page_title: Bomber
section_title: Classification
hierarchical_section_title: Bomber / Classification
caption_attribution_description: English: Murmansk Region, Olenegorsk. The strategic bomber Tu-160. Français&#160;: Bombardier stratégique Tu-160 en vol. Photographie prise à Olenegorsk, oblast de Mourmansk.
context_page_description: A bomber is a combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry, launching torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped from an aircraft occurred in the Italo-Turkish War, with the first major deployments coming in the First World War and Second World War by all major airforces causing devastating damage to cities, towns, and rural areas. The first purpose built bombers were the Italian Caproni Ca 30 and British Bristol T.B.8, both of 1913. Some bombers were decorated with Nose art or Victory markings.
  There are two major classifications of bomber: strategic and tactical. Strategic bombing is done by heavy bombers primarily designed for long-range bombing missions against strategic targets to diminish the enemy's ability to wage war by limiting access to resources through crippling infrastructure or reducing industrial output. Tactical bombing is aimed at countering enemy military activity and in supporting offensive operations, and is typically assigned to smaller aircraft operating at shorter ranges, typically near the troops on the ground or against enemy shipping.
caption: A Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber
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