With the outbreak of the Korean War, the US Air Force once again asked aircraft manufacturers to mass-produce fighters, as if returning to the scene of World War II.
1950, the United States air force had 3,624 fighter planes (including attack planes), of which piston fighters accounted for 48.5% (f-47,577, F-5 1 1006, F-82 174), and the rest were 56,500. Only six years later, the number of fighters owned by the US Air Force surged to 9,353, 2.6 times that of 65,438+0,950. At this time, piston fighters accounted for1.5% of the total number (144 f-51), and 89.6% were first-generation and second-generation jet fighters (433 f-80,252184,3898 f) 8.8% are second-generation jet fighters (74 1 F- 100, 24 f-10, 52 F- 102) and 7 F- 104.
The U.S. Air Force roughly classifies the fighters that appeared in the five years from 1950 to 1955 as the first generation of jet fighters. The advantage is that the engine is not an old piston, but a turbojet. So the top speed of this generation of fighters has reached subsonic speed. On the contrary, its main weapons are only machine guns or cannons, which is not much different from the piston fighters during World War II. However, because this generation of fighters is equipped with a small ranging radar, the aiming device has been improved.
The second generation jet fighter is a supersonic jet fighter that appeared in the five years from 1955 to 1960. Its main advantages include: the maximum speed is supersonic and the Mach number is above 1; Fixed target search radar; The main weapon is no longer a machine gun, but an air-to-air missile with a longer range. The second-generation fighter jets of the US Air Force are firstly the F- 100 "Super Saber" manufactured by North American Airlines, followed by the "Century Series" fighters (F-10/0/,F- 102, F- 104, KLOC-0/04). There are 5,488 aircraft, of which the first generation aircraft accounts for 37.7%(207 1, including F-86 12 13) and the second generation aircraft accounts for 62.1%(3411).
The third generation jet fighter is a supersonic jet fighter that appeared between 1960 and 1970 10. Its advantages are multi-purpose capability and improved avionics equipped with computers. Avionics); Carrying precision guided bombs (first? Accuracy? Ammunition) ability; The supersonic speed of most fighters exceeds the performance of M2.
1970, the us air force had 4,420 combat troops, of which 6.5% were first-generation aircraft (295), 45.8% were second-generation aircraft (2,025, of which 768 were F- 100) and 37.4% were third-generation aircraft (65,438+).
The fourth generation jet fighter is a supersonic jet fighter that appeared in the 30 years from 1970 to 2000.
First of all, due to the development of advanced avionics and a lot of software needed to run them, the cost of developing and buying the next generation fighter is prohibitive. The second is to modernize the existing fourth-generation aircraft at a lower price by updating the avionics and airborne weapons and equipment carried by the aircraft. Third, in the process of using the fourth-generation fighter, although there are frequent conflicts in third world countries, it is unlikely that a big country will definitely need the next-generation fighter.
In any case, as the fourth generation supersonic jet fighter, it still occupies the position of the main fighter of the US Air Force.
The advantages of the fourth-generation aircraft include improved precision-guided weapons, such as high-performance avionics (cutting-edge? Avionics), GPS guided bombs and extended-range radars (looking down and shooting down: the ability to search and attack targets below) have high maneuverability and low initial detectability (first? Low detectability), multi-purpose (air combat with fighter, ground attack, etc. ).
The fourth generation aircraft of the US Air Force include the F- 15 Eagle Fighter developed by McDonnell Douglas and the F- 16 Falcon Fighter developed by General Dynamics. Aircraft designed entirely by stealth technology came out, and Lockheed developed F- 1 17 Nighthawk attack aircraft.
The fourth generation aircraft of the US Navy include F- 14 Tomcat Fighter developed by Grumman Company, F/A- 18 Hornet Fighter and Super Hornet Fighter developed by McDonald Douglas Company. 1980, the US Air Force had 38 13 fighters, of which1.9% were second-generation fighters (455) and 48. 1% were third-generation fighters (1835) 17.3% are fourth-generation aircraft (66 1, 505 F- 15 and 156 F- 16), and 22.5% are attack aircraft (858, including 386a-/kloc).
1990, the us air force had 4 155 fighters. At this time, all the second-generation machines were retired, of which the third-generation machines accounted for16.3% (676,390 F-4s and 286 F-11) and the fourth-generation machines accounted for 61.4% (255/kloc). 16 13 F- 16 and 48 F- 1 17), of which 22.3% were attack aircraft (927, including 572 A- 10 and 20 AC-).
The latest fifth-generation fighter is a stealth fighter that appeared after 2000. Its greatest advantages are full field of vision and low observability (day/night? Low detectability), namely advanced stealth performance. In particular, the fifth-generation aircraft equipped by the US Air Force, the comprehensive integration of avionics and sensors, the advanced cruise speed and maneuverability, and the network-centric warfare capability (intelligence sharing) can be said that there is a big gap between the United States and the world in military intelligence. Functions in the technical field.
Among these fifth-generation aircraft, only F-22A Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters developed by Lockheed Company of the United States have been put into battle.
In 2000, the US Air Force had 2,480 fighters, all of which were retired by three generations, of which 89% were fourth-generation fighters (2,207 fighters, including F-1612, F- 15740 and F-/kloc-)
In 20 10, the US Air Force owned 1992 fighters, of which the fourth generation fighters accounted for 73.8%( 147 1,1004f-/6,467f-/. At this time, F- and 4 F-35A), 18% are attack aircraft (359).
At present, in addition to the 3 18 attack aircraft (287 A- 10 and 3 1 AC- 130), the US Air Force is equipped with 1 700 most advanced fighters. Although it is called "the most advanced", 1242 is still the fourth-generation jet fighter one generation behind the "most advanced" fighter. This is 452 F- 15 fighters and 790 F- 16 fighters. Only 186 F-22A fighters and 283 F-35A fighters can truly be called the "most advanced" fifth-generation stealth fighters. However, the US Air Force continues to modernize the old fourth-generation aircraft to improve the performance of fighters. The upgraded fourth generation machine is also called "4.5 generation machine", that is, the improved fourth generation machine.