Fifth-generation jet fighter

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from Fifth generation fighter)
Jump to: navigation, search

A fifth-generation jet fighter is a jet fighter classification used around the world that encompasses the most advanced jet fighter generation as of 2015. Fifth-generation aircraft are designed to incorporate numerous technological advances over the fourth-generation jet fighter. The exact characteristics of fifth-generation jet fighters are controversial and vague, with Lockheed Martin defining them as having all-aspect stealth even when armed, low probability of intercept radar (LPIR), high-performance airframes, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battlespace for situation awareness.[1]

Currently, the only combat-ready fifth-generation fighter is the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 2005.[2][3][4] The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Sukhoi PAK FA, HAL AMCA, TAI TFX, Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-31 are currently under various stages of testing and development.

Development

USA and NATO

File:CF-1 flight test.jpg
A F-35C Lightning II test aircraft flies in February 2011

Previous-generation stealth aircraft, such as the B-2 Spirit and F-117 Nighthawk, were designed to be bombers, lacking the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, low probability of intercept (LPI) data networks, aerial performance, and air-to-air weapons necessary to engage other aircraft.[5] In the early 1970s, various American design projects identified stealth, speed, and maneuverability as key characteristics of a next-generation air-to-air combat aircraft. This led to the Request for Information for the Advanced Tactical Fighter project in May 1981, which resulted in the F-22.[6]

The USMC is leveraging the USAF's experience with "fifth-generation air warfare" in the F-22, as they develop their own tactics for the F-35.[7]

According to Lockheed Martin, the only fifth-generation jet fighter currently in operational service is their own F-22 Raptor.[2][8] US fighter manufacturer Lockheed Martin uses "fifth generation fighter" to describe the F-22 and F-35 fighters, with the definition including "advanced stealth", "extreme performance", "information fusion" and "advanced sustainment".[2] Their definition no longer includes supercruise capability, which has typically been associated with the more advanced modern fighters, but which the F-35 lacks.[9] Lockheed Martin attempted to trademark the term "5th generation fighters" in association with jet aircraft and structural parts thereof,[10] and has a trademark for a logo with the term.[11]

The rapid development of the Sukhoi PAK FA and Chengdu J-20 may see a rival for the F-35 in the future. Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighters are expected to enter further development/service in 2017, which is also the predicted year that the F-35 program will enter the same stages.[12]

Russia

A Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) test aircraft

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union outlined the need for a next-generation aircraft to replace the fourth-generation jet fighters Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 in front line service. Two projects were proposed to meet this need: the 4.5 generation fighters Sukhoi Su-47 and Mikoyan Project 1.44 (although the MiG-35 was later modernized to 4.5 generation status). In 2002, Sukhoi was chosen to lead the design for the new combat aircraft.

As the first post-Soviet fighter, the fifth-generation jet fighter Sukhoi PAK FA will incorporate technology from both the Su-47 and the MiG 1.44 and when fully developed is intended to replace the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian inventory. It serves as the basis of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA project being developed with India.[13][14] The PAK FA is designed to compete against the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. It performed its first flight on 29 January 2010[15][16] and the first production aircraft is slated for delivery to the Russian Air Force by 2017.[17]

Russia is also constructing a lightweight stealth multirole fighter, the Mikoyan LMFS (MiG-1.27) by aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan. This jet fighter is based on the cancelled MiG-1.44.[18]

China

The Chengdu J-20 aircraft
The Shenyang J-31 aircraft at the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow

By the late 1990s, several Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, grouped under the program codename J-XX or XXJ, were identified by western intelligence sources. PLAAF officials have confirmed the existence of such a program, which they estimate will enter service between 2017–2019.[19][20] Nevertheless, Robert Gates has claimed that the United States may possess as much as 20 times more "advanced stealth fighters" than China by 2020.[21] By late 2010, two prototypes of the Chengdu J-20 had been constructed and were undergoing high-speed taxi trials.[22] The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011.[23]

Another stealth fighter design from SAC started to circulate on the internet in September 2011.[24] In June 2012, photos about a possible prototype of F-60 being transferred on highway began to emerge on the internet.[25] This aircraft was named Shenyang J-31 later, and made its maiden flight on Oct 31, 2012.[26]

India

HAL AMCA, India's fifth generation stealth fighter

India is independently developing a twin-engine fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, called HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is being designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and will be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Unofficial design work on the AMCA started in 2008 with official design work started in 2011. First flight of HAL AMCA is estimated to occur in 2023-2024.[27] AMCA would be powered by K 9 or K 10 engine with Supercruise capability without afterburner. The main purpose of the AMCA is to replace the aging SEPECAT Jaguar and Dassault Mirage 2000.

