Fighter generations

[Vibs]

Good list. My only problem is that the recent trend of updates have made classification very difficult.For eg. when you consider a simple Su 27 airframe, the recent modifications and upgrades have given rise to airplanes which fit across generations.Infact there was even a recent comment by Irkut claiming they would upgrade the Su30MI to Super Sukhoi with 5th gen features.

 

[saumyasupratik]

With 5th Gen Features means not necessarily being 5th gen.AESA Radar, Better Datalinks, Better Avionic these are all part of of 4.5 Gen/4++ Gen aircraft.Even if the MKI's do get RAM coatings they weren't designed to be stealth aircraft from the beginning like the 5th Gen Aircraft.

 

[saumyasupratik]

Here's the new complete list I have made.Your suggestions are welcomed.I need help in sorting out the J-5, J-6, J-7 and Jaguar Variants.Please don't include experimental or demonstrator aircraft if you have suggestions.

1st Generation
1st Generation
USA
Bell P-59 Airacomet (Fighter)
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Fighter)
McDonnell FH Phantom
USSR
Yakovlev Yak-15 (Fighter)
Yakovlev Yak-17 (Fighter)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-9 (Fighter)
Britain
Gloster Meteor (Fighter)
De Havilland Vampire (Fighter)
France
Dassault Ouragan (Attack)
Sweden
Saab 21R (Attack)

1+ Generation
USA
North American F-86 Sabre (Fighter)
Northrop F-89 Scorpion (Interceptor)
Republic F-84 Thunderjet (Attack)
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (Attack)
McDonnell F2H Banshee (Navy)
Grumman F9F Panther (Navy)
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15 Faggot (Fighter)
Lavochkin La-15 Fantail (Fighter)
Yakovlev Yak-23 Flora (Fighter)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-17 Fresco (Fighter)
Yakovlev Yak-25 Flashlight
Britain
De havilland Venom (Fighter)
De havilland Sea Venom (Navy)
Supermarine Attacker (Navy)
Hawker Sea Hawk (Navy)
France
Dassault Mystere I/II/III
Dassault Mystere IV
Sweden
Saab 29 Tunnan
Canada/USA
Canadair CL-13 Sabre
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
Australia/USA
CAC CAC-27 Sabre

1++ Generation
USA
North American F-100 Super Sabre
McDonnell F3H Demon
North American FJ-4 Fury
North American F11F/F-11 Tiger
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-19
Britain
Supermarine Swift
France
Dassault Super Mystere
Sweden
Saab 31 Lansen

2nd Generation
2nd Generation
USA
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (A/B, C/D)
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
Convair F-106 Dleta Dart
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (A/B)
Republic F-105B Thunderchief
Douglas F4D Skyray/F-6 Skyray
Vought F-8 Crusader (F-8A, F-8B)
Douglas A-4 Skywak (A-4A, A-4B)
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed (MiG-21F, MiG-21P/F-13, MiG-21PF/FL)
Sukhoi Su-9 Fishpot
Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter (Su-7, Su-7B)
Britain
Gloster Javelin (FAW.1, FAW.2, FAW.4, FAW.5, FAW.6)
English Electric Lightning (F1, F1A, F2, F2A)
Hawker Hunter (F.1, F.2, F.4, F.5)
Folland Gnat
Supermarine Scimitar F.1
De Havilland Sea Vixen (FAW.1)
France
Dassault Mirage III (C/B)
Dassault Mirage 5
Dassault Étendard IV
Sweden
Saab 35 Draken (J35A, J35B, J35C, J35D)
Canada/USA
McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo
Canadair CF-104
Israel
IAI Nesher S/T
Peoples Republic of China
Shenyang J-7
India
HAL HF-24 Marut (Attack)

