Dont let only one feature lead you to classifying an aircraft as one generation to another. First of all, there is no clearly defined line between successive generations. However, the “generation” term is very popular because of its simplicity. Each category represents certain class of technology used in the planes: avionics, constructions, engines, etc. Higher generation means a more technologically advanced “bird”. In broad terms, aircraft classification, this old article takes the cake for simplicity and clarity
Posted from the article
The Aviationist » Fighter generations comparison chart
Generations are a common way to classify jet fighters. Often, generations have been “assigned” to fighters in accordance with the timeframes encompassing the peak period of service entry for such aircraft.
The best definition I’ve found so far of fighter generations is the one contained in an
article published in 2009 by Air Force Magazine, that proposes a generations break down based on capabilities:
Generation 1: Jet propulsion
Generation 2: Swept wings; range-only radar; infrared missiles
Generation 3: Supersonic speed; pulse radar; able to shoot at targets beyond visual range.
Generation 4: Pulse-doppler radar; high maneuverability; look-down, shoot-down missiles.
Generation 4+: High agility; sensor fusion; reduced signatures.
Generation 4++: Active electronically scanned arrays; continued reduced signatures or some “active” (waveform canceling) stealth; some supercruise.
Generation 5: All-aspect stealth with internal weapons, extreme agility, full-sensor fusion, integrated avionics, some or full supercruise.
Potential Generation 6: extreme stealth; efficient in all flight regimes (subsonic to multi-Mach); possible “morphing” capability; smart skins; highly networked; extremely sensitive sensors; optionally manned; directed energy weapons.
In order to give the readers an idea of the type of aircraft belonging to each generation I’ve prepared the following table with the help of Tom Cooper / ACIG.org and Ugo Crisponi / Aviatiographic.com, who provided the profiles.
In another article from
Fighter Jet generations – The classification of military aircraft. » MiGFlug.com Blog for more reading purposes
The third generation was a continuation in researches of advance avionics, aerodynamics performance and air guide missiles. Dogfights forced improvements in maneuverability, air-to-air missiles and radar systems. However, poor accuracy of weapons and electronic countermeasure (device designed to trick detection system) did not make it easy to win an air fight. Aircraft construction was also improved. Canards, powered slats and thrust vectoring (ability to manipulate the direction of the thrust) gave the opportunity to design the Harrier Jump Jet, first vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) fighter. Rising costs and research difficulties resulted in new doctrine for air forces. Multirole aircrafts developed into primary weapon e.g. the McDonnell F-4 Phantom became the only fighter in the history used by every branch of the United States Armed Forces.
Fourth generation fighter jets are mostly multirole aircrafts. Sophisticated avionics, especially fly-by-wire system improved maneuverability at the expense of aerodynamic instability. It sounds crazy, but the digital flight control systems stabilized the aircraft without the pilot’s knowledge and helped him controlling the jet. Therefore, impossible aerobatic maneuvers like Pugachev’s Cobra could be made. Electronics became the most essential part of equipment. Head-up and multifunction displays, long range radars and more attest led to sky domination. Engineers revolutionized the construction by using composite materials and the stealth technology (only in bombers aircrafts).
The end of the Cold War brought some serious problems for the Air Force inventories. Lower budget and political environment slowed down many researches or even canceled them. That is the reason why we currently have
4.5th generation of jet fighters. Almost every new aircraft is in some way based on existing airframes or similar to previous ones. MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29, the same like Sukhoi Su-30 and Su-27, a new version of the Boeing F/A-18, F-15 and many more. Present fighter jets have advanced digital avionic based on microchip technology and highly integrated systems. They are adapted to operate in high-tech warfare where not only avionic but also super maneuverability are the key to success.
A few development projects of
fifth generation fighter jets have been initiated. The Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA, the Lockheed Martin F-35 and the Chinese J-20 and
J-31 are in advanced stadium of development. Currently only the
Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is in the active service with the US Air Force. All of them are designed to operate in the high-tech and complex combat environment. The aerospace materials used and the new technology gives them the biggest advantages, being invisible for radars and granting super maneuverability. Avionics is also much more sophisticated, along with new ways of communication, navigation, glass cockpits, high speed network and many more. The question is if these incredibly expensive fighters play an important role in asymmetric conflicts. It could be that most tasks will be
taken over by drones (UAV) very soon.
Hope this helps.. As using just one sub classification like TWR will not help in arriving in a proper peer group to compare and understand the generation.
Fascinating how from World War 2 we the human beings in a short time had advanced so much..