Another project of India is the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), which is a fifth-generation fighter developed together by India and Russia. FGFA is based on Sukhoi PAK FA which is being developed by Russia. FGFA will include a total of 43 improvements over the existing PAK FA design and will be able to carry many weapons of Indian origin, however the project is already four years delayed caused due to multiple issues.[28][29] The cost of the project will be shared equally by India and Russia. The Indian Air Force plans to induct 130 FGFA fighters, down from an earlier estimate of around 220.[28]

As of 2015, AMCA is under development and FGFA is under negotiation.[30]

Japan

Japan is currently developing a prototype of a stealth jet fighter called the Mitsubishi ATD-X. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing several Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters for their own forces.[31] However the U.S. Congress had banned the exporting of the aircraft in order to safeguard secrets of the aircraft's technology such as its extensive use of stealth; this rejection necessitated Japan's development of its own modern fighter, to be equipped with stealth features and other advanced systems.

A mock-up of the ATD-X was constructed and used to study the radar cross section in France in 2009. ATD-X first prototype rolled out in July 2014 and its first flight will occur in first quarter of 2015. The Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin will enter service in JASDF in 2024 as Mitsubishi F-3.

Turkey

In 2011 Turkish Aerospace Industries initiated a $20 million concept design phase for a fifth-generation air-to-air fighter, TAI TFX. During a State visit of the President of Turkey to Sweden on the 13th of March 2013, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries, TAI) signed an agreement with Sweden's Saab AB to provide design support services to Turkey for the TAI TFX program.[32][33][34][35] Turkey is the only JSF member with a program of its own. Turkish Aerospace Industries has stated that the program will cost $120 billion (with engine development).[36] Former Prime Minister Erdoğan has stated that Turkey has allocated the funds for development of the fuselage (less engine) and that it intends to have the TAI TFX fully operational prior to 2025.

On 8 January 2015, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced that the TFX program will be an entirely indigenous platform with no international support shelving any cooperation with Korea, Sweden, Brazil or Indonesia. On 13 March 2015 the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) officially issued a Request for Information from Turkish companies which had the capacity "to perform the indigenous design, development and production activities of the first Turkish Fighter Aircraft to meet Turkish Armed Forces’ next generation fighter requirements", signalling the official start of the program.

Islamic Republic of Iran

The Qaher F-313 is an Iranian single-seat stealth fighter aircraft that was publicly announced on 1 February 2013. A press presentation about the project was made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi on 2 February 2013, as part of the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies. According to Iranian government sources, the F-313 Qaher was designed and is indigenously produced in Iran by the Aviation Industries Organization (AIO), a division of the Ministry of Defense, and IRIAF. Experts from the aviation industry have questioned the airworthiness of the aircraft; for example the aircraft cockpit is just too small for a pilot to effectively perform necessary tasks and the air vents are far too narrow to supply any air to the turbo jet thus, unable to lift off and sustain flight. It is strongly speculated that Iran does not have the necessary capabilities to design and develop a 5th generation fighter all by itself.[37]

Common design elements

Giovanni de Briganti has defined the defining elements of a fifth-generation fighter to be:[38]

In order to minimize their radar cross-section (RCS), all fifth-generation fighters use chines instead of standard leading edge extensions and lack canards, though the Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 has engine intake extensions that seem to function somewhat like canards and the Chengdu J-20 designers have chosen the agility enhancements of canards in spite of their poor stealth characteristics.[39] They all have twin canted vertical tails (similar to a V-tail) also to minimize side RCS. Most fifth-generation fighters with supermaneuverability achieve it through thrust vectoring.

They all have internal weapon bays in order to avoid high RCS weapon pylons, but they all have external hardpoints on their wings for use on non-stealthy missions, such as the external fuel tanks the F-22 carries when deploying to a new theater.

All fifth-generation fighters have a high percentage of composite materials, in order to reduce RCS and weight.

