Jet fighter generations are divisions made to distinguish significant technological advances in the past development of jet fighters
To distinguish between significant technological advances in the historical development of jet fighters, categories called “generations” were developed. According to the Royal Australian Air Force’s Air Power Development Centre Bulletin, the term “generation” first appeared in the 1990s “to make sense of the leap-frogging improvements in performance to jet fighter aircraft brought about through major advances in aircraft design, avionics, and weapon systems,” and it is suggested that a “generational shift in jet fighter aircraft occurs when a technological innovation cannot be incorporated into an existing aircraft through upgrades” and retrofits.
But how can you identify a generation as a fighter and give one or more examples of each generation?
First generation:
At the close of World War II, the first jet fighters were created. According to Matthew Bekaert, an aviation expert on Quora, they actually don’t differ all that much from prop planes, save from the type of engine. Main elements:
- Jet engines
- Straight wings
- Subsonic speeds
- no avionics/radar
Examples: Gloster Meteor, ME 262, P80 (later F-80), MiG-9
Second generation:
The Korean War’s dominant fighters.
Main factors:
- Swept wings
- Transonic speeds
- Early radar/gun targeting systems
- First heat-seeking missiles.
Examples: F-86, MiG-15, Mig-17, F9F8, Hawker Hunter
Third generation jets:
Main factors:
- More advanced radar systems
- First, radar-guided missiles and better heat-seeking missiles became the primary weapons, and cannons became secondary. Limited BVR
- Afterburning engines for Mach 2 speeds
Examples: Mig-19 and 21, F-4 Phantom, F-8 Crusader, Mirage 3, Electric Lightning
Fourth Generation:
Main factors:
- Better radar systems, including a look-down, shoot down
- Better missiles, both radar-guided and heat-seeking. BVR
- Computer-assisted flight, fly-by-wire, etc. for better agility.
Examples: Mirage 2000, F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18, Mig-29, SU-27
Examples of generation 4.5 aircraft that enhance generation 4 with EASA radars, technologies to reduce radar reflection, networking, etc. include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, MiG-35, SU-30, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Fifth Generation:
Main factors:
- Stealth
- Networking between different planes
Examples: F-35, F-22, SU-57, J-20, J-31.
Bekaert concludes;
The lines between the generations are naturally a little hazy; a Gen 3 jet that has been updated can easily be classified as Gen 4. The most recent Rafale is incomparable to an early gen 4 aircraft like an F-16.
Photo by U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Dassault, Indian Air Force
