Evolution of Fighter TechnologyBrody BaggsRhett Hensley

Post World War II

•The use of piston-engined aircraft came to a close.

•Jet fighter planes began to emerge.•Exploration with the possibility of jet

assisted piston engines.•Jet technology (engine) was pivotal in the

development of fighter planes

Mid 1940’s to Mid 1950’s

•Introduction of subsonic (below Mach 1) and transonic (almost Mach 1) jet fighters.

•Piston engines were still highly developed.

•Ejection seats, airbrakes, and all-moving tailplanes ( horizontal stabilizer) become popular.

•Swept wings made it possible to fly at almost the speed of sound.

Mid 1950’s to Early 1960’s

•There were advances in aerodynamics, aerospace building materials, and propulsion systems.

•Exploration on developing wing types like Delta wing and swept wings.

•On-board radar and IR guided air-to-air missiles were developed.

Early 1960’s to Early 1970’s

•Fighters were already equipped with analog avionics and advanced technology.

•The focus was on improving technology for air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks.

•Night attack and automatic weapons were introduced during this period.

Early 1970’s to Mid 1990’s

•Multi-role fighter configurations were improved during this period.

•Avionics and weapons systems were improved and made more sophisticated.

•Fighters in this period were able to easily establish air superiority.

Mid 1990’s to Mid 2000’s

•Fighters were mostly designed through improvements in flight technology and computers.

•Multi-role aircraft were further enhanced during this period.

•Fighters were given GPS guided weapons and advanced radars.

Caliber Comparison

F4 Phantom II

F14 Tomcat

F15 Eagle

F16 Fighting Falcon

F22 Raptor

Fighter Weapons

F4:•Four AIM-7 Sparrow Missiles, 20mm

cannonF14:•20mm cannon, four AIM-7 Sparrow

Missiles and four or eight AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles, or sis AIM-54 Phoenix missiles and two AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles

Fighter Weapons

F15:•20mm cannon, four AIM-7 Sparrow

missiles, or eight AIM-120A plus four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

F16:•20mm cannon, bomb and missile

maximum load of 20,450 pounds. The F15 has 16,000 pounds total.

Fighter Weapons

AIM-7 Missile – Radar guided air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warheadAIM-120A Missile – AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile)AIM-9 Missile – Heat seeking, air to air missileAIM-54 Missile – Long range air to air missile carried in clusters of up to six

Fighter Weapons

•After the invention of guided missiles, air-to-air fixed guns were thought to be obsolete.

•The first fighter planes sent to Vietnam were equipped only with missiles.

•The F-15 is equipped with a 20mm six barrel Gatling-style cannon.

•It can fire 6000 rounds per minute, even though the F-15 is only loaded with 1000 rounds.

APA SourcesPeters, B. (N.D.). A Closer Look at the Evolution of Fighter Planes. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/a-closer-look-at-the-evolution-of-fighter-planes/2110245/

Top Gun Fighters & America's Jet Power. (1988). Lincolnwood: Publications International.

Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft. (N.D.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://history.nasa.gov/SP-468/contents.htm

Sheffield, R. (N.D.). Jet Fighter School. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.flightsimbooks.com/jfs/page31.php

APA Sources

AIM Missiles. (2000, April 21). Retrieved September 14, 2014, from fas.org