Software defined aircraft

All revealed fifth-generation fighters use commercial off-the-shelf main processors to directly control all sensors to form a consolidated view of the battlespace with both onboard and networked sensors, while previous-generation jet fighters used federated systems where each sensor or pod would present its own readings for the pilot to combine in their own mind a view of the battlespace.[40][41][42] The F-22A was physically delivered without synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or situation awareness infra-red search and track. It will gain SAR later through software upgrades.[43] However any flaw in these huge software systems can knock out supposedly unrelated aircraft systems and the complexity of a software defined aircraft can lead to a software crisis with additional costs and delays.[44][45] By the end of 2013 the biggest concern with the F-35 program was software, especially the software required to do data fusion across the many sensors.[46]

Sukhoi calls their expert system for sensor fusion the artificial intelligence of the PAK-FA.[47]

An automatic software response to an overheat condition apparently has contributed to at least one fatal crash of an F-22.[48]

The F-35 uses Software-defined radio systems, where common middleware controls Field-programmable gate arrays.[49] Col. Arthur Tomassetti has said that the F-35 is a "software intensive airplane and software is easy to upgrade, as opposed to hardware."[50]

In order to ease the addition of new software features, the F-35 has adopted a kernel and app separation of security responsibilities.[51]

Steve O'Bryan of Lockheed Martin has said that the F-35 may gain the ability to operate UAVs through a future software upgrade.[52] The USN is already planning to place its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system under the control of a manned aircraft, to act as a flying missile magazine.[53]

Advanced engines

Fifth-generation jet fighters use the newest generation of high performance jet engines and only the American Pratt & Whitney F119 is fully developed. The engines for the F-35 are still under development, the Chinese are dependent on Russian engines, and even the Russians are falling short in the development of the latest jet engines.[54][55]

Situational awareness

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

The combination of stealthy airframes, stealthy sensors, and stealthy communications is designed to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage other aircraft before those targets are aware of their presence.[56] Lt. Col. Gene McFalls of the USAF has said that sensor fusion will feed into inventory databases to precisely identify aircraft at a distance.[57]

Sensor fusion and automatic target tracking are projected to give the fifth-generation jet fighter pilot a view of the battlespace superior to that of legacy AWACS aircraft that may be forced back from the front lines by increasing threats. Therefore, tactical control could be shifted forwards to the pilots in the fighters.[58] Michael Wynne, former Secretary of the United States Air Force, has suggested elimination of the Boeing E-3 Sentry and Boeing E-8 Joint STARS in favor of more F-35s, simply because so much effort is being made by the Russians and Chinese to target these platforms that are built to commercial airliner standards.[59]

However, the more powerful sensors, such as AESA radar which is able to operate in multiple modes at the same time, may present too much information for the single pilot in the F-22, F-35 and T-50 to adequately use. The Sukhoi/HAL FGFA offered a return to the two-seat configuration common in fourth generation strike fighters, but this was rejected over cost concerns.[60]

There is ongoing research to apply Track-before-detect across Sensor fusion in the core CPU to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage targets that no single sensor has by itself detected.[61]

The limits of stealth

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Even committed fifth-generation fighter users such as the Israelis concede that advances in sensors and computing will overcome a pure stealth configuration within a decade. This is why the Israelis insisted that the F-35 have defined interfaces so that the electronic warfare systems could be constantly improved to match the threat.[62] All known fifth-generation designs have extensive electronic warfare systems, partly in response to an incident where the limited EW systems on an F-117 may have led to its loss in combat.[63] Stealth is now seen as "part of the overall electronic warfare issue", in that a stealthy platform is easier to hide with the assistance of jamming.[64]

Chinese state media has claimed that their UHF JY-26 radar has tracked an F-22 on deployment to South Korea.[65]

The combat cloud

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Gilmary M. Hostage III has suggested that fifth-generation jet fighters will operate together in a "combat cloud" along with future unmanned combat aircraft,[66] and Manazir has suggested that this might come as quickly as loading a UCLASS with AMRAAMs to be launched at the command of an F-35.[67]

Critics and alternative definitions

The definition of the term fifth-generation fighter from Lockheed Martin has been criticized by companies whose products do not conform to these particular specifications, such as Boeing and Eurofighter, and by other commentators such as Bill Sweetman:[68] "it is misleading to portray the F-22 and F-35 as a linear evolution in fighter design. Rather, they are a closely related pair of outliers, relying on a higher level of stealth as a key element of survivability – as the Lockheed YF-12 and Mikoyan MIG-25, in the 1960s, relied on speed and altitude."[69]

