Fifth-generation fighter

Fifth-generation fighter
A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (top) and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (bottom), two fifth-generation fighters used by the United States Air Force
Role Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
First flight 1990 (YF-23)
Introduction 2005 (F-22 Raptor)
Status In service
Developed from Fourth-generation fighter
Developed into Sixth-generation fighter

A fifth-generation fighter is a jet fighter aircraft classification which includes major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century. As of 2024, these are the most advanced fighters in operation. The characteristics of a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed upon, and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all; however, they typically include stealth, low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR), agile airframes with supercruise performance, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battlespace for situational awareness and C3 (command, control and communications) capabilities.[1]

As of January 2023, the combat-ready fifth-generation fighters are the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in December 2005; the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, which entered service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in July 2015;[2][3] the Chengdu J-20, which entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in March 2017;[4] and the Sukhoi Su-57, which entered service with the Russian Air Force (VVS) on 25 December 2020.[5] Other national and international projects are in various stages of development.

Characteristics

The emerging generation of advanced fighter aircraft in the first decades of the 21st century has come to be known as the fifth generation.[6] The defining characteristics of such a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed upon, and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all. Some generation counts include more than five leading up to the emerging new generation.[7][8]

Whereas previous fourth-generation fighters emphasized maneuverability and close-range dogfighting, typical fifth-generation characteristics include:[8][1]

In order to minimize their radar cross-section (RCS), most fifth-generation fighters use chines instead of standard leading edge extensions and lack canards, though the Sukhoi T-50 has engine intake extensions that seem to function somewhat like canards, and the Chengdu J-20 designers have chosen the agility enhancements of canards in spite of their poor stealth characteristics.[9] They all have twin canted vertical tails (similar to a V-tail) also to minimize side RCS. Most fifth-generation fighters with supermaneuverability achieve it through thrust vectoring.

They all have internal weapon bays in order to avoid high RCS weapon pylons, but they all have external hardpoints on their wings for use on non-stealthy missions, such as the external fuel tanks the F-22 carries when deploying to a new theater.

All fifth-generation fighters have a high percentage of composite materials, in order to reduce RCS and weight.

Software-defined aircraft

All revealed fifth-generation fighters use commercial off-the-shelf main processors to directly control all sensors to form a consolidated view of the battlespace with both onboard and networked sensors, while previous-generation jet fighters used federated systems where each sensor or pod would present its own readings for the pilot to combine in their own mind a view of the battlespace.[10][11][12] The F-22A was physically delivered without synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or situation awareness infra-red search and track. It will gain SAR later through software upgrades.[13] However, any flaw in these complex software systems can disable supposedly unrelated aircraft systems, and the complexity of a software-defined aircraft can lead to a software crisis with additional costs and delays.[14][15] By the end of 2013, the biggest concern with the F-35 program was software, especially the software required for data fusion across the many sensors.[16]

Sukhoi calls their expert system for sensor fusion the artificial intelligence of the Su-57.[17] Flight tests of their integrated modular avionics started in 2017 on a fiber optic networked multicore processor system.[18] The system is not without faults. In December 2020, a malfunction with the computer flight control system caused the first production Su-57 to crash.[19]

An automatic software response to an overheat condition apparently has contributed to a crash of an F-22.[20] Issues with the avionics also contributed to an F-35A crash in 2020.[21]

The F-35 uses software-defined radio systems, in which common middleware controls field-programmable gate arrays.[13] Col. Arthur Tomassetti has said that the F-35 is a "software intensive airplane and software is easy to upgrade, as opposed to hardware."[22]

In order to ease the addition of new software features, the F-35 has adopted a kernel and application separation of security responsibilities.[23]

Steve O'Bryan of Lockheed Martin has said that the F-35 may gain the ability to operate UAVs through a future software upgrade.[24] The USN is already planning to place its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system under the control of a manned aircraft, to act as a flying missile magazine.[25]

