This is a list of fighter aircraft, sorted by design principles of the era they were produced in. This method of categorization is largely based on the notion that there is a "fifth generation" of fighter aircraft.
Fifth generation jet fighters
The following aircraft are state of the art.
In Service
- United States
- Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor (187 aircraft planned)
In Development
- India
- Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (under evaluation[1]; induction planned for 2025[2])
- Russia
- Sukhoi PAK FA (prototype's maiden flight on January 29, 2010; introduction planned for 2013[6])
- T-50K (Naval derivative of Sukhoi PAK FA, introduction planned planned for 2016 [7]
- Russia/ India
- Sukhoi/HAL FGFA (derivative of Sukhoi PAK FA; PAK FA's prototype maiden flight on January 29, 2010; introduction planned for 2017)[8] [9]
- United States/ United Kingdom
- Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (maiden flight on 15th December 2006;[10] introduction planned for 2013[11])
Technology demonstrators
- Japan
- Mitsubishi ATD-X (maiden flight expected in 2014)
- United States
- Boeing Bird of Prey (maiden flight achieved in 1996)
- Boeing X-32 JSF (X-32A maiden flight in 2000, X-32B in 2001)
- Lockheed YF-22 (maiden flight in 1990)
- Lockheed Martin X-35 (maiden flight in 2000)
- Northrop YF-23 Black Widow II (maiden flight in 1990)
4.5th generation jet fighters
The United States government defines 4.5th generation as aircraft that have AESA radar, high capacity data-link, enhanced avionics and the ability to deploy reasonably forseeable future weapons.[12]
In Development
- France
- Dassault Rafale (Thales RBE2 AESA planned for 2012)
- Russia
- Mikoyan MiG-35 (introduction planned for 2013–2014)[13]
- Sukhoi Su-35BM
- Sweden
- Saab 39 Gripen (Italian SELEX Galileo AESA in development)
- United Kingdom/ Germany/ Italy/ Spain
- Eurofighter Typhoon (Captor-E AESA in development)
Technology demonstrators
- Russia
- Mikoyan Project 1.44 'Flatpack' (maiden flight in 2000)
Fourth generation jet fighters
Fourth generation fighters had a renewed focus on maneuverability.
- Russia - Soviet Union
- Mikoyan MiG-29/29M
- Mikoyan MiG-29K (navy)
- Mikoyan MiG-31
- Sukhoi Su-27/30/35
- Sukhoi Su-33 (navy)
- Sukhoi Su-34
In Development
- People's Republic of China
- Shenyang J-15[14] (Maiden flight on 31 August 2009) (Navy)
Technology demonstrators
- France
- Dassault Mirage 4000 (maiden flight on 9 March 1979)
- Soviet Union - Russia
- Sukhoi Su-47 (maiden flight on 25 September 1997)
- Yakovlev Yak-141 (maiden flight on 9 March 1987) (navy)
- United Kingdom
- British Aerospace EAP (maiden flight on 8 August 1986)
- United States
- Northrop YF-17 Cobra (maiden flight on 9 June 1974)
- Northrop Grumman F-20 Tigershark (maiden flight on 30 August 1982)
Third generation jet fighters
Third generation aircraft were based on the incorrect assumption that air to air missiles would replace dogfighting.
Technology Demonstrators
- Canada
- Avro CF-105 Arrow (maiden flight on 25 March 1958)
- France
- Dassault Balzac V (maiden flight on 13 October 1962)
- Dassault Mirage IIIV (maiden flight on 12 February 1965)
- Dassault Mirage F2 (maiden flight on 12 June 1966)
- Dassault Mirage G (maiden flight on 18 November 1967)
- West Germany
- VFW VAK 191B (maiden flight on 20 September 1971)
- People's Republic of China
- Nanchang J-12 (maiden flight on 26 December 1970)
- Soviet Union
- Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 (maiden flight on 17 April 1962)
- Yakovlev Yak-36 (maiden flight on 9 January 1963)
- United States
- General Dynamics/Grumman F-111B (maiden flight on 18 May 1965) (navy)
- Lockheed YF-12 (maiden flight on 7 August 1963)
- Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (maiden flight on 2 June 1958) (navy)
Second generation jet fighters
Missile armament and supersonic speed are required of this generation.
- United States
- Chance Vought F-8 Crusader (navy)
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
- Convair F-106 Delta Dart
- Douglas Aircraft Company F4D Skyray (navy)
- Grumman F-11 Tiger (navy)
- Lockheed Corporation F-104 Starfighter
- McDonnell Aircraft F-101 Voodoo
- North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabre
- North American Aviation FJ-4 Fury (navy)
- Republic Aviation Company F-105 Thunderchief
Technology Demonstrators
- France
- Breguet 1001 Taon (maiden flight on 26 July 1957)
- Italy
- Aerfer Sagittario 2 (maiden flight on 19 May 1956)
- Soviet Union
- Lavochkin La-250 (maiden flight on July 1956)
- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-75 (maiden flight on 28 April 1958)
- Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-152 (maiden flight on 16 May 1961)
- Sukhoi P-1 (maiden flight on 12 July 1957)
- Sukhoi T-3 (maiden flight on 26 May 1956)
- United States
- Douglas F5D Skylancer (maiden flight on 21 April 1956) (navy)
- Lockheed XF-104 (maiden flight on 4 March 1954)
- North American F-107 (maiden flight on 10 September 1956)
First generation jet fighters
Jet engines are required of this generation.
