There is much talk about weaponry and weapon systems in a time of large turbulence in the world's geopolitical arena and ongoing conflicts. 1 of the most frequently discussed topics is the alleged 5th generation fighters. The United States introduces into service existing in 3 versions (another V generation fighter in their Air Force) F-35. China has developed a model called J-20, and Russia is attempting to launch with mass production of its Su-57. What does it truly mean, however, by the "X generation thinker"? Now that the 5th generation of machines is coming, what were the erstwhile ones?
Let us start with the fact that, in fact, the word "generation" of fighters is rather a young term. It comes from the 1990s from the United States. The word itself and the corresponding classifications were created in relation to the needs of the manufacture itself. It should be borne in head that there are many divisions per generation of fighters. There is no agreement on a single strategy of criteria that find the generation concerned. What in the western planet is called the 4th generation, in China will be considered the third. In principle, however, everyone agrees that the word "generation" can only be utilized for jet-powered fighters.
In this article, I will usage the most widely utilized and accepted division, without going into item about another ways of classifying into generations and focusing on differences between them.
Modest Beginnings
As I mentioned, the concept of “generation” aeroplanes The hunting refers only to jets. So what happened before? Not much, really. The war in the air truly became a fact during planet War I. The constructions were then created, which can be called the first "thinkers". The machines specified as the German Fokker Eindecker and the British Sopwith Camel biplane, which have been designed specifically for air combat. With the end of the war, the level of advanced fighter aircraft besides grew. However, in 1918, erstwhile the conflict ended, advancement in this area fundamentally stopped for another decade. It was only in the 1930s that, in the face of the increasing power of the Nazi 3rd Reich and the expanding tensions on the global stage, aircraft manufacturers intensified their work on upgrading military aircraft.
After the outbreak of planet War II in 1939, large emphasis was placed on the improvement of fresh fighters practically throughout the industrialised planet from Japan, through Britain to the US. As it is not hard to guess, the focus was primarily on making those fighters faster, more returnable and capable of flying at expanding distances (ranges) and with expanding loads (arms being carried). As the war and work progressed, it rapidly became clear that the piston engine technology that drove the fighters could only produce limited effects. So the engineers focused on a fresh hope of achieving the desired results: jet propulsion. At this point you can start talking about the improvement of first generation fighters.
I generation: from the 1940s to 1953s – planet War II and the Korean War
Around the mediate of planet War II, engineers of countries active in the conflict on both sides began to construct the first jet engines. The most celebrated of them was Messerschmitt Me 262. He participated, albeit limited, in an active fight. In addition to this construction, the British Gloster Meteor deserves to be mentioned, who besides managed to take part in respective combat missions.
Messerschmitt Me 262 (shutterstock)The advantage of first generation fighters over their piston engine-powered counterparts was of course their speed. In addition to being powered by a jet engine, the 1st generation fighters were not very different from another propeller-powered fighters. They had simple, unreturned wings and were made of light metallic alloys and even wood! They had virtually no avionics – equipment specified as automatic control systems, navigation devices, information imaging systems, and their main armaments were inactive hand-controlled plots. However, no of these structures played a greater function in the conflict. After its completion, work on jet-powered fighters was intensively continued, leading to the creation of aircraft specified as American Lockheed P-80, F-86 Sabre, or russian MiG-15.
F-86 Sabre (shutterstock)The first conflict in which jets were utilized on a massive scale by both fighting parties, i.e. supporting South Korea and standing on the side of North Korea of the USSR was fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. These first generation fighters specified as F-86 Sabre and MiG-15 became a symbol of this conflict. However, I will refrain from developing this subject, due to the fact that these struggles, as well as the fast improvement of air combat tactics and highly fast insignificant upgrades, are a comprehensive and fascinating area that could cover an entire, separate article.
2nd generation: 1953-1960 – the beginnings of avionics and supersonic speeds
According to most opinions, the war in Korea was the swan song of first generation fighters. Its end is besides considered to be the end of the era of these machines. However, this does not mean that they were then withdrawn. The last copies of the F-86 Sabre flew until 1994 in the service of the Bolivian Air Force!