The United States Navy and Boeing have placed the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in a "next generation" fighter category along with the F-22 and F-35,[70] as the Super Hornet has a "fifth-generation" AESA radar, modest radar cross-section (RCS) reductions and sensor fusion.[71][72] A senior USAF pilot has complained about fifth-generation claims for the Super Hornet: "The whole point to fifth generation is the synergy of stealth, fusion and complete situational awareness. The point about fifth-generation aircraft is that they can do their mission anywhere – even in sophisticated integrated air defense [IADS] environments. If you fly into heavy IADS with a great radar and sensor fusion, but no stealth, you will have complete situational awareness of the guy that kills you."[73] Michael “Ponch” Garcia of Raytheon has said that the addition of their AESA radars to the Super Hornet provides "90 percent of your fifth-generation capability at half the cost."[74] And a top Boeing official has called their newest 4.5 generation fighters "stealth killers".[75]

In response to the use of the "fifth generation" term, Eurofighter has made a fifth-generation checklist placing different weights on the various capabilities, and arguing that the application of the label to strike aircraft such as Lockheed-Martin's F-35 is ill-advised, and even inconsistent with the aircraft's specifications. Meanwhile, Eurofighter adds "net-enabled operations" as a noteworthy requirement and de-emphasizes full-scope low observability as only one factor in survivability.[76] In the same article Eurofighter GmbH appear to acknowledge the remarkable performance of Lockheed Martin's F-22 aircraft, while demonstrating that labels as simple as "fifth generation" may easily be devised to serve the interests of the writer.

Richard A. Bitzinger of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, a former consultant for the American RAND Corporation think tank, suggests that Western Europe's "failure" to develop a fifth-generation jet fighter may reduce these former leaders in the market to also-ran status as the world's attention shifts to the competition between the United States and Asian powers.[77] Canadians Alex Wilner and Marco Wyss of the Center for Security Studies claim that Europe's failure to "keep up" with the F-35 may make the European jet fighter manufacturers close up shop.[78] However, Europe may return with a trans-national 'sixth-generation' UCAV, assuming that the political entanglements can be evaded.[79] The European Defence Agency has warned that the European $60 billion industry could collapse by 2020.[80]

The Russian Defense Ministry defines fifth-generation as including "stealth technology, supersonic cruising speed, highly-integrated avionics, electronics and fire-control systems".[81]

Fifth-generation fighters in service or with flying prototypes

General data

Aircraft Primary
Builder
First
flight
Number
built
Status Service
date
Average
cost USD
Length
m
Wingspan
m
Wing area
sq. m
Empty
weight
Loaded
weight
Max takeoff
weight
Takeoff
F-22  USA 1997 195 in service 2005 150 M 18.87 13.56 78.04 19,700 kg 29,410 kg 38,000 kg CTOL
F-35A  USA 2006 90 testing 2016[82] 105 M (LRIP lot 5)[83] 15.67 10.70 42.70 13,300 kg 22,470 kg 31,800 kg CTOL
F-35B  USA 2008 40 in service 2015[84] 113 M (LRIP lot 5)[83] 15.61 10.70 42.70 14,700 kg 27,300 kg STOVL
F-35C  USA 2010 20 testing 2018 125 M (LRIP lot 5)[83] 15.67 13.10 62.10 15,800 kg 31,800 kg CATOBAR
Sukhoi PAK FA  Russia 2010 5 testing 2016 54 M 19.80 14.00 78.80 18,500 kg 29,270 kg 37,000 kg CTOL
J-20  China 2011 9 testing 2018 20.36 13.47 73.00 19,390 kg 32,090 kg 36,287 kg CTOL

