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| A '''fighter aircraft''' generally is a fast and maneuverable aircraft, whose capabilities include attacking other aircraft. [[Jet]]-propelled fighters are classed in "generations".
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| ==Fighter generations==
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| The idea of a fighter generation is useful only for approximate comparison of fighters.
| | '''Fighter aircraft''', generally known as '''fighters''', are military aircraft which are essentially used in air-to-air combat. Famous examples include the Fokker triplane, Hurricane, Spitfire, Me109, Zero, Mustang, and Yak-1. |
| ===First-generation===
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| The first generation of jet fighters were subsonic, armed with machine guns or [[autocannon]] for air-to-air combat, and had limited electronics. While there were earlier models, such as the [[Second World War]] German [[Me-262]] and British Meteor, the most common examples are the [[Korean War]]-vintage U.S. [[F-86]] and Soviet [[Mig-15]].
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| ===Second generation===
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| Typified by the Soviet [[MiG-19]] and U.S. [[F-100]], these were the first supersonic fighters, typically with limited onboard radar, and both guns and early [[air-to-air missile]]s (e.g., [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]).
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| ===Third generation===
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| In this generation were the first serious attempts at multirole capability, such as the [[F-4 Phantom II]], originally developed by the [[U.S. Navy]] but operated by a large number of countries. An early Soviet design with multirole capability was the [[MiG-23]].
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| ===Fourth generation===
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| Fighters of this vintage had major advances in electronics and missiles. While each previous generation had been faster than the one before it, fourth generation fighters emphasized maneuverability, missiles that could attack from any angle, and long range. Soviet fighters of this generation include the [[Su-27]] and [[MiG-29]]. U.S. equivalents split into "high-end" and "low-end", the high end, such as the [[F-15 Eagle]] initially optimized for air superiority, and the low-end, such as the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], as multirole.
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| ===Generation 4.5===
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| Several aircraft have significantly advanced electronics, maneuverability, or other features when compared to the basic fourth generation. Examples include the French [[Rafale]] and the U.S. [[F-18 Super Hornet]].
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| ===Fifth generation===
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| Aircraft of the current generation are more revolutionary than evolutionary, the example most often cited being the U.S. [[F-22 Raptor]]. They have low observability (i.e., stealth), supercruise, extremely advanced electronics including [[radar#active electronically scanned array|radars with no moving parts and low probability of intercept]], and may have supercruise, the ability to fly at supersonic speed without an afterburner. The U.S. [[F-35 Lightning II]] does not have supercruise, but is better at ground attack than the F-22, and also has short-takeoff versions. Russian technology here is emerging, but the [[Su-47]] may be of this generation.
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| ==Fighter types==
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| Within a given generation, there may be specific fighters optimized for a particular mission.
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| ===Air superiority fighter===
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| Optimized for engaging and destroying other fighter aircraft, often at long range. While it was limited to gun range, the [[F-86 Saber]] was one such aircraft, while the [[F-15 Eagle]] is an advanced air superiority fighter, allegedly developed with the motto "not a pound for air to ground" (see [[F-15E Strike Eagle]])
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| ===Interceptor===
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| [[Interceptor]]s may be short- or long-range. Short-ranged interceptors, such as the [[MiG-21]], protect relatively small areas. Long-range interceptors, such as the [[MiG-25]] or [[F-102]] often are optimized for destroying enemy bombers far from their target. Interceptors are purely defensive [[air warfare planning#defensive counter-air|(i.e., defensive counter-air)]], while air superiority fighters can be offensive or defensive.
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| ===Fighter-bomber=== | | ==References== |
| This type is optimized for attacking ground targets. Depending on the specific type, it may have relatively more or less ability to engage in air-to-air combat. Some aircraft designated as "fighters" have no air-to-air capability, such as the [[F-117 Nighthawk]], which is really a light [[bomber]]. Other fighter-bombers, such as the [[F-105]], do have some air combat capability, but generally would concentrate on the attack mission, perhaps relying on speed to avoid interceptors.
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| ===Multirole fighter===
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| While almost all fighters have, at one time, been used in both ground attack and air-to-air combat, a true multirole fighter does both well. Historically, when a reasonably versatile fighter-bomber such as the [[F-4 Phantom II]] met other fighters, it jettisoned its bombload to gain maneuvering performance. Forcing the aircraft to jettison its bombs far from the target defeated its primary mission.
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| More recent aircraft, however, have demonstrated true multirole capability. In 1991, during [[Operation Desert Storm]], U.S. Navy [[F-18 Hornet]] aircraft, assigned to attack a ground target, were intercepted by Iraqi fighters. Without jettisoning their bombload, the Hornets shot down the other aircraft, and completed their attack mission. The [[F-15E Strike Eagle]] also can perform at this level.
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