America was the first country in the world to make fifth generation fighter jets. America established its fame in the world by making Lockheed Martin’s F22 Raptor fighter jets in 2005.
If we look at the old generation of F22 Raptor, it was a fourth generation fighter jet but now F-22 is a fifth generation fighter jet.
As the generation of fighter jets increases, the capacity and capability of the fighter jet also increases.
First of all, let us know due to which capabilities and abilities the generation of fighter jets is decided:-
History of Fighter Jets
- First-generation fighter jets:- Jet propulsion has been given importance in first generation fighter jets.
- Second-generation fighter jets:- Second generation fighter jets were built between the 1950s and 1960s. The specialty of these fighter jets was that they had high speed, they also had good radar and they could destroy guided missiles in the air itself. MIG-21 is a second-generation fighter jets.
- Third-generation fighter jets:- Third generation fighter jets were manufactured till 1970, i.e. they were manufactured between 1960 and 1970. Avionics system, weapon system and maneuverability were improved in these fighter jets and along with that they were made multi-role fighter jets. MIG-23 will be a third-generation fighter jet.
- 4th generation fighter jets:- Fourth generation fighter jets were manufactured between 1970 and 1980. By the time fourth generation fighter jets were made, a lot of changes had been made in them, such as advanced level avionic systems and advanced radar systems were being used in fourth generation fighter jets. India’s Sukhoi 30 MKI Jets have been taken from Russia and is a fourth-generation fighter jet.
Fourth-generation fighter jets are still being manufactured and some countries of the world still have them in their air forces.
In some respects, the fourth generation fighter jets are similar to the fifth generation fighter jets, but they cannot completely compete with the fifth generation.
In all the fighter jets that have been made till the fourth generation, only design and speed have been given attention but stealth has not been given attention.
But in the fighter jets that are being made in today’s generation, apart from speed design, attention is also being paid to stealth technology.
So, the biggest difference between the fourth-generation and fifth-generation fighter jets is that the fourth-generation fighter jets do not have stealth, whereas the fifth-generation fighter jets are equipped with stealth technology.
There are only 3 countries in the world that have fifth-generation fighter jets, which include America, Russia and China.
Some experts believed said that India, Turkey and South Korea are also making their own fifth-generation fighter jets.
There are only four operational fifth -generation fighter jets in the world right now, which include America’s F-22 and F-35, China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su -57.
What are the features of 5th generation fighter jets?
- This is a stealth aircraft.
- They have a high level of maneuverability.
- These have advanced level avionic systems.
- These aircraft have multi-role capabilities.
It is absolutely true that the fifth -generation fighter jets have some of the features of the fourth generation fighter jets, but it would be completely wrong to say that both the fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets are the same.
What is 6th generation fighter jets?
Sixth-generation fighter jets will be such fighter jets in which artificial intelligence will be used along with stealth technology.
Sixth-generation fighter jets will be designed in such a way that there will be no requirement of pilots in them, that is, these aircraft pilots and pilotless will also be made.
China has claimed that it is making sixth-generation fighter jets and has also released a video of the fighter jets. China has named its fighter jets J-36. Along with this, America is also making its 6th generation fighter jets, which it has named F-47.
5th vs 6th generation fighter jets: difference
- 5th generation fighter jets are stealth technology aircraft, however they do not have AI technology, but 6th generation fighter jets, apart from being stealth, are also equipped with AI technology.
- 5th generation fighter jets can reach a speed of about 2.25 mach i.e. 2410 km/hr while the speed of 6th generation fighter jets can reach 2.5 to mach.
- 5th generation fighter jets are completely pilot operated while 6th generation fighter jets have AI technology that helps the pilot in decision making.
Conclusion
The evolution of fighter aircraft from the first-generation to the sixth -generation shows the tremendous progress in aviation technology right now.
while India has fighter jets like Sukhoi-30MKI which are becoming increasingly powerful and widely used.
Fifth-generation fighter jets are known for their speed, stealth and manoeuvrability. Countries like the US, Russia and China are far ahead in this field.
However, now 6th generation fighter jets are coming which have AI technology, unmanned operations and hypersonic missiles which will conduct air war in future.