Performance

Aircraft Primary
Builder
Max Speed
km/h
Cruise speed
km/h
Ferry
range
Ceiling
m
Engines Total
dry thrust
Total thrust
with afterburner
Thrust/
weight
Thrust
vectoring
Stealth RCS
F-22  USA 2,410 1,963 2,960 20,000 2 232 kN 312 kN 1.08 2D [85][86] 0.0001-0.4
F-35A  USA 1,930 1,362 2,220 18,288 1 125 kN 191 kN 0.87 none [86][87] 0.005-0.3
F-35B  USA 1,930 1,362 1,670 18,288 1 125 kN 191 kN 0.90 none 0.005-0.3
F-35C  USA 1,930 1,362 2,520 18,288 1 125 kN 191 kN 0.75 none 0.005-0.3
Sukhoi PAK FA  Russia 2,440 1,700 3,500 20,000 2 186 kN 294 kN 1.02 3D [85][88] 0.3-0.5
J-20  China 20,000 2 152 kN 245 kN 0.94

Armament and Avionics

Aircraft Primary
Builder
Internal
hardpoints
External
hardpoints
Front
X-Band radar
Rear
X-Band radar
L-Band
radar
Radar detection
range 1 m² target
IRST
F-22  USA 8 4 Yes - - 240 km Missile warning
F-35A  USA 4 [89] 7 Yes - - 150 km Full
F-35B  USA 4 7 Yes - - 150 km Full
F-35C  USA 4 9 Yes - - 150 km Full
Sukhoi PAK FA  Russia 6 6 Yes Yes Yes Forward arc
J-20  China