Situational awareness

The combination of stealthy airframes, stealthy sensors, and stealthy communications is designed to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage other aircraft before those targets are aware of their presence.[26] Lt. Col. Gene McFalls of the USAF has said that sensor fusion will feed into inventory databases to precisely identify aircraft at a distance.[27]

Sensor fusion and automatic target tracking are projected to give the fifth-generation jet fighter pilot a view of the battlespace superior to that of legacy AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft that may be forced back from the front lines by increasing threats. Therefore, tactical control could be shifted forwards to the pilots in the fighters.[28] Michael Wynne, former Secretary of the United States Air Force, has suggested elimination of the Boeing E-3 Sentry and Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS in favor of more F-35s, simply because so much effort is being made by the Russians and Chinese to target these platforms that are built to commercial airliner standards.[29]

However, the more powerful sensors, such as AESA radar which is able to operate in multiple modes at the same time, may present too much information for the single pilot in the F-22, F-35 and Su-57 to adequately use. The Sukhoi/HAL FGFA offered a return to the two-seat configuration common in fourth generation strike fighters, but this was rejected over cost concerns.[30]

There is ongoing research to apply track-before-detect across sensor fusion in the core CPU to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage targets that no single sensor has by itself detected.[31] Probability theory is used to determine "what data to believe, when to believe and how much to believe".[32]

These sensors produce too much data for the onboard computers to fully process so sensor fusion is achieved by comparing what is observed against preloaded threat libraries that contain known enemy capabilities for a given region.[33] Items that do not match known threats are not even displayed.[34]

Combat cloud

Gilmary M. Hostage III has suggested that fifth-generation jet fighters will operate together in a "combat cloud" along with future unmanned combat aircraft,[35] and Michael Manazir has suggested that this might come as quickly as loading a UCLASS with AMRAAMs to be launched at the command of an F-35.[36]

History

Introduction timeline
2005United States F-22A Raptor
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015United States F-35B Lightning II
2016United States F-35A Lightning II
2017China Chengdu J-20A
United States F-35I "Adir" Lightning II
2018
2019United States F-35C Lightning II
2020China Chengdu J-20B
Russia Sukhoi Su-57
2021
2022
2023
TBAChina Chengdu J-20S
China Shenyang FC-31
India HAL AMCA
Russia Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate
Turkey TAI TF-X Kaan

United States

Prototypes amd concept demonstrators built by American manufacturers included the Lockeed YF-22 – 1990 (2 built), Northrop YF-23 – 1990 (2 built) for the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, Boeing Bird of Prey – 1996 (1 built), McDonnell Douglas X-36 – 1997 (2 scale models built), the Lockheed Martin X-35 – 2000 (2 built) and Boeing X-32 – 2001 (1 built) for the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Previous-generation radar low observable (LO) aircraft, also referred to as stealth aircraft, such as the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber and Lockeed F-117 Nighthawk ground attack aircraft were not designed for air to air combat, lacking the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, low probability of intercept (LPI) data networks, aerial performance, and air-to-air weapons necessary to engage other aircraft.[37] In the early 1970s, various American design projects identified stealth, speed, and maneuverability as key characteristics of a next-generation air-to-air combat aircraft. This led to the Request for Information for the Advanced Tactical Fighter project in May 1981, which resulted in the F-22.[38]

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II

The USMC is leveraging the USAF's experience with "fifth-generation air warfare" in the F-22, as they develop their own tactics for the F-35.[39]

According to Lockheed Martin in 2004, the only fifth-generation jet fighter then in operational service was their own F-22 Raptor.[2][40] Lockheed Martin uses "fifth-generation fighter" to describe the F-22 and F-35 fighters, with the definition including "advanced stealth", "extreme performance", "information fusion" and "advanced sustainment".[2][41] For unknown reasons, their definition no longer includes supercruise capability, which has typically been associated with the more advanced modern fighters, but which the F-35 lacks.[42] Lockheed Martin attempted to trademark the term "5th generation fighters" in association with jet aircraft and structural parts thereof,[43] and has a trademark for a logo with the term.[44]

