The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter aircraft widely used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. Renowned for its agility and performance, it was instrumental in defending Britain against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. It was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and was armed with eight machine guns. The Spitfire was also used in various other theaters of war and remained in service until the 1950s.