Table of Contents
What are the generations of fighter aircraft?
Five Generations of Jets
- First generation subsonic jet fighters (mid 1940s to mid 1950s)
- Second generation jet fighters (mid-1950s to early 1960s)
- Third generation jet fighters (early 1960s to 1970)
- Fourth generation jet fighters (1970 to late 1980s)
- Four and half generation jet fighters (late 1980s and into the 90s)
Who invented direct energy weapons?
For 40 years, Lockheed Martin has researched, designed, developed, and captured electromagnetic energy and elevated its power to create innovative Directed Energy solutions.
Which countries have 6th generation fighter jets?
Several countries have announced the development of a sixth-generation aircraft program, including the United States, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, China, and India.
What is the generation of aircraft?
Classification
| Period | Description | Aerospaceweb (2004) |
|---|---|---|
| 1960–70 | Multi-purpose fighter-bombers | 3 |
| 1970–80 | Supersonic (multirole) | 4 |
| 1974–1990 | Supersonic multirole, high efficiency. High manoeuvrability | |
| 1990-2000 | Enhanced capabilities, advanced avionics, limited stealth | 4.5 |
What is aircraft weapon?
Aircraft ordnance or ordnance (in the context of military aviation) is weapons (e.g. bombs, missiles, rockets and gun ammunition) used by aircraft. The term is often used when describing the weight of air-to-ground weaponry that can be carried by an aircraft or the weight that has been dropped.
What will the 6th generation of Air Force fighters look like?
(Northrop Grumman illustration) The sixth generation fighter will likely have directed energy weapons—high-powered microwaves and lasers for defense against incoming missiles or as offensive weapons themselves. Munitions would likely be of the “dial an effect” type, able to cause anything from impairment to destruction of an air or ground target.
Is there a ‘black’ sixth generation fighter program waiting in the wings?
The Air Force has a large classified budget, but it seems there is no “black” sixth generation fighter program waiting in the wings. A senior industry official, with long-term, intimate knowledge of classified efforts, said the F-22 wasn’t stopped at 187 aircraft because a secret, better fighter is nearly ready to be deployed.
How long will it take to build a next generation fighter?
Industry leaders believe that it will probably take another 20 years to field a next generation fighter. That may be late to need. By 2030, according to internal USAF analyses, the service could be as many as 971 aircraft short of its minimum required inventory of 2,250 fighters.
What if Russia and China build 5th generation fighters?
Given that US legacy fighters are already matched or outclassed by “generation four-plus-plus” fighters, if Russia and China build their fifth generation fighters in large numbers, the US would be at a clear airpower disadvantage in the middle of the 2020s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd1ITc6cwE4