The definition of the term fifth-generation fighter from Lockheed Martin has been criticized by companies whose products do not conform to these particular specifications, such as Boeing and Eurofighter, and by other commentators such as Bill Sweetman:[45] "it is misleading to portray the F-22 and F-35 as a linear evolution in fighter design. Rather, they are a closely related pair of outliers, relying on a higher level of stealth as a key element of survivability – as the Lockheed YF-12 and Mikoyan MiG-25, in the 1960s, relied on speed and altitude."[46]

The United States Navy and Boeing have placed the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in a "next generation" fighter category along with the F-22 and F-35,[47] as the Super Hornet has a "fifth-generation" AESA radar, modest radar cross-section (RCS) reductions and sensor fusion.[48][49] A senior USAF pilot has complained about fifth-generation claims for the Super Hornet: "The whole point to fifth generation is the synergy of stealth, fusion and complete situational awareness. The point about fifth-generation aircraft is that they can do their mission anywhere – even in sophisticated integrated air defense [IADS] environments. If you fly into heavy IADS with a great radar and sensor fusion, but no stealth, you will have complete situational awareness of the guy that kills you."[50] Michael "Ponch" Garcia of Raytheon has said that the addition of their AESA radars to the Super Hornet provides "90 percent of your fifth-generation capability at half the cost."[51] And a top Boeing official has called their newest 4.5 generation fighters "stealth killers".[52]

China

Chengdu J-20, introduced in 2017
Shenyang FC-31 prototype

China has two stealth fighter aircraft, Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31, both classified as fifth-generation fighter by United States Department of Defense.[53]

By the late 1990s, several Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, grouped under the program codename J-XX or XXJ, were identified by western intelligence sources. PLAAF officials have confirmed the existence of such a program, which they estimated would enter service between 2017 and 2019.[54][55] By late 2010, two prototypes of the Chengdu J-20 had been constructed and were undergoing high-speed taxi trials.[56] The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011.[57] On 26 December 2015, a new J-20 with serial number 2101 was seen leaving its Chengdu Aviation Corporation factory. It is believed to be the first of the low rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft.[58] 2101 conducted its maiden flight on 18 January 2016.[59]

The J-20 officially entered training unit service in March 2017,[4] becoming the first operational stealth fighter outside of the United States and in Asia.[60] The J-20 underwent testing and exercises in late 2017,[61] and was inducted into PLAAF combat units in 2018.[62][63]

Another stealth fighter design from SAC started to circulate on the internet in September 2011.[64] In June 2012, photos about a possible prototype of F-60 being transferred on highway began to emerge on the internet.[65] This aircraft was named Shenyang FC-31 later, and made its maiden flight on 31 October 2012.[66] A more refined version of the FC-31 is dubbed "J-35".[67]

Russia

Sukhoi Su-57 of the Russian Air Force
A static prototype of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate at the MAKS Airshow 2021

Technology demonstrators included the Mikoyan Project 1.44 – 1998 (1 built) and Su-47 – 1997 (1 built).

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union outlined the need for a next-generation aircraft to replace its fourth-generation jet fighters, the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27, in front line service. To meet the characteristics for the next-generation aircraft, work was underway on two aircraft projects: the twin-engined delta canard Sukhoi Su-47 with forward-swept wings and the Mikoyan Project 1.44. However, due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and lack of funds, both remained only as technology demonstrators.

After 2000, the Russian Defence Ministry initiated a new fighter competition known as "PAK FA" (Russian: ПАК ФА, short for: Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации, romanizedPerspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, lit.''Prospective aeronautical complex of front-line air forces'') to develop a next-generation fighter for the Russian Air Force, with Sukhoi and MiG as the main competitors. Sukhoi came up with its heavier, two-engine T-50 proposal (now Sukhoi Su-57) while Mikoyan proposed a light, single-engine Mikoyan LMFS design, based on the former MiG-1.44 project.[68] Sukhoi won the competition and in 2002, it was selected to lead the development of Russia's next-generation fighter based on the T-50 design. Later development of the multirole Mikoyan LMFS were continued from MiG funding.[69] However Mikoyan LMFS program was also cancelled and replaced by similar Sukhoi Checkmate program.

