TIMELINE FOR FIGHTER PLANES
TIMELINE FOR FIGHTER PLANES
*First Generation Fighters (1945-1955)
These aircraft heralded the beginning of the Jet Age, starting late in World War II up through the Korean War. These planes were the first to be powered by turbojet engines and could not operate above the speed of sound. The aircraft were without radar and armed with conventional guns, dumb bombs, and rockets since guided missiles were still largely experimental.
*Second Generation Fighters (1955-1960)
Supersonic speed in level flight, radar, and use of first guided air-to-air missiles and new electronics technologies. Advances in guided missile development allowed this new weapon to begin replacing the gun as the primary offensive weapon for the first time in fighter history.
*Third Generation Fighters (1960 -1970)
These aircraft served in the Vietnam War, particularly in the latter stages of the conflict. Most of them were the first to be designed specifically as multi-purpose fighters capable of performing both air defence and ground attack missions.
*Fourth Generation Fighters (1970 -1990)
Multi-role fighters equipped with increasingly sophisticated avionics and weapon systems. These fighters also began emphasising maneuverability rather than speed to succeed in air-to-air combat. Examples: American F-16s and Russian MiG-29
*Fifth Generation Fighters (2000 —)
Advanced integrated avionics systems that provide the pilot with a complete picture of the battlespace and the use of low observable "stealth" techniques. The F-22 and F-35 are the only fifth generation fighters developed to date, but Russia positions the MiG-35 with its advanced technologies as an equivalent in this high technology category.
These aircraft heralded the beginning of the Jet Age, starting late in World War II up through the Korean War. These planes were the first to be powered by turbojet engines and could not operate above the speed of sound. The aircraft were without radar and armed with conventional guns, dumb bombs, and rockets since guided missiles were still largely experimental.
*Second Generation Fighters (1955-1960)
Supersonic speed in level flight, radar, and use of first guided air-to-air missiles and new electronics technologies. Advances in guided missile development allowed this new weapon to begin replacing the gun as the primary offensive weapon for the first time in fighter history.
*Third Generation Fighters (1960 -1970)
These aircraft served in the Vietnam War, particularly in the latter stages of the conflict. Most of them were the first to be designed specifically as multi-purpose fighters capable of performing both air defence and ground attack missions.
*Fourth Generation Fighters (1970 -1990)
Multi-role fighters equipped with increasingly sophisticated avionics and weapon systems. These fighters also began emphasising maneuverability rather than speed to succeed in air-to-air combat. Examples: American F-16s and Russian MiG-29
*Fifth Generation Fighters (2000 —)
Advanced integrated avionics systems that provide the pilot with a complete picture of the battlespace and the use of low observable "stealth" techniques. The F-22 and F-35 are the only fifth generation fighters developed to date, but Russia positions the MiG-35 with its advanced technologies as an equivalent in this high technology category.
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