2+ Generation
USA
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
McDonnell F-101C Voodoo
Convair F-106A/B Delta Dart
Republic F-105D Thunderchief
Vought F-8 Crusader (F-8C, F-8D, F-8E, F-8H, F-8J, F-8K)
Douglas A-4 Skywak (A-4C, A-4E, A-4E, A-4M Skyhawk II)
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed (MiG-21PFS, MiG-21PFM,MiG-21S)
Sukhoi Su-11 Fishpot-C
Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter (Su-7BM)
Britain
Gloster Javelin (FAW.7, FAW.8, FAW.9)
English Electric Lightning (F3, F3A, F6)
Hawker Hunter (F.6, F.6A, FGA.9)
De Havilland Sea Vixen (FAW.2)
France
Dassault Mirage III (E/D, NG)
Dassault Mirage 5 (Mirage 50, Mirage 5 ROSE)
Sweden
Saab 35 Draken (J35F, J35J, J35 MOD Level 4)
India
HAL Ajeet



3rd Generation
3rd Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom (F-4C, F-4D)
Northrop F-5A/B Tiger
McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom (Navy)
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21Bis Fishbed-N (MiG-21M, MiG-21SM, MiG-21SMF, MiG-21MT, MiG-21SMT)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger(MiG-23S, MiG-23SM, MiG-23M, MiG-23P)
Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon (Su-15, Su-15T)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-25P Foxbat
Sukhoi Su-17 Fitter (Su-17, Su-17K, Su-17M, Su-20, Su-17M2/Su-17UM2, Su-22/Su-22U, Su-17M2D, Su-22)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger
Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer (Su-24)
France
Dassault Mirage F1 (C/B)
Dassault Mirage F1 (E/D)
Britain/France
Sepecat Jaguar
Sweden
Saab 37 Viggen (JA 37)
Saab 37 Viggen (AJ 37, SH 37)
Italy
Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter
Canada/USA
Canadaair CF-116 Freedom Fighter
People’s Republic of China
Shenyang J-8 Finback-A (J-8, J-8I, J-8E)
Japan
Mitsubishi F-1

3+ Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom (Navy)
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed (MiG-21bis, MiG-21bis-D)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger (MiG-23Bis, MiG-23ML, MiG-23MLA, MiG-23MLD)
Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon (TM)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat (PD, PDS)
Sukhoi Su-17 (Su-17M3/Su-17UM3, Su-22M3/Su-22UM3, Su-17M4, Su-22M4, Su-22M5)
MiG-27 Flogger (MiG-27K, MiG-27M, MiG-27ML)
Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer (Su-24M, Su-24MK)
France
Dassault Mirage F1M-53
Sweden
Saab 37 Viggen (JA 37C,JA 37D, JA 37Di)
Saab 37 Viggen (AJS 37, AJSH 37)
Italy
Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter (ASA, ASA/M)
People’s Republic of China
Shenyang J-8II Finback-B (J-8IID, J-8III)

3++ Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom (Kurnass 2000, F-4E Peace Icarus 2000, F-4 Terminator 2020)
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger III
USSR/Russia
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed (MiG-21-93, MiG-21 2000, MiG-21 LanceR, MiG-21Bison, MiG-21-97)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger(MiG-23MLGD, MiG-23-98, MiG-23-98-2)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger (MiG-27-98, MiG -27-98-2, MiG-27H)
Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer (Su-24M2)
People’s Republic of China
Shenyang J-8II Finback-B (J-8H, J-8IIF, J-8IIM)


4th Generation
Early 4th Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-15 A/B Eagle
Lockheed Martin F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon
Northrop F-20 Tigershark
Grumman F-14A Tomcat
McDonnell Douglas F-18 A/B Hornet
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum-A (MiG-29/UB-12, MiG-29B-12)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31 Foxhound
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-A