Russia's first fifth-generation aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-57, will replace its aging MiG-29s and Su-27s.[70][71] The Su-57 first flew on 29 January 2010. The first production Su-57 was delivered to the Russian Air Force on 25 December 2020.[72]

The Mikoyan PAK DP is another proposed fifth-generation fighter, being developed to replace the MiG-31.[73][74][75][76] The project began in 2010, and "According to Russian news reports, the MiG-41 will be equipped with stealth technology, reach a speed of Mach 4–4.3, carry anti-satellite missiles, and be able to perform tasks in Arctic and near-space environments."[77]

Russia unveiled a prototype of the single-engine Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate Light Tactical Aircraft in July 2021 at the biennial MAKS (air show), with maiden flight initially expected in 2023 (subsequently delayed to at least 2024). The fighter is mainly designed for export and is expected to be less costly than 2-engine competitors.[78]

Turkey

TAI TF-X Kaan during the runway tests at TAI's facilities in Ankara, on March 17, 2023[79][80]

The TAI TF-X Kaan,[81] or in Turkish as Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU, National Combat Aircraft),[82] is a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather, fifth generation air superiority fighter in development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and BAE Systems as its sub-contractor. The TF-X is planned to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Turkish Air Force and to be exported to foreign states.[83]

Taxiing and ground running tests of the prototype began two days before the scheduled roll-out, on March 16, 2023.[79][84] It was officially given the name "Kaan" on May 1, 2023.[85][86][80]

On 21 February 2024, the first Kaan prototype took its 13-minute maiden flight, taking off from Mürted Airfield Command in Ankara, Turkey.[87][88]

India

India is independently developing a twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable stealth multirole fighter, called the HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is being developed and designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and will be manufactured by a SPV with initial prototypes produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. As of 2022, the AMCA prototype is under construction, with a first flight of the prototype expected by 2025.[89][90][91]

In early 2018, India pulled out of the parallel project called FGFA, a fifth-generation derivative of the Sukhoi Su-57, which it alleged did not meet requirements for stealth, combat avionics, radars and sensors by that time.[92] The completed FGFA was to include 43 improvements over the Su-57, including stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, networking and combat avionics.[93][94]

Sweden

Saab's Flygsystem 2020 is a program to develop a fifth generation fighter.

Japan

Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin

Japan developed a prototype of a stealth jet fighter called the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin, previously referred to as the ATD-X. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing F-22 fighters for their own forces.[95] However the U.S. Congress had banned the exporting of the aircraft in order to safeguard secrets of the aircraft's technology such as its extensive use of stealth; this rejection necessitated Japan's development of its own modern fighter, to be equipped with stealth features and other advanced systems.[96]

A mock-up of the X-2 Shinshin was constructed and used to study the radar cross section in France in 2009. The first prototype rolled out in July 2014 and the aircraft made its first flight on 22 April 2016. By July 2018, Japan had gleaned sufficient information, and decided that it would need to bring on international partners to complete this project. Several companies have responded.[97]

Japan has signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a sixth-generation fighter called Mitsubishi F-X.