This, of course, points to the technological backwardness of the aviation of this country, alternatively than the extraordinary utility of these machines. Their widespread usage in the Korean War revealed the tremendous shortcomings of these structures. Hand-operated land plots in planet War II technology were not peculiarly effective at the speeds most 1st generation fighters flew with. This forced the introduction of much faster air-to-air missiles. To improve their accuracy, second-generation fighters were equipped with the first, primitive avionic systems, including, for example, supersonic radar tracking targets. The wings were besides tilted back, which greatly improved aircraft aerodynamics. Stronger engines and boosters were besides introduced. Thus, 2nd generation fighters were able to scope supersonic speeds during horizontal flight for a certain time. It can be said that this has raised their ability to fight straight to a fresh ceiling.
The American Century fighter series (e.g. F-100, F-102, F-104), French Mirage III, British electrical Lightning and russian MiG-21 (which over the years was the backbone of military aviation PRL) are the best known for second generation fighters. Interestingly, although most of them were designed as classical fighter aircraft, many countries utilized them in their air force in many roles. They besides worked as bomb-fighters, interceptors, and night fighters, capable of fighting in the dark thanks to advanced deck radars. An interesting fact is that the last country inactive utilizing 2nd generation fighters is Pakistan, where they stay in service bought from France Mirage III.
III generation: 1960-1970 – Vietnam War and first multitasking fighters
As I mentioned, many countries utilized 2nd-generation fighter jets in their air force to do tasks beyond gaining an air advantage, which was the primary task of fighter aircraft. As a result, 3rd generation fighters were designed for multi-task capabilities.
Due to the very different nature of the missions entrusted to third-generation fighter pilots, these structures were equipped with a wide scope of fresh systems. Above all, avionics have been upgraded, including radars giving an image of what was happening outside the pilot's sight, terrain informing systems, and ECM systems (Electronic Countermeasures), i.e. electronic countermeasures to deceive enemy radars.
Third generation fighters were designed to carry a wide scope of weapons. Air-to-air missiles were joined by air-to-air missiles – the surface, as well as the first laser guided bombs.
Beginning in the mid-1960s, 3rd generation fighter jets were equipped with externally mounted peculiar targeting sights for directing precision-guided ammunition (e.g. laser), which further increased their versatility and effectiveness as full-value fighters able to execute bombing missions. This gave emergence to a fresh class of machines: bomb-fighter aircraft, which were in fact the first multitasking fighters.
F-4 Phantom Greek Air Force (VanderWolf Images/shutterstock)Because 3rd generation fighters had to be able to execute much more complex missions requiring them to stay in the air for a long time. Consequently, the focus was on importantly expanding the scope and velocity of these machines. To this end, the 3rd generation fighters have developed fresh turbojet dual-flow engines, in which the air stream splits into interior and external flow. They were characterized by increased efficiency in terms of fuel consumption than the turbojet engines utilized so far, which allowed for increased coverage.
The best and best known example of a third-generation fighter is most likely the American F-4 Phantom, associated inherently with the Vietnam War. Other, notable third-generation fighters are French Dassault Mirage F1, British Hawker Siddeley Harrier with vertical launch and landing capability and russian MiG-23.
4th generation: 1970-1990 – the end of the Cold War
The Vietnam War, which continued until 1975, revealed fundamental deficiencies in 3rd generation aircraft. The same was actual of the Korean War and the 1st generation fighters 20 years earlier. Vietnam was a conflict that required not only multi-tasking bomber fighters, but besides aircraft that would be responsive and fast enough. In this respect, 4th generation fighters have proved very successful, as they are among the fastest combat aircraft in history, reaching even the 5th generation fighters.
The breakthrough for 4th generation fighters was in peculiar the introduction of fly-by-wire technology, which allowed most aspects of piloting to be automated. It means that there are no mechanical connections to the steering surfaces on the aircraft. The full aircraft control strategy is completely electronic. Control is carried out here by means of a digital signal (previously analog) that is transmitted by an electrical wire or fibre optic – hence the name "fly-by-wire". This solution is besides commonly utilized present in civilian aircraft as well as expression 1 cars.
In addition, modern composite materials, as well as a number of constantly following innovations in the fields of avionics, electronics, radar production and weapon systems, have made the 4th generation fighters able to be utilized with any modifications to this day. Battleplanes of the 4th generation were besides the first aircraft to be consciously designed with limited maintenance, stealth capabilities, or briefly reduced radar detection.