Related development

See also

References

  1. "F-35 Defining the Future" Lockheed Martin, 1 June 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 5TH Generation Fighters, Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  3. Russia trails U.S. in pursuit of a fifth-generation jet
  4. A 21st-century Concept of Air and Military Operations by Robbin F. Laird
  5. Ultimate Fighter: Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter By Bill Sweetman page 133, Zenith Imprint, 2004
  6. Hehs, Eric. "F-22 Design Evolution, Part I." Lockheed Martin, 15 May 1998.
  7. Majumdar, Dave. "USMC hopes to leverage USAF’s F-22 experience when deploying F-35B." Flight International, 19 July 2012.
  8. Yoon, Joe. "Aerospaceweb.org | Ask Us – Fighter Generations". Aerospaceweb.org, 27 June 2004. Retrieved: 03 Jan. 2009.
  9. "JSF FAQ." "No, neither the F135 or F136 engines were designed to supercruise." Pentagon
  10. [1] United States Patent and Trademark Office, trademark serial number 78885922
  11. [2] United States Patent and Trademark Office, trademark serial number 78896843
  12. Majumdar, Dave. "China, Russia Erode U.S. Stealth Technology Lead." Defense News, 24 May 2011.
  13. Unnithan, Sandeep (29 September 2008). "India, Russia to have different versions of same fighter plane". India Today.
  14. Cohen, Ariel (16 January 2009). "Russia bets on new Sukhoi fighter to match F-35". United Press International (UPI).
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. "Russia to test fifth-generation fighter in 2009". (6 December 2007). RIA Novosti.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. Light Multi-Function Frontal Aircraft (LMFS) GlobalSecurity.org
  19. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/200911/1109_340_1426743.shtml&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk
  20. http://space.tv.cctv.com/video/VIDE1257691556223886
  21. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Abilene, KS, Saturday, 8 May 2010
  22. Aviation Week Bill Sweetman China's Stealth Striker 12/27/2010
  23. China conducts first test-flight of stealth plane, BBC News, 11 January 2011
  24. Shenyang "F-60", UCAV stealth models revealed?, Flight Global. 29 September 2011
  25. New Chinese fighter revealed?, The Aviationist. 22 June 2012
  26. Maiden flight of J-31.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..
  36. http://haber.stargazete.com/ekonomi/yerli-savas-ucagi-projesi-hazir-maliyet-80-milyar-dolar/haber-785274
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. de Briganti, Giovanni. "F-35 Reality Check Ten Years On -- Part 1: ‘Fifth-Generation’ and Other Myths." defense-aerospace.com, 9 May 2012.
  39. Canards
  40. F-35 avionics: an interview with the Joint Strike Fighter's director of mission systems and software
  41. F-35 Electronic Warfare Suite: More Than Self-Protection
  42. David C. Aronstein, Michael J. Hirschberg, Albert C. Piccirillo Advanced tactical fighter to F-22 raptor: origins of the 21st century air dominance fighter page 171, section: Avionics
  43. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter leverages COTS for avionics systems
  44. Johnson, Maj. Dani. "Lockheed's F-22 Raptor Gets Zapped by International Date Line: Raptors arrive at Kadena." Air Force, 19 February 2007. Retrieved: 9 May 2010.
  45. Drew, Christopher. "Additional Costs Expected for Lockheed’s F-35 Fighter." The New York Times, 1 November 2010
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. Russia flexes military power with 'futuristic' fighter jet
  48. Hennigan, W.J. "Fatal problems plague the U.S.' costliest fighter jet." LA Times, 19 December 2011.
  49. "F-35 Joint Strike Fighter leverages COTS for avionics systems."
  50. "An Inside Look at the F-35 Lightning II."
  51. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. Navy’s UCLASS Could Be Air to Air Fighter - News.USNI.org, 13 February 2014
  54. Waldron, Greg. "China’s J-20 to be effective capability by 2018 – Pentagon." Flight International, 26 August 2011.
  55. Pukhov, Ruslan. "The Military's Achilles Heel." The Moscow Times, 1 September 2011.
  56. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. "Shaping a New Con-ops: The Impact of the F-22 and F-35." 'SLDinfo.com', 5 November 2010
  59. Clark, Colin "Scrap AWACS, JSTARS; Plough Dough Into F-35, Wynne Says." DoD Buzz, 31 January 2011.
  60. Sweetman, Bill. "Rivals Target JSF." Aviation Week 30 November 2010.
  61. "EO/IR Multi-Sensor Fusion Tracker Algorithm - Navy SBIR FY2011.1"
  62. "Israel, U.S. Agree To $450 Million In F-35 EW Work." Av Week, 6 August 2012.
  63. Pitts, Joseph R. "Electronic-Warfare Assets Badly Neglected." National Defense Magazine, June 2000.
  64. Tirpak, John A. "Two Decades of Stealth." Airforce Magazine, June 2001.
  65. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. "Why Air Force Needs Lots Of F-35s: Gen. Hostage On The 'Combat Cloud'."
  67. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. Eurofighter GmgH (July 20, 2010) Eurofighter, 5th Generation; the Debate Heats up defencetalk.com. Retrieved 9 June 2015
  69. Bill Sweetman "Editorial Insight" Defense Technology International, December 2009. p.50. Retrieved 9 June 2015
  70. F/A-18 as good as 5th gen: US Navy stratpost.com
  71. Ferguson, Gregor 'Bridging fighter' packs quite a punch The Australian, 23 October 2010
  72. F/A18-E/F Super Hornet .... Leading Naval Aviation into the 21st Century US Navy, 17 August 2009
  73. Fulghum, David A. (March 2007) "Super Hornet Radar Not Ready For Combat Evaluation Says" Aviation Week. Retrieved 9 June 2015 (subscription required)
  74. Erwin, Sandra. "Joint Strike Fighter Delayed? Not a Big Deal for the U.S. Navy." National Defense Industrial Association, 24 November 2010.
  75. Ewing, Philip. "Boeing’s iron Eagles, part 2." DoD Buzz, 3 January 2012.
  76. Eurofighter World February 2010, eurofighter.com, p. 17 (PDF-p. 9)
  77. Bitzinger, Richard A. "Global Fighter Jets: Asia, The New Centre Of Gravity?" RSIS, 20 April 2011.
  78. "Ignore the critics. There is no plane that can compete with the F-35." National Post, 16 May 2011.
  79. "Falling defence budgets and excess capacity have put Europe’s military-equipment makers in a bind. Consolidation is needed." economist.com
  80. Tom Kington "Lack of European Consensus on Future Fighters, UAVs Hurts Industry." defensenews.com 17 June 2013[dead link]
  81. "Russia Must Build Two Variants of 5G Fighter - Rogozin." RIA Novosti. 16 February 2012.
  82. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  83. 83.0 83.1 83.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  84. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  85. 85.0 85.1 "The share of modern aircraft models in the Russian Air Force in the next 10 years should be 80%."
  86. 86.0 86.1 "Stealth Aircraft RCS"
  87. Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED PROBLEMS - Stealth
  88. "T-50 fighter to be ready in 2013."
  89. "F-35 vs. F-16 Range - The Ghastly Truth."
  • Spick, Mike. Brassey's Modern Fighters: The Ultimate Guide to In-Flight Tactics, Technology, Weapons, and Equipment. Potomac Books Inc, 2002. ISBN 1-57488-462-X.