Jet fighter generations

Classification scheme of jet fighters

Jet fighter generations classify the major technology leaps in the historical development of the jet fighter. Different authorities have identified different technology jumps as the key ones, dividing fighter development into different numbers of generations. Five generations are now widely recognised, with the development of a sixth under way.[1]

## Classification

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In 1990, air historian Richard P. Hallion proposed a classification of jet fighters into six generations up to that time. These may be broadly described as subsonic, transonic, supersonic, Mach 2, multi-mission, and high-manoeuverability.[2] Other schemes comprising five generations up to around the same period have since been described, although the demarcation lines between generations differ. John W.R. Taylor and John F. Guilmartin (Encyclopedia Britannica) follow Hallion, except that they condense the last two into one.[3] A NASA web publication divides jet development, up to 2004, into five stages; pioneer (straight wing), swept wing, transonic, the 1960s and 1970s on, culminating in types such as the F-15, F-16, and AV-8A.[4]

In the 1990s, a different division came into use in Russia, in which a "fifth generation" fighter was proposed as a counter to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. In contrast, a preceding fourth generation filled in the gap since the F-15/16 era.[5][6] This effectively condensed the previous classifications to three generations. In 2004, Aerospaceweb listed one such division into five generations.[6] Although details differ, the basic classification into five generations has since been widely adopted.[7][8][9]

The exact criteria for the various generation steps are not universally agreed on and are subject to some controversy. For example, Lockheed Martin has applied the term "fifth generation" to its F-22 and F-35 aircraft, but this has been challenged by its competitors Eurofighter GmbH and Boeing IDS.[10][11] It has been suggested that Lockheed Martin "labeled the F-35 a 'fifth-generation' fighter in 2005, a term it borrowed from Russia in 2004 to describe the F-22".[12] Some accounts have subdivided the 4th generation into 4 and 4.5, or 4+ and 4++.

The table below shows how some authors have divided up the generations, progressively since 1990.

Period | Capability | Example aircraft | Hallion (1990)[2] | Aerospaceweb (2004)[6] | People's Liberation Army (2007)[13] | Air Force Magazine (2009)[14] | Air Power Development Centre (2012)[9] | Baker (2018)[1]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1943–1950 | High subsonic,
conventional armament | Me 262, DH Vampire, P-80 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1
1953–1955 | Transonic,
air-to-air missiles,
radar | F-86, MiG-15, Hawker Hunter | 2 | 1 | 2
1953–1960 | Early supersonic,
air-to-air missiles,
radar | F-100, MiG-19 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2
1955–1970 | Supersonic,
Mach 2 air-to-air missiles only | F-104, MiG-21, Mirage III | 4 | 3
1960–1970 | Multi-purpose fighter-bombers | F-4, MiG-23, Mirage F1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3
1970–1980 | Supersonic multirole | Panavia Tornado, Saab 37 Viggen | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4
1974–1990 | Supersonic multirole,
high efficiency,
high manoeuvrability | F-14, MiG-29, Mirage 2000 | 6
1990–2000 | Enhanced capabilities,
advanced avionics,
limited stealth | F/A-18, Su-30, J-10, Eurofighter Typhoon | — | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4+ | 4.5
2000–present | Advanced integrated avionics,
stealth | Dassault Rafale, MiG-35, Su-35, J-16 | 4++
F-22, J-20, Su-57, F-35, J-35 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5

Five generations are now commonly recognised, with the fifth representing the latest generation in service (as of 2018).[1][15][13] Future types at an early stage of development are expected to have even further enhanced capabilities and have become known as a sixth generation.[1][14] The rest of this article broadly follows the analysis of Baker.[1]

### First

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The Me 262 was the first operational jet fighter.

The earliest jet fighters appeared during and after the last years of World War II. They were similar in most respects to their piston-engined contemporaries, having straight, effectively unswept wings and being of wood and/or light alloy construction. (The Me 262 had a lightly swept wing, but this was done principally to achieve balance, and the sweep was deliberately kept too little to have a significant aerodynamic effect.[citation needed]) They had little or no avionics, with their primary armament being manually-controlled guns. The Heinkel He 162 and Gloster Meteor also saw wartime service, while types such as the de Havilland Vampire and Lockheed F-80 were still working up to operational service when the war ended.

The introduction of the swept wing allowed transonic speeds to be reached, but controllability was often limited at such speeds. These aircraft were typically aimed at the air-superiority interceptor role.[16] Notable types which took part in the Korean War of 1950–1953 include the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 and the North American F-86 Sabre. The Hawker Hunter appeared too late for the war but was widely used and took part in several later ones.

### Second

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The MiG-21 was the most widely produced jet fighter in history.

