Are there fighter jets in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and which ones can you fly?
Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 does include fighter-style jets, but it is still a flight simulator rather than a combat sim. The main officially flyable fighter is the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet; beyond that, you can add more military jets through approved add-ons, especially on PC.
Are there fighter jets in MSFS 2020?
There are now, but that was not really the focus at launch. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is built around civilian flying, so military aircraft arrived later through official content and third-party add-ons rather than as a big built-in combat roster.
The key point is simple: we can fly fast military jets in MSFS 2020, but we are not getting air combat, weapons employment, radar combat modes, or a full military mission system in the way a dedicated combat sim would provide.
Which fighter jets can you fly officially in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?
If you only want the clear, official answer, it is the F/A-18E Super Hornet. That is the best-known fighter jet officially available for MSFS 2020 through Microsoft and Asobo's own content.
You may also see the Darkstar mentioned alongside it. Darkstar is a fictional hypersonic aircraft created for the Top Gun content. It is a military-style fast jet, but it is not a real-world fighter aircraft.
| Aircraft | Type | Official in MSFS 2020? | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| F/A-18E Super Hornet | Real multirole fighter jet | Yes | The main official fighter jet in MSFS 2020, with carrier-style flying and high-speed performance. |
| Darkstar | Fictional hypersonic aircraft | Yes | Not a true fighter, but often grouped with military jets because of the Top Gun content. |
| Other fighter jets | Real-world military jets | Usually add-on only | Available through third-party developers, with quality and system depth varying a lot. |
What fighter jets can you fly as add-ons?
Once we move beyond the official F/A-18E, the list becomes much wider. On PC especially, MSFS 2020 has had a steady stream of military jet add-ons, ranging from simple casual models to much deeper aircraft with custom systems.
Common examples people look for include aircraft such as:
- F-14 Tomcat
- F-15 Eagle
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Eurofighter Typhoon
- Other modern and historic military jets
Availability changes over time, and not every aircraft is available on every platform. On Xbox, you are limited to content made available through the in-sim marketplace. On PC, you can usually choose between marketplace installs and manual add-on installs, so the selection is broader.
Can you use weapons or fight in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?
No, not in the normal sense. MSFS 2020 does not model combat as a core feature, so fighter jets are flown for their speed, handling, avionics, formation flying, aerobatics and carrier-style operations rather than air-to-air or air-to-ground missions.
That matters because some people buy a military jet expecting missiles, dogfights and combat radar logic. In MSFS 2020, we should think of these aircraft as highly enjoyable flyable military aircraft, not combat platforms.
Is the F/A-18E Super Hornet included in the base game?
It is official MSFS 2020 content, but whether it appears immediately depends on what you have installed. In practice, most simmers get it by making sure the simulator is fully updated and then installing the relevant official content package inside the sim if it is not already present.
So the short version is:
- At launch, MSFS 2020 was not known for included fighter jets.
- Now, the F/A-18E Super Hornet is the headline official fighter jet for MSFS 2020.
- Extra fighter jets usually come from add-ons.
How do you get the F/A-18E in MSFS 2020?
- Update the simulator so you are running the current MSFS 2020 build and content framework.
- Check the official content manager or in-sim store area for any Microsoft or Asobo content tied to the Top Gun material.
- Install the package if it is listed but not yet installed on your system.
- Restart the sim if needed so the aircraft appears properly in your hangar or aircraft list.
- Select the F/A-18E Super Hornet from the aircraft menu and load into a flight as normal.
If you cannot see it, the usual causes are an incomplete update, missing optional content, or a platform restriction rather than anything wrong with your pilot profile.
PC vs Xbox: can both versions fly fighter jets?
| Platform | Official F/A-18E | Third-party fighter jets | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | Yes | Yes | You have the widest choice because marketplace and manual installs are both possible. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Some | You are restricted to content approved and released through the in-sim marketplace. |
So which fighter jets can you actually fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?
If we strip the answer right back, the one official real-world fighter jet most people mean is the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet. That is the safe, definitive answer.
If we include add-ons, the list becomes much larger and can include well-known aircraft such as the F-14, F-15, F-16 and Eurofighter, depending on what is currently available for your platform. Just keep expectations in line with what MSFS 2020 is designed to do: excellent flight experiences, not military combat.