- United Kingdom
- de Havilland Vampire
- de Havilland Venom/Sea Venom (navy)
- Folland Gnat
- Gloster Meteor
- Hawker Sea Hawk (navy)
- Supermarine Attacker (navy)
- United States
- Bell Aircraft P-59 Airacomet
- Douglas Aircraft Company F3D Skyknight (navy)
- Grumman F9F Panther/F9F Cougar (navy)
- Lockheed Corporation F-94 Starfire
- Lockheed Corporation P-80 Shooting Star
- McDonnell Aircraft FH Phantom (navy)
- McDonnell Aircraft F2H Banshee (navy)
- McDonnell Aircraft F3H Demon (navy)
- North American Aviation F-86 Sabre/F-86D
- North American Aviation FJ-1 Fury/FJ-2/FJ-3 (navy)
- Northrop Corporation F-89 Scorpion
- Republic Aviation Company F-84 Thunderjet/F-84F Thunderstreak
- Vought F6U Pirate (navy)
- Vought F7U Cutlass (navy)
Technology demonstrators
- Argentina
- FMA I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I (maiden flight on 9 August 1947)
- FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II (maiden flight on 27 June 1950)
- France
- SNCASO SO.9000 Trident (maiden flight on 2 March 1953)
- SNCASE SE-212 Durandal (maiden flight on 20 April 1956)
- Nazi Germany
- Heinkel He 280 (maiden flight on 2 April 1941)
- Horten Ho 229 (maiden flight on 2 February 1945)
- Soviet Union
- Alekseyev I-21/121 (maiden flight on Autumn 1947)
- Lavochkin Aircraft 150/152 (maiden flight on 11 September 1946/5 December 1946)
- Lavochkin Aircraft 168 (maiden flight on 22 April 1948)
- Lavochkin Aircraft 190 (maiden flight on 21 February 1951)
- Lavochkin Aircraft 200 (maiden flight on 9 September 1949)
- Sukhoi Su-15 (1949) (maiden flight on 11 January 1949)
- Sukhoi Su-9 (1946)/11 (1947) (maiden flight on 13 November 1946/28 May 1947)
- Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)/30 (1948)/50 (1949) (maiden flight on 2 November 1947/4 September 1948/15 July 1949)
- United Kingdom
- Gloster E.1/44 (maiden flight on 9 March 1948)
- Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 (maiden flight on 16 July 1947)
- United States
- Bell XP-83 (maiden flight on 25 February 1945)
- Convair XF-92 (maiden flight on 1 April 1948)
- Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (maiden flight on 5 March 1948)
- Grumman XF10F Jaguar (maiden flight on 19 May 1952) (navy)
- Lockheed XF-90 (maiden flight on 3 June 1949)
- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (maiden flight on 23 August 1948)
- Northrop XP-79 (maiden flight on 12 September 1945)
- North American YF-93 (maiden flight on 24 January 1950)
- Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor (maiden flight on 9 May 1949)
Post-World War II
Piston-engine and hybrid propulsion fighters
World War II
- United States
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- Grumman F6F Hellcat
- Grumman F7F Tigercat
- Grumman F8F Bearcat
- Vought F4U Corsair
- Curtiss-Wright P-36 Hawk
- Lockheed Corporation P-38 Lightning
- Bell P-39 Airacobra
- Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk
- Republic Aviation Company P-47 Thunderbolt
- North American Aviation P-51 Mustang
- Northrop P-61 Black Widow
- Bell Aircraft P-63 Kingcobra
- Vultee Aircraft P-66 Vanguard
- Douglas Aircraft Company P-70 Havoc
Interwar period
- United States
- Boeing PW-9 (navy)
- Grumman FF (navy)
- Boeing F2B (navy)
- Grumman F2F (navy)
- Grumman F3F (navy)
- Boeing F3B (navy)
- Boeing F4B (navy)
- Orenco D
- Thomas-Morse MB-3
- Boeing PW-9
- P-1 Hawk
- P-2 Hawk
- P-3 Hawk
- P-5 Hawk
- P-6 Hawk
- P-11 Hawk
- Boeing P-12
- Berliner-Joyce P-16
Pre/World War I
See also
References
- ^ India Develops Requirements For AMCA
- ^ http://idrw.org/?p=1385[dead link]
- ^ "New Chinese fighter jet expected by 2018: U.S. intelligence". Reuters. 21 May 2010.
- ^ 凤凰军事网, 中国空军副司令首曝:国产第四代战机即将首飞 November 09, 2009 English translation using Google Translate: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/200911/1109_340_1426743.shtml&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&usg=ALkJrhinWCBSZ5wNFM8q42zGQVc7QGcnJQ]
- ^ China may complete the realization and enter its fifth generation fighter stealth into service within the next 8-10 years.
- ^ http://www.en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100713/159797767.html
- ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100928/160747881.html
- ^ India says to have fifth-generation jets in 2018
- ^ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-spend-over-25-billion-to-induct-250-5th-gen-stealth-fighters/articleshow/6685002.cms
- ^ "F-35 First Flight." TeamJSF.com. Retrieved: 10 October 2007.
- ^ Rolfsen, Bruce. "Jobs to change with focus on irregular warfare". Army Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ CRS RL33543, Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress July 09, 2009
- ^ Russia aims to start making MiG-35 fighters for India in 2013
- ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100604/159306694.html
- ^ "HF-24 Marut". Federation of American Scientists.
- ^ "HF-24 Marut". GlobalSecurity.org.