The Korean War of 1950-1953 forced a major reconsideration of aircraft design. Guns proved unsuitable at such high speeds, while the need for multirole capability in battlefield support was rediscovered. Interceptor-type aircraft emerging after the war used after-burning engines to give Mach 2 performance, while radar and infrared homing missiles greatly improved their accuracy and firepower. The U.S. Century Series such as the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, as well as the Russian MiG-21, English Electric Lightning, and French Dassault Mirage III were typical of this era. Many types were soon compromised by adaptations for battlefield support roles, and some of these would persist in new variants for multiple generations.[17]

### Third

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The Hawker Siddeley Harrier was the first operational attack aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities.

Many third generation fighters were designed with the intent of having multi-role capabilities. Aircraft of this era were expected to carry a wide range of weapons and other ordnance, such as air-to-ground missiles and laser-guided bombs, while also being able to engage in air-to-air interception beyond visual range. This generation of fighters also brought forth numerous improvements in supporting avionics, including pulse-doppler radar, off-sight targeting, and terrain-warning systems.

The advent of more economical turbofan engines brought extended range and sortie times, while increased thrust could only partly deliver better performance and manoeuvrability across the speed range. Some designers resorted to variable geometry or vectored thrust in an attempt to reconcile these opposites. Types such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, Sukhoi Su-17, Shenyang J-8, and Hawker Siddeley Harrier had varying degrees of success.[18]

### Fourth

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The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was one of the first operational fourth-generation jet fighters.

Main article: Fourth-generation fighter

Following the undeniable successes of the multirole generation, advanced technologies were being developed, such as fly-by-wire, composite materials, thrust-to-weight ratios greater than one (enabling the plane to climb vertically), hypermanoeuvrability, advanced digital avionics and sensors such as synthetic radar and infrared search-and-track, and stealth. As these appeared piecemeal, designers returned to the fighter first and foremost, but with support roles mapped out as anticipated developments. The General Dynamics F-16 introduced electronic flight control and wing-body blending, while the Saab 37 Viggen broke new ground in aerodynamic configuration with its canard foreplanes. The Anglo-American Harrier II and Soviet Sukhoi Su-27 highlighted extreme manoeuvrability with, respectively, strengthened exhaust nozzles for viffing (vectoring in forward flight) and manoeuvering control at high angles of attack as in Pugachev's Cobra. The Panavia Tornado remained multi-role and developed a defensive/offensive sensor, avionics and weapons suite especially capable of anti-radar and anti-missile ground attack, while the Lockheed F-117 introduced stealth as a design concept.[19] The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), with a different generation system, classifies most fourth-generation fighters as the third generation.[13][20]

#### 4.5

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Later variants of these and other aircraft progressively enhanced their characteristic technologies and increasingly incorporated aspects of each other's, as well as adopting some emerging fifth-generation technologies such as:[21]

* Active electronically scanned array radar
* Low-probability-of-intercept radar
* Electro-optical targeting systems
* Sensor fusion
* Supercruise ability
* Link 16-like, high-capacity digital network communications
* use of composite materials to reduce the radar cross-section

These partial upgrades to 5th generation capability have led some commentators to identify intermediate generations as 4.5 or 4+ and 4++. In some cases, such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-35 developed from the MiG-29 with fifth-generation avionics, the upgrade has been classed as fully fifth generation (meeting all fifth gen requirements except stealth).[22] Many of these types remain in frontline service as of 2025.

A number of new 4.5 generation types are being developed in the 2020s, post the emergence of the true 5th generation and contemporaneous with 6th generation aircraft development, these include the HAL Tejas MK 1A, CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder Block 3, and KAI KF-21 Boramae.[23][14][9]

### Fifth

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The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor was the first operational fifth-generation jet fighter.

Main article: Fifth-generation fighter

The huge advance of digital computation and mobile networking, which began in the 1990s, led to a new model of sophisticated forward C3 (command, control, and communications) presence above the battlefield. Such aircraft had previously been large transport types adapted for the role, but information technology had advanced to the point that a much smaller and more agile plane could now carry the necessary data systems. Sophisticated automation and human interfaces could greatly reduce crew workload. It was now possible to combine the C3, fighter and ground support roles in a single, agile aircraft. Such a fighter—and its pilot—would need to be able to loiter for long periods, hold its own in combat, maintain battlefield awareness and seamlessly switch roles as the situation developed.