Famed by the movie Top weapon F-14 Tomcat in a hit movie (shutterstock)The 4th generation of fighters include any of the most celebrated and can be said without exaggeration, iconic aircraft. The celebrated F-14 Tomcat from the movie Top Gun This is 1 example. Another is the most common 1 in both the US Air Force and the full NATO, the F-16 Falcon, which in the pilots' environment, however, bears the nickname Viper, or viper. In addition, the 4th generation include fighter jets specified as the American F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, British Harriet II with the ability vertical start and landing, French Mirage 2000 and Rafale, or Swedish Grippen. It is besides a joint venture of the United Kingdom, Italy and West Germany, Panavia Tornado and his successor, the work of the 3 mentioned, joined by Spain Eurofighter Typhoon. The constructions from behind the iron curtain, which belong to the 4th generation, are (servants inactive in the Polish Air Force) MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27.
The 4th generation of fighters are not only machines present in the general public consciousness, but besides the first of the structures that can be said to be truly modern aircraft. Of course, after many upgrades and introduction of fresh production series. Technological advancement and the requirements of modern battlefields are inexorable, however, and today, although many air forces keep the 4th generation fighters in service, most begin to depart from them.
Generation 4.5: 1990-2000 – halfway to the 21st century
The answer to these challenges is the indirect generation, which is referred to as 4.5.
Realizing the expanding technological hold in 4th generation fighters, as well as the deficiency of funds to implement fresh projects after the end of the Cold War, aircraft manufacturers began to make fighters called sometimes 4.5 generation fighters.
By combining many solutions developed for 5th generation machines with proven technologies already present in 4th generation fighters, 4.5th generation fighters are not advanced enough, nor in any another way separate, to form their own separate generation. However, they are so unique that they do not fit in the classification of either fourth-generation or fifth-generation fighters.
Many of these fighters contain developed solutions with stealth technology and modern avionics, though not as much as the 5th generation machines. Alternatively, 4.5 generation fighters are sometimes called 4+ generation fighters.
The 4.5 generation aircraft include upgraded F/A-18 Super Hornet and Russian MiG-35, Su-30 and Su-35. You can besides be tempted to remember at this point about F-15EX Eagle II. Without getting into detail, although it may not meet the 4.5-generation criteria, it is, however, so modern that it no longer fits the 4th generation.
V generation: since 2000 – fresh quality seriously
With the spread of reliable, larger-range radars, manufacturers had to plan 5th generation fighters so that they had as small radar cross-section as possible, i.e. that they did not look like an airplane on the radar, but like a bird or insect. This is truly the essence of what is called "undetectable aircraft". This period is only a specified mere simplification. There are no (so far) totally undetectable aircraft, but only difficult-to-detect. Minimised detection is the main feature of those fighters, which are subject to all their another parameters. The most visible manifestation of this is the weaponry located, not so far suspended on peculiar underwing “bels” and guideways at the ends of the wings, but in closed chambers in the hull (as undercarriage).
F-35 presenting open arms transfer chambers (gmeland/shutterstock)Many V generation constructions have a much more "canciate" look than fighters from erstwhile generations. It's not a coincidence. It's about the reflection of radar signals in any direction so they don't get back on the radar. If that happens, the radar just doesn't catch anything. In addition, their coatings are layers of peculiar paints that absorb radar signals. Then, even if any of them are reflected back into the radar, they're much weaker.
Russian Su-57 (BeAvPhoto/Shutterstock)V generation aeroplanes are not overly called "flying computers". It's not just from the unprecedented digitalization of these machines. It is besides that they are designed so that they can be constantly upgraded through software updates and thus increase combat capabilities. They besides have developed to an unprecedented degree the anticipation of sharing data with another troops in the air, land or sea. All this in real time. This makes the V generation fighters not only revolutionary in fighting in the air (being practically "invisible" to the pilots of the opponent), but are besides "eyes and ears" for full units of troops regardless of their domain of action.
The list of 5th generation fighters is short-lived so far: it is the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning. Russia has produced respective copies of Su-57 so far. China introduced about 200 copies of Chengdu J-20. Future plans include cooperation between Japan, Italy and the UK
