, transport and multiplayer operations | Provides multiple national variants and support for multiplayer refuelling. | Fuel transfer may require the receiver pilot to use the expected configuration and follow the package instructions. |
If you want one versatile fighter, we would start with the Rafale M. Pick the Vulcan for historical flying, or the A330 MRTT when organised multiplayer support missions matter more than speed and manoeuvrability.
How to judge the best MSFS 2020 military aircraft
The best choice is the aircraft whose flight model, cockpit depth and mission features match what you actually plan to do.
- Correct variant: Check the exact model rather than relying on the family name. The legacy Hornet and Super Hornet are not the same aircraft.
- Usable cockpit: Look for functional controls and instruments, not only an attractive external model.
- Role-specific features: Carrier launches, arrestor behaviour, aerial refuelling and simulated weapon releases matter more than decorative weapons.
- Dependencies: Read the included documentation for required base aircraft, liveries, carriers or supporting packages.
- MSFS 2020 compatibility: Confirm that the download explicitly supports MSFS 2020. A package labelled only for another simulator should not be copied into the Community folder.
A mistake we see often is choosing an aircraft from exterior screenshots and discovering that its cockpit or mission systems are far simpler than expected. Treat systems documentation as the deciding evidence.
Can MSFS 2020 military aircraft fire weapons?
MSFS 2020 military add-ons cannot provide full combat unless the developer has created specific effects and systems for that aircraft.
The simulator has no universal target, damage or military campaign system. Some add-ons animate missiles or guns, while others simulate a bomb release; the B-21 package, for example, includes simulated bomb drops. That does not automatically mean targets can be tracked, damaged or destroyed.
Visible weapons are therefore not proof of combat functionality. Check whether the documentation describes an animation, a visual effect or an interactive system.
How do I install military aircraft add-ons in MSFS 2020?
Most manually downloaded MSFS 2020 aircraft are installed by extracting their package folders into the simulator's active Community folder.
- Download and extract the archive. Do not place the compressed ZIP or RAR file directly in the Community folder.
- Read the included documentation. Some downloads contain several package folders or require another aircraft or asset.
- Check the package root. The aircraft folder should normally contain
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonnear its top level. - Copy the package into Community. Use the Community folder belonging to the installation MSFS 2020 actually loads, not the
Officialfolder. If necessary, inspectUserCfg.optfor itsInstalledPackagesPathentry. - Restart and test the simulator. Look for the aircraft in the aircraft selector and load it at an ordinary airport before adding carriers, liveries or other mission components.
The most common failure is double nesting. A working structure resembles Community/PackageName/manifest.json, not Community/PackageName/PackageName/manifest.json. If the aircraft is missing, invisible or has blank displays, remove duplicate versions, confirm its dependencies and test it with unrelated aircraft modifications disabled.
Do military aircraft add-ons work on Xbox?
On Xbox, MSFS 2020 can use military aircraft sold or distributed through the in-sim Marketplace, but it cannot install PC Community-folder downloads.
The downloadable packages linked above therefore require the PC edition. An aircraft with the same name in the Marketplace may be a different product with different features. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released on PlayStation.