Parallel advances in materials, engine technology and electronics made such a machine possible. From the start of the new millennium, advanced systems concepts such as smart helmets, sensor/data fusion, and subsidiary attack drones were becoming realities. Bringing together and integrating such advances, along with those of the fourth generation, created what has become known as the fifth generation of fighters. The first of these is generally acknowledged to be the Lockheed Martin F-22. Subsequent types include the Lockheed Martin F-35, Chengdu J-20,[24] Shenyang J-35, and Sukhoi Su-57.[25]

### Sixth

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Main article: Sixth-generation fighter

With the fifth generation slowly coming into service, attention turned to a replacement sixth generation. The requirements for such a fighter remain under debate. Fifth-generation abilities for battlefield survivability, air superiority and ground support are being enhanced and adapted to the future threat environment. Development time and cost are proving major factors in laying out practical roadmaps. Drones and other remote unmanned technologies are being increasingly deployed on the battlefields of the new millennium, and projects are underway to use them as semi-autonomous "wingmen". They may be integrated with sixth-generation fighter avionics, either as satellite aircraft under a sixth-generation command fighter or even replacing the pilot in an autonomous or semi-autonomous command aircraft. Studies such as the U.S. F-47[26] and F/A-XX programs, the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the multinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and Chinese Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-50 development are ongoing.[27][28] Specific requirements are anticipated by some observers to crystalize around 2025.[29]

## See also

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* Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider: U.S. 6th generation bomber project[30]

## References

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### Citations

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1. ^ a b c d e Baker 2018
2. ^ a b 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
3. ^ John W.R. Taylor and John F. Guilmartin; "Military Aircraft: The Jet Age", britannica.com. (Retrieved 3 January 2021)
4. ^ Steve Garber; Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft, NASA SP-468, NASA History Office, Updated August 6, 2004 Chapter 11, Pages 2-6. (Retrieved 3 January 2021)
5. ^ Winchester 2011, pages 5, 83.
6. ^ a b c Joe Yoon (27 June 2004). "Fighter Generations". Aerospaceweb.
7. ^ Richard A. Bitzinger, ed. (2009). The Modern Defense Industry: Political, Economic, and Technological Issues. Praeger. p. 307\. ISBN 9781567207491.
8. ^ "Five Generations of Jets". Fighter World Aviation Museum, Australia.
9. ^ a b c "Five Generations of Jet Fighter Aircraft" (PDF). Air Power Development Centre Bulletin. Royal Australian Air Force. January 2012.
10. ^ "What is a 5th generation fighter" (PDF). Eurofighter World. February 2010. p. 16\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2012. (archive date inferred from archive URL)
11. ^ Daniel Leblanc (18 October 2013). "War heats up between Lockheed Martin and Boeing in bid to replace jets". "The Globe and Mail".
12. ^ Bill Sweetman (24 March 2014). "Is Saab's New Gripen The Future Of Fighters?". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
13. ^ a b c "Does China's J-20 rival other stealth fighters?". China Power. CSIS. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
14. ^ a b c John A. Tirpak (October 2009). "The Sixth Generation Fighter". Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
15. ^ Winchester 2011
16. ^ Baker 2018, Chapter 1: "Genesis of the Generations".
17. ^ Baker 2018, Chapter 2: Generation Gap.
18. ^ Baker 2018, Chapter 3: Generation Rising.
19. ^ Baker 2018, Chapters 4 to 6.
20. ^ "Did China downgrade its J-20 stealth fighter from 5th generation to 4th?". The Week. 1 August 2020.
21. ^ "Ask Us - Fighter Generations". aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
22. ^ Baker 2018. Chapter 9: MiG-35
23. ^ admin2 (18 September 2020). "HAL Tejas, the strongest fighter plane of its generation, developed indigenously by India. - Thecompares.net". Retrieved 24 August 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link‍]
24. ^ Seidel, Jamie (20 October 2017). "With the J20 stealth fighter in fully operation service, China leaps ahead in Asian arms race". Australian News.
25. ^ Baker 2018, Chapters 7 to14.
26. ^ Rogoway, Thomas Newdick, Tyler (21 March 2025). "Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract". The War Zone. Retrieved 21 March 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
27. ^ Kadidal, Akhil (30 December 2024). "Update: Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly". Janes.
28. ^ Honrada, Gabriel (2 January 2025). "China's J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority". Asia Times. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
29. ^ Baker 2018, Chapter 18.
30. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (5 December 2022). "The First Sixth-Generation Aircraft Ever, the B-21 Raider Is "a Bomber Like No Other"". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.

### Bibliography

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* David Baker; Fifth Generation Fighters, Mortons, 2018.
* Jim Winchester (15 December 2011). Jet Fighters Inside & Out. Weapons of War. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1448859825.

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Jet fighter generations

* First (1942-1950)
* Second (1950-1960)
* Third (1960-1975)
* Fourth (1975-2005)
* Fifth (2005-current)
* Sixth (proposed)

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