Military weapons: fighter planes

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Aviation has found its application on the battlefield, especially increased its role during the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War. Today we will talk about fighter planes.

What is a fighter?

This is a military aircraft, the main purpose of which is to destroy enemy air units. It is used as an escort for air vehicles, protecting ground facilities from enemy aircraft. Quite rarely, fighter planes attack sea and land targets.

Liners of this type are among the defensive types of weapons. Although they currently have the ability to effectively attack ground targets.

According to some designers, fighters will probably soon be able to replace "drones" (unmanned aerial vehicles).

Aircraft of this type may have different functions. It is customary to distinguish the following types of them:

• Frontline. Destroy enemy aircraft in maneuverable air battles.
• Multipurpose. Destroy likeaviation and ground targets.
• Interceptors. They are located at a great distance from the protected objects and defend them, destroying the enemy with missile weapons.
• Deck. Aircraft in service with ships.
• Multifunctional. Perform tasks of all kinds and types of fighter aircraft.

Yakovlev Fighter

During the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War, there was an urgent need to create high-quality aircraft. The talented aircraft designer Alexander Sergeevich Yakovlev developed such an aircraft in 1943.

Yak-3 - Soviet fighter aircraft, one of the Yak-1 modifications. It differed from its predecessor by an engine and a shortened wing. The windshield was replaced with one piece, which significantly increased visibility.

The main goal of the developers was to increase firepower and combat performance. This was achieved by making the aircraft as light as possible. The Yak-3 easily resisted German aircraft and became one of the lightest fighters of that time. And its speed could develop up to 650 kilometers per hour.

Russian achievements

Now the development of Russian aviation has gone far ahead. Russian fighter aircraft have improved performance and weapons. One of the aircraft in operation is the famous Su-35. This is a super-maneuverable 4++ generation multirole fighter. This designation indicates that this aircraft model has characteristics close to the fifth generation. To himonly low visibility technology and an active antenna array (AFAR) are missing. The Su-35 also has powerful electronic warfare capabilities.

One of the American analytical publications called this fighter the most dangerous weapon of the Russian Federation. It is a threat to any aircraft, except for the American Raptor, which we will also talk about.

But it is being replaced by the fifth-generation T-50 fighter (PAK FA), which is going to enter service in 2017.

Data about him are not disclosed, so only approximate characteristics are known. The T-50 is larger than the Raptor, but smaller than the Su-27 it replaces. The fighter is ste althy, maneuverable, multifunctional, has supersonic cruising speed and advanced electronics. PAK FA can quickly obtain information about the enemy due to the presence of a system of passive sensors and sensors, as well as reliable channels for exchanging the necessary information.

US Achievements

Does not lag behind the Russian aces and the American fighter aircraft F-22 "Raptor". This is a multipurpose airship. It is considered the first aircraft of the fifth generation in service.

Its design makes heavy use of ste alth technology. Also, engineers worked hard on the versatility of the fighter. Much of the structure is made from polymer composites, allowing the aircraft to operate in temperatures as high as 230 degrees.

The Raptor's top speed can be 2,400 kilometers per hour.

An important tactical advantage of this fighter is flying at high speed without afterburner, which is achieved by engines with high thrust without afterburner. The Raptor is equipped with a high-quality data transmission system, a friend-foe identification system and other channels.

Also one of the most expensive fighter planes.