Comparison of 5th-generation fighters in service

F-22[98] [99][100] [101] F-35A[102] [103][104] F-35B[102] F-35C[102] [103][104] Su-57[105][104] J-20[106] [107]
Country USA USA USA USA Russia China
Maiden flight 1997 2006 2008 2010 2010 2011
Entered service 2005 2016 2015 2019 2020 2017
Number built 195[a] 354 108 38 22[b] 150-208
Length, meters 18.92 m
(62 ft 1 in)
15.67 m
(51 ft 5 in)
15.61 m
(51 ft 3 in)
15.67 m
(51 ft 5 in)
20.1 m
(65 ft 11 in)
21.2 m
(69 ft 7 in)
Wingspan 13.56 m
(44 ft 6 in)
10.7 m
(35 ft 1 in)
10.7 m
(35 ft 1 in)
13.1 m
(43 ft 0 in)
14.1 m
(46 ft 3 in)
13.01 m
(42 ft 8 in)
Wing Area, sq. meters 78.04 42.7 42.7 62.1 78.8 73
Empty Weight, kg 19,700 13,300 14,700 15,800 18,500 17,000
Loaded Weight, kg 29,410 22,470 21,770 25,900 29,270 25,000
Max Weight, kg 38,000 31,800 27,300 31,800 35,000 37,000
Thrust vectoring 2D none STOVL none 3D none/3D
Takeoff-Landing CTOL CTOL STOVL CATOBAR CTOL CTOL
Max speed, Mach 2.25 1.6 1.6 1.6 2.0 2.0
Cruise speed, Mach 1.82 1.3
Ferry range, km 3,220 2,220 1,670 2,520 3,500 5,500
Ceiling 20,000 m
(66,000 ft)
15,000 m
(49,000 ft)
15,000 m
(49,000 ft)
15,000 m
(49,000 ft)
20,000 m
(66,000 ft)
20,000 m
(66,000 ft)
Engines 2 1 1 1 2 2
Dry thrust, kN 232 125 125 125 176.6 172
Afterburn. Thrust, kN 312 191 191 191 294.2 294
Thrust/weight ratio 1.08 0.87 0.9 0.75 1.02 1
Radar crosse section 0.0001 0.005–0.3 0.005–0.3 0.005–0.3 0.1–0.3 0.05
Gun(s) 20mm 25mm None None 30mm None
Int/Ext hardpoints 8/4 6/6 4/6 6/6 6/6 8/4
Radar XBand XBand XBand LBand X + LBand XBand
Radar range target 240 km 150 km 150 km 150 km Unknown Unknown

