Strategic fighter (including the escort fighter and strike fighter). All-weather fighter (including the night fighter). A short-range fighter designed to defend against incoming enemy aircraft is known as an interceptor. The UK changed to calling them fighters in the 1920s, while the US Army did so in the 1940s. Army called them "pursuit" aircraft until the late 1940s. Historically the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force referred to them as " scouts" until the early 1920s, while the U.S. A given type may be designed for specific combat conditions, and in some cases for additional roles such as air-to-ground fighting. 5.7 Sixth-generation jet fighters (2020s onward)Ī fighter aircraft is primarily designed for air-to-air combat. 5.6 Fifth-generation jet fighters (2000s to 2020s). 5.4 Fourth-generation jet fighters (circa 1970 to mid-1990s). 5.3 Third-generation jet fighters (early 1960s to circa 1970). 5.2 Second-generation jet fighters (mid-1950s to early 1960s). 5.1 First-generation subsonic jet fighters (mid-1940s to mid-1950s). Other fighter designs are highly specialized while still filling the main air superiority role, these include the interceptor, heavy fighter, and night fighter. 
Many modern fighter aircraft have secondary capabilities such as ground attack and some types, such as fighter-bombers, are designed from the outset for dual roles. The success or failure of a combatant's efforts to gain air superiority hinges on several factors including the skill of its pilots, the tactical soundness of its doctrine for deploying its fighters, and the numbers and performance of those fighters. The key performance features of a fighter include not only its firepower but also its high speed and maneuverability relative to the target aircraft. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield permits bombers and attack aircraft to engage in tactical and strategic bombing of enemy targets.
In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. An F-16 Fighting Falcon, P-51D Mustang, F-86 Sabre, and F-22 Raptor fly in a formation representing four generations of American fighters.įighter aircraft are fixed-wing military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat.
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