Newsgroup: it.cultura.militare
Titolo: Genealogy of Fifth Generation Fighters

Genealogy of Fifth Generation Fighters
Created: 22.06.2006 14:37 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 13:49 MSK
MosNews
 The more talk there is about fifth-generation fighters, the more often
the question arises: what exactly is a fifth-generation fighter? A special
report from Lenta.ru traces back to the roots of this highly sought after
aircraft.
The fourth generation of jet-propelled fighters came out in the late 70s,
but towards the start of the 80s waned a bit. After lagging behind for 10
years, the re-equipping of the air forces of leading world countries is
picking up. The U.S. is the pace setter in the arms race as it was the
first country to commission state-of-the-art fighter jets, leaving other
leading aircraft producers behind. The more talk there is about
fifth-generation fighters, the more often the question arises: what
exactly is a fifth-generation fighter? What kind of identifying
characteristics must an aircraft possess in order to be considered to be
among aircraft of a new type? In general, how do technological features
assign an aircraft to one generation or another?
The first generation, developed in the mid to late 40s, lasted a
relatively short period of time. As opposed to the prop planes from the
end of World War II, the first jet-propelled aircraft differed by means of
their engines, with speeds of more than 150-200km per hour and “working”
ceilings of 13-15,000m, rather than 10-11,000m--which was noticeably worse
than that of the maneuverable jet-propelled planes. Weapons and
target-navigation equipment remained practically just as before: 2-3
cannons or 4-6 heavy-caliber machine guns and an optical sight. The most
famous and characteristic aircraft of the first generation are the MiG-15
and F-86 Sabre. The altitudes for dog fighting during those times did not
exceed a few hundred meters and the combat that raged over Korea--in which
the jet-propelled aircraft first flew--barely differed from the air combat
of WWII. With time the capabilities of the aircraft improved, and the last
models of the first generation fighters — such as the MiG-19 or the F-100
Super Sabre — reached supersonic speeds. In addition, the family of first
generation aircraft was modernized, and received radars and guided
missiles.
Jet-driven fighters of the second generation came on line in the mid 50s,
initially drafted as aircraft exceeding the speed of sound by 1.5-2 times
(maximum speeds reached the force of 1800-2200km per hr), equipped with
radar tracking devices and “air-to-air” missiles with thermal (infrared)
and self-guided warheads. Missiles and radar were able to compensate for
the boost in speed as they increased the distance to target, thus allowing
the pilot enough time to have a plan of action. At that time, during the
universal frenzy for missiles, guns were vanishing from airplanes as they
were becoming outdated across the board. The advancement of military
aircraft was striving to reach the fastest maximum speeds and highest
altitudes possible. The brightest examples of the second generation — the
MiG-21 in the USSR, the Mirage-III in France, and the F-104 Super
Starfighter in the U.S. — were in service for many years in the air forces
of dozens of countries; and moreover, the MiG and Mirage are still in
production to this day. 
Aircraft of the second generation did not become overly massive, like
those produced by design bureaus and aviation factories — fighters of the
third generation. The rise in cost of fighters, already noticeable at that
time, demanded the production of multipurpose jet-driven aircraft. The
ability to conduct various missions as well as the quest for air
superiority to attack ground targets with the help of guided weapons
became the distinctive characteristic of aircraft of the new generation.
The increase in capabilities of fighters occurred thanks to improvements
in electronics--powerful, compact radars and optical systems were
available for distribution in airplanes. The increased weight of the new
aircraft was compensated for by the emergence of powerful, efficient
engines.
The F-4 Phantom II and MiG-23, created in the early and late 60s
respectively, are considered to be the most remarkable aircraft of their
time; but the third generation created an entirely new branch of
specialized aircraft, due to the presence of powerful and multi-faceted
target navigation equipment and corresponding missiles. Grouped along with
such aircraft are the MiG-25 interceptor, and the Su-24 and “Tornado”
strike aircraft.
The third generation was still created during the time of heightened
enthusiasm of missile weaponry, and originally new aircraft carried
nothing except for multipurpose missiles. During the time of their design,
air combat resulted in the solution to a mathematical equation — the
speedy intercept of a target with low-maneuverability by means of a
low-maneuvering missile. But the 10 year Vietnam War and Arab-Israeli
conflicts demonstrated to everyone that such a notion was a mistake.
