Which fighter jets are in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 includes one official real-world modern fighter jet: the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet. The free Top Gun: Maverick expansion also added the fictional Darkstar. An F-16, F-14, F-15, Eurofighter and most other military jets require third-party add-ons; MSFS simulates flying, not full air combat.

Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 have fighter jets?

Yes: MSFS 2020 has an official F/A-18E and can load many third-party fighters.

The simulator was designed primarily around civil aviation, so its built-in military selection is small. It can model high-speed flight, formation practice, aerobatics and military-style approaches, but it has no integrated combat campaign or complete weapons system.

Is an F-18 included in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

Yes. The included aircraft is specifically the single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet, commonly shortened to F-18 in searches.

It is not the older F/A-18C legacy Hornet or the two-seat F/A-18F. The official aircraft is the simplest choice if you want a fast military jet without buying or manually installing anything, although its classified real-world systems and weapon employment are not reproduced as a complete tactical simulation.

Does Darkstar count as a fighter jet?

No. Darkstar is official MSFS content, but it is a fictional hypersonic test aircraft rather than a real fighter.

It belongs on the list because players often encounter it alongside the F/A-18 in the Top Gun content. Its extreme speed creates a very different flying challenge, particularly during climb, acceleration and descent, but it does not add combat gameplay.

Can you fly an F-16 or other MSFS 2020 military aircraft?

Yes, but an F-16 Fighting Falcon and most other recognisable military jets must be installed as add-ons.

Common add-on types include the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, military trainers and attack aircraft. The selection changes as developers update or withdraw products, so these should not be mistaken for a permanent stock-aircraft list.

• Choose the official F/A-18E for the easiest route, predictable installation and support on both PC and Xbox.
• Choose a third-party fighter when you want a particular airframe, a different cockpit or more detailed procedures.
• Check systems depth before appearance. A detailed exterior does not guarantee functional avionics, navigation systems, radar displays or convincing high-speed handling.
• Verify the named simulator. An aircraft built only for FSX or Prepar3D cannot simply be copied into the MSFS 2020 Community folder.

PC users can browse our freeware MSFS military-aircraft library for additional fighters and military types. Quality and complexity vary, so check the stated compatibility, cockpit features and installation notes for each package.

Is the fighter-jet selection different on PC and Xbox?

PC offers the broadest fighter-jet selection because it accepts both Marketplace aircraft and manually installed packages.

For Xbox, the aircraft must have an Xbox Marketplace release; a downloadable PC package will not work. If you are deciding where to obtain an aircraft, our breakdown of when the in-sim Marketplace is the right choice explains the platform, installation and update trade-offs.

Can fighter jets use weapons or dogfight in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

No built-in system supports proper weapon employment, combat damage, hostile tactical AI or a military campaign in MSFS 2020.

Some add-ons display missiles, bombs or gun pods, and a few may provide animations or isolated visual effects. Those features do not create a shared combat environment or turn the simulator into a dedicated air-combat title.

The useful military flying activities are energy management, low-level navigation, formation practice, aerobatics, intercept-style flying and carrier approaches where suitable carrier content is available. Do not buy an MSFS fighter expecting functional missiles, realistic damage or competitive dogfighting.

Why is the official F/A-18E missing from the aircraft list?

A missing official F/A-18E usually means its content package is not installed, the simulator is not fully updated or an aircraft-selection filter is hiding it.

1. Complete every required simulator update before checking the aircraft list again.
2. Open the in-sim Content Manager and search for F/A-18 or the relevant official Game of the Year content.
3. Install any package shown as owned but not installed, and allow the download to finish fully.
4. Clear aircraft-selection filters such as favourites or categories, then search by both F/A-18 and Boeing.
5. Restart Microsoft Flight Simulator so its installed-aircraft database refreshes.
6. Test without third-party packages on PC if the aircraft crashes, has missing cockpit textures or vanishes after an update. Temporarily move Community content elsewhere rather than deleting it.

A missing add-on F-16 is a different problem. It must be placed in the correct Community folder, and extra folder nesting above the package's manifest.json can stop MSFS detecting it. Our guide to installing MSFS 2020 aircraft and other mods correctly covers that process.

Can you fly fighter jets in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 includes the official F/A-18E in its aircraft roster and supports additional military-aircraft add-ons, but it remains a flight simulator rather than a combat simulator.

Do not assume every MSFS 2020 fighter add-on will work identically in MSFS 2024. Compatibility depends on the aircraft and its developer, and the two simulators use separate package installations. PC retains the wider manual add-on choice, while Xbox remains limited to compatible Marketplace releases.