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ 9 EMD and 186 production aircraft
  2. ^ 22 production aircraft and 10 test aircraft
  1. ^ a b Baker 2018, pp. 5, 46.
  2. ^ a b c "5th Generation Fighters". Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Marines Declare F-35B Operational, But Is It Really Ready For Combat?". Foxtrot Alpha. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b Dominguez, Gabriel (2 February 2018). "PLAAF inducts J-20 into combat units". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Первый серийный истребитель Су-57 поступил в авиаполк Южного военного округа". ТАСС (in Russian).
  6. ^ Baker, 2018.
  7. ^ Dr Richard P. Hallion (Winter 1990), "Air Force Fighter Acquisition since 1945", Air Power Journal, archived from the original on 11 December 2016, retrieved 7 February 2012
  8. ^ a b de Briganti, Giovanni (9 May 2012). "F-35 Reality Check Ten Years On – Part 1: 'Fifth-Generation' and Other Myths". Defense-aerospace.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  9. ^ Neblett, Evan; Metheny, Mike; Liefsson, Leifur Thor (17 March 2003). "Canards" (PDF). AOE 4124 Configuration Aerodynamics. Virginia Tech. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  10. ^ McHale, John (1 May 2010). "F-35 avionics: an interview with the Joint Strike Fighter's director of mission systems and software". Military & Aerospace Electronics. 21 (5). Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  11. ^ Sherman, Ron (1 April 2006). "F-35 Electronic Warfare Suite: More Than Self-Protection". Avionics. Aviation Today. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  12. ^ Aronstein, David C.; Hirschberg, Michael J.; Piccirillo, Albert C. (1998). Advanced Tactical Fighter to F-22 Raptor: Origins of the 21st Century Air Dominance Fighter. AIAA. p. 171. ISBN 1-56347-282-1. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  13. ^ a b McHale, John (1 February 2010). "F-35 Joint Strike Fighter leverages COTS for avionics systems". Military & Aviation Electronics. 21 (2). Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  14. ^ Johnson, Dani (19 February 2007). "Raptors arrive at Kadena". Air Force Link. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  15. ^ Drew, Christopher (1 November 2010). "Additional Costs Expected for Lockheed's F-35 Fighter". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  16. ^ Shalal-Esa, Andrea (4 December 2013). "Pentagon focused on weapons, data fusion as F-35 nears combat use". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  17. ^ Weir, Fred (29 January 2010). "Russia flexes military power with 'futuristic' fighter jet". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  18. ^ "Russia Starts Flight Tests Of Next-Gen Integrated Avionics Suite Of PAK-FA Fighter Jet". www.defenseworld.net. Digitalwriters Media Pvt. Ltd. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Источник: упавший в Хабаровском крае Су-57 самопроизвольно вошел в спираль" (in Russian). TASS. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  20. ^ Hennigan, W. J. (19 December 2011). "Fatal problems plague the U.S.' costliest fighter jet". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  21. ^ "United States Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board Report" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  22. ^ Flowers, Chelsea (11 July 2012). "An Inside Look at the F-35 Lightning II". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  23. ^ Bellamy, Woodrow III (11 April 2014). "Wind River Powers F-35 Communications in Flight Test". Avionics. Aviation Today. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  24. ^ Wells, Jane (13 May 2014). "The US jet fighter that can do it all—maybe". CNBC. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  25. ^ Majumdar, Dave (13 February 2014). "Navy's UCLASS Could Be Air to Air Fighter". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  26. ^ Thomas, Geoffrey (28 April 2014). "Stealth jet 'in class of its own'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  27. ^ Mehta, Aaron (13 October 2014). "The Difference Between 4th and 5th Gen EW". Defense News. Intercepts. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  28. ^ "Shaping a New Con-ops: The Impact of the F-22 and F-35". Second Line of Defense. 5 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  29. ^ Clark, Colin (31 January 2011). "Scrap AWACS, JSTARS; Plough Dough Into F-35, Wynne Says". DoD Buzz. Military.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  30. ^ Sweetman, Bill (30 November 2010). "Rivals Target JSF". Aviation Week. Defense Technology International. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  31. ^ "EO/IR Multi-Sensor Fusion Tracker Algorithm". Navy SBIR. 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  32. ^ "Elite Engineering: The Brain of the F-35". F35.com. Lockheed Martin. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  33. ^ Clark, Colin (11 March 2015). "Threat Data Biggest Worry For F-35A's IOC; But It 'Will Be on Time'". BreakingDefense.com. Breaking Media. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  34. ^ Freedberg, Sydney J. Jr. (7 November 2016). "F-22, F-35 Outsmart Test Ranges, AWACS". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  35. ^ Laird, Robbin (10 January 2013). "Why Air Force Needs Lots of F-35s: Gen. Hostage on The 'Combat Cloud'". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  36. ^ Majumdar, Dave; LaGrone, Sam (23 December 2013). "Navy: UCLASS Will be Stealthy and 'Tomcat Size'". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  37. ^ Sweetman, Bill (2004). Ultimate Fighter: Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Zenith. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7603-1792-1.