4th Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-15 C/D Eagle
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (C/D Block 40/42)
Grumman F-14B Tomcat
McDonnell Douglas F-18 C/D Hornet
USSR
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum (S/UB, S-13, SM)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31B Foxhound
Su-27 Flanker-B(S/UB, SK/UBK)
Su-30 Flanker-C(M, MK, MKK)
Su-27K/Su-33 Flanker-D
Britian/Germany/Italy
Panavia Tornado ADV
France
Dassault Mirage 2000(C/B, 2000-5 Mk.I)
Canada/USA
McDonnell Douglas CF-118A/B Hornet
People’s Republic of China
Chengdu J-10A/S
Shenyang J-11(J-11A)
Xian JH-7
Pakistan/ People’s Republic of China
Chengdu/PAC JF-17
India
HAL LCA Tejas
Taiwan
AIDC CK-1 (A/B, C/D)

4+ Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (C/D Block 50/52, C/D Block 50/52+, Block 50/52+ I Sufa)
Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat
Russia
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum (SMT/UBT, UPG)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29M/MiG-33 Fulcrum (MiG-29M/UBM, MiG-29M2/MRCA)
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31BM Foxhound
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B (Su-27SM, Su-27SKM)
Sukhoi Su-27M/Su-35 Flanker-E
Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F
Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker (Su-30M2, Su-30MK2, Su-30MK2V, Su-30MKV, Su-30MK3, Su-30MKI, Su-30MKM, Su-30MKA, Su-30SM)
Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29K/KUB Fulcrum-D
Britain/Germany/Italy/Spain
Eurofighter Typhoon (Tranche 2, Tranche 3A)
France
Dassault Mirage 2000 (2000-5 Mk.II, 2000-9)
Dassault Rafale (F2, F3, M)
Sweden
Saab JAS-39 Gripen (A/B, C/D)
Japan
Mitsubishi F-2A/B

4++ Generation
USA
McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle (AN/APG-63V(3))
Boeing IDS F-15E/K Strike Eagle (AN/APG-82)
Boeing IDS F-15SG Strike Gryphon
Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon
Boeing IDS F-18E/F Super Hornet (International Roadmap)
Russia
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-35 Fulcrum
Sukhoi Su-27SM2 Flanker
Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Super-30 Flanker
Britain/Germany/Italy/Spain
Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3B
France
Dassault Rafale F3+
Sweden
Saab JAS-39NG Gripen NG
People’s Republic of China
Chengdu J-10B
Shenyang J-11B/BS
Shenyang J-15

5th Generation
USA
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Boeing IDS F-15SE Silent Eagle
Russia
Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA
Peoples Republic of China
Chengdu J-20
India
HAL AMCA
Japan
Mitsubish ATD-X

 

[500]

Nice diagrams (not made by me):

 

[My-Analogous]

There are several views about fighter generations. I decided to make my own list.

1st Generation

They were little different from piston engine fighters. Unswept (or very little swept) wings, no radar, guns remain the principal armament. Max speed 900-950 km/h.

1+ Generation

Highly swept wings, speed about 1100 km/h but still subsonic. Only in dive some could breach the sound barrier.

1++ Generation

Afterburners, 1 mach supersonic speed.

2nd Generation

2 mach speed, heat seeking missiles, simple radars.

3rd Generation

Radar guided missiles, larger longer range radars, airframe became more heavy, improved aerodynamics.

4th Generation

High maneuverability: high thrust-weight ratio, low wing loading, fly by wire, aerodynamic instability. Pulse-doppler radars with look down capability, turbofan enjines, all aspect heat seeking missiles, glass cockpit.

4+ Generation

Super high maneuverability, reduced RCS, AESA radars, HMD, net enabled operations, integrated sensor fusion.

I included only new airframes, but modified 4th Gen also relate to 4+ Gen: F-15SG, F-16E, Su-35, Su-30, MiG-35, Grippen NG...

5th Generation

In addition to 4+ gen capabilities they have full stealth with internal weapon loading.

You'r welcome to disagree.

You forget to put J31 in 5th gen

 

[500]

You forget to put J31 in 5th gen

When I made that list J-31 was not revealed yet. Here I add it: