Birds of Fray - World's Top 4.5 & 5th Generation Fighter Jet Aircraft Programs

Handbook with Comparative Analysis

By: Rajat Narang

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Fighter jets have remained the traditional backbone & core pivot of the fighting capabilities of Nations & Air Forces globally with their unmatched capabilities for conducting a broad range of critical missions ranging from aerial combat & interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), ground attack and air dominance/superiority with the doctrine & tactical playbook of aerial warfare having shifted effectively from the erstwhile Dogfighting era to Beyond-Visual-Range engagements propelled by stand-off-range weapons.

The surge in global defense spending over the recent years, driven by a rapid deterioration of traditional rule-based world, order has driven a rapid recapitalization of legacy fighter jet aircraft programs as a key priority. It has led to initiation of the development of a bevy of next generation aircraft programs & fast-tracked procurement of current generation jets across most parts of the globe for expansion of military capabilities & rapid build-up of capacity.

In term of capabilities, the 5th generation aircraft programs are already proving to be clear favorites to replace the legacy platforms with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet program spearheading the charge & the generational shift towards stealth. A lot of action is already underway on the technological front with the 6th generation aircraft programs clearly on the anvil, geared towards the future, with their potential EIS' slated for late 2030s. Continental Europe is bracing for & committing itself to the development of two such 6th gen programs, namely, the Franco-German FCAS program and the Tempest program from the U.K.-Italy-Sweden triad. In the U.S., the NGAD program collectively represents the efforts being made towards the development of 6th generation combat aircraft to be powered by the upcoming Adaptive Cycle Engine (ACE) program featuring the third air stream.

This work is intended to be a quick yet comprehensive resource on the World’s Top Fighter Jet Aircraft Programs with focus on a blend of quantitative & qualitative analysis with a comparative, head-to-head comparison on technical specifications & capabilities, in almost virtual dogfights, for respective aircraft programs (based on classes) followed by comparative analysis based on technical & business perspective.

For Military Aviation Buffs, it will be akin to a joyride at high supersonic speeds full of High-G aerobatics, while for the Pros, it will prove to be an unmatched & invaluable domain resource.

So, put your gear on and simply Hop in!

Aircraft Programs Covered:

1. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle/F-15EX Eagle II
2. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
3. Lockheed Martin F-16V Fighting Falcon Block 70
4. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II JSF
5. Dassault Rafale
6. Eurofighter Typhoon
7. Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor
8. Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker/Flanker-E (NATO)
9. Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon
10. Sukhoi Su-57 Felon