  38. ^ Hehs, Eric (15 May 1998). "F-22 Raptor Design Evolution, Part I". Code One. Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  39. ^ Majumdar, Dave (20 July 2012). "USMC hopes to leverage USAF's F-22 experience when deploying F-35B". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  40. ^ Yoon, Joe (27 June 2004). "Fighter Generations". Aerospaceweb.org. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  41. ^ "F-35 Lightning II: Defining the Future" (PDF). Lockheed Martin. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  42. ^ "Contact: JSF FAQ". JSF.mil. The Pentagon. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010. No, neither the F135 or F136 engines were designed to supercruise.
  43. ^ "Trademark serial number 78885922: Fifth-generation fighters". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  44. ^ "Trademark serial number 78896843: Fifth-generation fighters wordmark". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  45. ^ "Eurofighter, 5th Generation; the Debate Heats up". DefenceTalk.com. 20 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  46. ^ Sweetman, Bill (December 2009). "Editorial Insight". Defense Technology International: 50. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  47. ^ Joshi, Saurabh (16 June 2010). "F/A-18 as good as 5th gen: US Navy". StratPost. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  48. ^ Ferguson, Gregor (23 October 2010). "'Bridging fighter' packs quite a punch". The Australian. National Affairs. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  49. ^ "F/A18-E/F Super Hornet .... Leading Naval Aviation into the 21st Century". U.S. Navy. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  50. ^ Fulghum, David A. (12 March 2007). "Super Hornet radar not ready for combat, evaluation says". Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  51. ^ Erwin, Sandra (24 November 2010). "Joint Strike Fighter Delayed? Not a Big Deal for the U.S. Navy". National Defense. National Defense Industrial Association. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  52. ^ Ewing, Philip (3 January 2012). "Boeing's iron Eagles, part 2". DoD Buzz. Military.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  53. ^ A. Tirpak, John (24 October 2023). "Pentagon: China Working on Upgrades to Top Stealth Fighter, Manned-Unmanned Teaming". Air Force Magazine.
  54. ^ "中国空军副司令首曝:国产第四代战机即将首飞" [Chinese Air Force deputy commander on first exposure: Domestic upcoming fourth-generation fighter first flight]. Phoenix Television News (in Chinese). 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009.
  55. ^ [面对面]何为荣:剑啸长空 [[Face to face] He Weirong: Swordsman of the sky] (in Chinese). CCTV. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010.
  56. ^ Sweetman, Bill (27 December 2010). "China's Stealth Striker". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012.
  57. ^ "China conducts first test-flight of stealth plane". BBC News. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  58. ^ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P. W. (28 December 2015). "Chinese Stealth Fighter J-20 Starts Production". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  59. ^ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P. W. (3 February 2016). "China Stays Ahead in Asian Stealth Race". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  60. ^ "With the J20 stealth fighter in fully operation service, China leaps ahead in Asian arms race". Australian News. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  61. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2018). "China's J-20 fighter aircraft takes part in its first combat exercise, says report". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  62. ^ Joe, Rick (16 August 2019). "China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Today and Into the 2020s". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  63. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (12 February 2018). "PLAAF inducts J-20 into combat units". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  64. ^ Trimble, Stephen (29 September 2011). "Shenyang "F-60", UCAV stealth models revealed?". Flightglobal.com. The DEW Line. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  65. ^ Cenciotti, David (22 June 2012). "New Chinese fighter revealed?". The Aviationist. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  66. ^ "中国第二款隐形战机成功首飞" [China's second stealth fighter article successful maiden flight]. CJDBY.net (in Chinese). 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  67. ^ "China's New Carrier-Based Stealth Fighter Makes First Flight". 29 October 2021.