Loaded with ammunition, the multipurpose “Phantoms” of the third
generation could not fly at supersonic speeds and became victims of the
maneuverable MiG-17-fighters of the first jet-driven generation with
traditional weaponry. MiG-21s, belonging to the second generation and
differing on account of their powerful engines and light weight, good
maneuverability and high speeds, became even more dangerous opponents for
the virtually straight flying strike fighters. Once again, when battles
flared up above the Sinai Peninsula — the MiG-21 and Mirage-III
demonstrated that high flying was written off early.
As a result, the fourth generation of jet-driven fighters was created on
the basis of a series of compromises. The fighter had to maintain a high
speed — not less than twice the speed of sound at high altitudes — and
have the capability of penetrating anti-air defense systems at ultra-low
altitudes and at near-sonic speeds. Its flight characteristics had to
allow the conducting of dog-fighting maneuvers while firing guns and
missiles at close range. The fighter’s radar had to have the capability of
simultaneous tracking and weapon navigation of several targets within a
line-of-sight distance. The American fighters F-15, F-16, F-18, the French
Mirage-2000, and the Soviet MiG-29 and Su-27 became “heroes of our time”.
The speed and altitude characteristics of the multipurpose fighters of the
new generation did not grow, and occasionally several even decreased. The
speed record was held by the specialized interceptor MiG-31, which was
unequipped for the maneuvers of air combat, but suited for the fourth
generation on account of its all-powerful radar tracking system.
Along with the growth of possibilities for fighters, the change of
generations was characterized by the constant refinement of air
navigational systems. Fighters of the first generation were directed from
the ground by radio on the basis of information obtained from ground-based
radar tracking systems or visual sight; fighters of the second generation
already had individual radar tracking and could navigate with its help, as
with the help of the ground-based radar tracking on an automatic setting.
Fighters of the third generation received the capability to interact
immediately with several navigation stations and with planes equipped with
airborne early warning. The fourth generation expanded these capabilities
thanks to multi-channel radars and the internal navigation of planes in
formation. The aircraft became a part of the air-to-ground complex,
responsible for the detection, escort and destruction of targets. 
Work on the fifth generation of jet-driven fighters began in the early
80s, and questions immediately arose as to which design precisely defined
the fifth generation. The issue soon turned philosophical rather than
technical, but it took about 15 years to work out. The U.S. defined the
characteristic identifiers of fifth generation aircraft as reduced radar
tracking signature and supersonic cruising speed. The USSR, and then
Russia added quality of high-maneuverability to this list. One thing that
all participants in the process agreed on was that the fighter must have
radio tracking equipment, enabling it to zero in on targets not only in
the forward hemisphere, but also in the rear hemisphere. And, perhaps, the
most characteristic identifier of the fifth generation fighter is the
highest level of integration of the aircraft in the structure of the
air-to-ground complex.
Great possibilities, which the on board equipment of the fifth generation
aircraft affords, can be completely realized only by the presence of
corresponding information, supplied by various channels of communications
from dozens of sources — from AWACS aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft,
ground navigation systems, fighters-neighbors in the group etc. In absence
of a congruous structure, made up of dozens of air and ground elements, a
significant part of the potential of fifth generation aircraft simply will
not be realized, and money wasted on the purchase of such high-end
fighters will be tossed in the wind. As a result, fighters of the new
generation will be practically of no use to developing
countries--incredibly expensive by themselves, as they will require
special support systems which developing countries simply cannot afford.
If we look at different aircraft that fit the proposed set of criteria, we
can note only three of all aircraft designed in the 90s: the already
produced F-22, the still experimental F-35/JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) and
the Russian produced I-21, which is anticipated in the next year. Neither
the Rafale, nor the Eurofighter, nor the Gripen are considered to be fifth
generation aircraft. Just as the last aircraft of the Su-27 and MiG-29
platforms, the multipurpose aircraft of the 4+ generation, are aircraft
valued not for what they are by themselves, but for being a part of the
most complex combat system.
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