What to reactivate in an emergency

Which aircraft or ships would be worth reactivating from reserve in a national emergency?

Prioritize viable patrol and stand-off platforms rather than obsolete high-performance fighters.

Equipment selected for emergency reactivation must still work and retain a useful mission. Anti-submarine aircraft are promising candidates because their patrol and search functions remain valuable. Older high-performance fighters are less attractive when their former role demands capabilities they no longer possess. Heavy bombers and other weapons carriers can regain utility through upgrades that let them launch missiles from stand-off range.