  68. ^ "Liogkiy Mnogofunktsionalniy Frontovoi Samolyet (LMFS)" [Light Multi-Function Frontal Aircraft]. GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  69. ^ Butovskiy, Petr (November 2006). "MiG's Fifth Generation Fighter Builds up New Momentum". Russia & CIS Observer. 15 (4). Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  70. ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (29 September 2008). "India, Russia to have different versions of same fighter plane". India Today. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  71. ^ Cohen, Ariel (16 January 2009). "Russia bets on new Sukhoi fighter to match F-35". United Press International. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  72. ^ "First batch-produced Su-57 delivered to regiment in Southern Military District — source". TASS. 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  73. ^ "A new MiG-41 aircraft may be developed on the basis of MiG-31 fighter-interceptor". RU aviation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  74. ^ "MiG-41: Russia Wants to Build a Super 6th Generation Fighter". National Interest. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  75. ^ "Armia-2017: Informacje o MiG-41" (in Polish). Altair Agencja Lotnicza. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  76. ^ "Russia Developing Space Age Fighter Jet". Russian Aviation. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  77. ^ Is Russia's defense industry too busy to take on another fighter jet project?, Defense News, 2021. (Retrieved January 2021).
  78. ^ "Putin hails Russia's air power as new fighter goes on view". Associated Press. AP. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  79. ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph (17 March 2023). "Our First Full Look At Turkey's New TF-X Stealthy Fighter". The War Zone. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  80. ^ a b "Turkish Stealth KAAN Fighter will Replace American F-16 Fighter jets". The Military Curiosity. 2 May 2023.
  81. ^ "Turkey's Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Kaan Makes Maiden Flight". Bloomberg. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  82. ^ Iddon, Paul (12 January 2023). "TF-X: Turkey Plans To Fly Its Homegrown Stealth Fighter In 2023". Forbes. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  83. ^ Yaylali, Cem Devrim; Ozberk, Tayfun (21 February 2024). "Turkey's fifth-generation fighter plane takes off for maiden flight". Defense News. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  84. ^ Anıl Şahin (17 March 2023). "Milli Muharip Uçak'ın piste çıktığı anlar". SavunmaSanayiST. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  85. ^ "İşte Milli Muharip Uçak'ın Adı: KAAN". savunmasanayist.com. SavunmaSanayiST. 1 May 2023.
  86. ^ "Milli Muharip Uçağın adı KAAN oldu". TRT Haber. 1 May 2023.
  87. ^ "Turkish fighter jet takes first flight as Ankara eyes Asian buyers". Nikkei Asia. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  88. ^ "Türkiye's 5th-generation fighter jet completes first flight". dailysabah.com. Daily Sabah. 21 February 2024.
  89. ^ Kumar, Chethan (10 February 2021). "Future fighters: Drone swarm, laser tech demo, AMCA nod likely this year". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  90. ^ Krishnan M, Anantha (20 February 2019). "AMCA, India's first stealth fighter, likely to be airborne before 2025". Onmanorama. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  91. ^ "AMCA Enters Production Phase".
  92. ^ Bedi, Rahul; Johnson, Reuben F. (20 April 2018). "India withdraws from FGFA project, leaving Russia to go it alone". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  93. ^ Mathews, Neelam (25 May 2012). "India's Version of Sukhoi T-50 Delayed by Two Years". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  94. ^ Dsouza, Larkins (27 October 2008). "Sukhoi/HAL FGFA an Indian Stealth Fighter". Defence Aviation. Archived from the original on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  95. ^ Dsouza, Larkins (11 January 2008). "Mitsubishi ATD-X ShinShin a Japanese Stealth Fighter". Defence Aviation. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  96. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (3 June 2013). "In Wake of F-22 Ban, Japan Forging Ties with Europe (With a Warning to America)". Japan Security Watch. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  97. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (10 July 2018). "Now Northrop Grumman Wants to Build Japan's New Fighter Jet". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  98. ^ "F-22 Raptor fact sheet." Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Air Force, March 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  99. ^ "F-22 Raptor Specifications". Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  100. ^ Mehta, Aaron (31 May 2013). "Pentagon: First F-35s Operational in 2015". Defense News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013.
  101. ^ Statement of Vice Admiral Mathias Winter, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Program, Before the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee on F-35 Program Review (PDF) (Report). U.S. House of Representatives. 7 March 2018. HHRG-115-AS25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2018. Alt URL
  102. ^ a b c Staff, Seapower (1 May 2019). "Lockheed Develops Rack to Make F-35A/C a Six-Shooter".
  103. ^ a b "Radar Cross Section (RCS)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  104. ^ a b c Lagarkov, Andrey Nikolaevich; Pogosyan, Mikhail Aslanovich (2003). "Фундаментальные и прикладные проблемы: стелс технологии" [Fundamental and applied problems: Stealth technology]. Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences (in Russian). 73 (9): 848. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004.
  105. ^ Litovkin, Dmitry (29 June 2013). "T-50 fighter to be ready in 2013". Russia & India Report.
  106. ^ "China's enigmatic J-20 powers up for its second decade". Flight Global. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  107. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (24 April 2021). "What Happens When Two Stealth Fighter Jets Clash".

Bibliography

  • Baker, David (2018). Fifth Generation Fighters. Mortons Media Group.