Number 10
The Chengdu J-10, meaning "Annihilator (Interceptor) Ten") is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Known in the West as the "Vigorous Dragon", the J-10 is a multi-role combat aircraft capable of all-weather day/night operation, that the PRC's People's Daily has compared to the F-16, Mirage 2000 and Su-27.
Flight control system
Due to the J-10's aerodynamically unstable design, a digital quadruplex-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system aids the pilot in flying the aircraft. Chinese aircraft designer Yang Wei is claimed to be the chief designer of the fly-by-wire flight control system, although this is disputed by analyst Richard Fisher who credits Israeli consultants for developing the system. The flight control computer provides automatic flight coordination and keeps the aircraft from entering potentially dangerous situations such as unintentional slops or skids. This therefore frees the pilot to concentrate on his intended tasks during the combat.
Flight instrumentation
Information is provided visually to the pilot via three liquid crystal Multi-function displays (MFD) in the cockpit.
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| Maxximum Speed Mach 2.2 at altitude |
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| Russia |
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a 4th-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations. The NATO name "Fulcrum" was unofficially used by Soviet pilots in service. The MiG-29, along with the Sukhoi Su-27, were developed to counter new American fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Cockpit
The cockpit features a conventional centre stick and left hand throttle controls. The pilot sits in a Zvezda K-36DM zero-zero ejection seat which has had impressive performance in emergency escapes.
The cockpit has conventional dials, with a head-up display (HUD) and a Shchel-3UM helmet mounted display, but no HOTAS ("hands-on-throttle-and-stick") capability. Emphasis seems to have been placed on making the cockpit similar to the earlier MiG-23 and other Soviet aircraft for ease of conversion, rather than on ergonomics. Nonetheless, the MiG-29 does have substantially better visibility than most previous Russian jet fighters, thanks to a high-mounted bubble canopy. Upgraded models introduce "glass cockpits" with modern liquid-crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFDs) and true HOTAS.
| Role | Air-superiority fighter, multirole fighter |
| National origin | Soviet Union Russia |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan |
| First flight | 6 Oct 1977 |
| Introduced | August 1983 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Russian Air Force |
| Indian Air Force | |
| Ukrainian Air Force | Ukrainian Air Force |
| Produced | 1982–present |
| Number built | 1,600+ |
| Unit cost | US$29 million[2][3] |
| Variants | Mikoyan MiG-29M |
| Mikoyan MiG-29K | |
| Mikoyan MiG-35 | |
| Maximum Speed | March 2.4 |
| Armament | 1 x 30 mm canon with 150 round |
| Upto 3500Kg of weapons including 6 missiles |
Number 8
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (USA)
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
The Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with numerous innovations including a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system that makes it a highly nimble aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and has 11 hardpoints for mounting weapons, and other mission equipment. Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to its pilots as the "Viper", due to it resembling a viper snake and after the Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper starfighter.
In addition to USAF active, reserve, and air national guard units, the aircraft is used by the USAF aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16 has also been selected to serve in the air forces of 25 other nations.
| Role | Multirole Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics Lockheed Martin |
| First flight | 2 Feb 1974 |
| Introduction | 17 Aug 1977 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | United States Air Force 25 other users |
| Number built | 4,450+ |
| Unit cost | F-16A/B: US$14.6 million (1998 dollars) |
| F-16C/D: US$18.8 million (1998 dollars) | |
| Variants | General Dynamics F-16 VISTA |
| Developed into | General Dynamics F-16XL |
| Mitsubishi F-2 | |
| Maximum Speed | March 1.2 |
| Armament | 1 x 20 mm M61 Vulcan gatling gun |
| 511 round rocket : 2 3/4 in (70mm) |
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (USA)
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas' design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. The F-15 is expected to be in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2025.
Since the 1970s, the Eagle has also been exported to Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Despite originally being envisaged as a pure air superiority aircraft, the design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, was later developed, and entered service in 1989.
Satellite killer
ASM-135 ASAT test launch from F-15A 76-0084
The ASM-135 anti-satellite (ASAT) missile was designed to be a standoff anti-satellite weapon, with the F-15 acting as a first stage. The Soviet Union could correlate a U.S. rocket launch with a spy satellite loss, but an F-15 carrying an ASAT would blend in among hundreds of F-15 flights. From January 1984 to September 1986, two F-15As were used as launch platforms for the ASAT missile. The F-15As (76-0084 and 76-0086) were modified to carry one ASM-135 on the centerline station with extra equipment within a special centerline pylon. The launch aircraft executed a Mach 1.22, 3.8 g climb at 65° to release the ASAT missile at an altitude of 38,100 ft (11,600 m). The flight computer was updated to control the zoom-climb and missile release.
The third test flight involved a retired P78-1 solar observatory satellite in a 345-mile (555 km) orbit, which was successfully destroyed by kinetic energy. The pilot, USAF Major Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson, became the first and only pilot to destroy a satellite. The ASAT program involved five test launches. The program was officially terminated in 1988.
| Role | Air superiority fighter |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas Boeing IDS |
| First flight | 27 JuLy 1972 |
| Introduction | 9 January 1976 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | United States Air Force |
| Japan Air Self-Defense Force | |
| Royal Saudi Air Force | |
| Israeli Air Force | |
| Number built | F-15A/B/C/D/J/DJ: 1,198 |
| Unit cost | F-15A/B: US$27.9 million (1998) |
| F-15C/D: US$29.9 million (1998) | |
| Variants | McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle |
| McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD | |
| Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle | |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2.5+ |
| Armament | 1 x internally mounted 20mm M61A1 gatling gun |
| 940 rounds hardpoint |
Number 6
Sukhoi Su-27 (Russia)
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a one-seat Mach-2 class jet fighter originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, and designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with long 3,530 km range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high agility. The Su-27 most often flies air superiority missions, but is able to perform almost all combat operations. Complementing the smaller MiG-29, the Su-27's closest US counterpart is the F-15 Eagle.
There are several related developments of the Su-27 design. The Su-30 is a two-seat, dual-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions. The Su-33 ‘Flanker-D’ is a navy fleet defense interceptor for use on aircraft carriers. Further versions include the side-by-side 2-seat Su-34 ‘Fullback’ strike variant and the Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ improved air defense fighter.
| Role | Air superiority fighter |
| National origin | Soviet Union / Russia |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi Design Bureau |
| First flight | 20 May 1977 |
| Introduced | December 1984 |
| Status | In production / In service |
| Primary users | Russian Air Force |
| Chinese Air Force | |
| Ukrainian Air Force | |
| Produced | 1984-current |
| Number built | 680 |
| Unit cost | US$30 million |
| Variants | Sukhoi Su-30 |
| Sukhoi Su-33 | |
| Sukhoi Su-34 | |
| Sukhoi Su-35 | |
| Sukhoi Su-37 | |
| Shenyang J-11 | |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2.35 |
| Armament | 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds |
| 8000 kg on 10 external pylons |
Number 5
Dassault Rafale (France)
The Dassault Rafale (English: Squall) is a French twin-engined delta-wing agile multi-role 4.5th-generation jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy. It has also been marketed for export to several countries but has not yet received orders.
Former Red Arrows UK pilot Peter Collins in Flight International stated: "It is simply the best and most complete combat aircraft that I have ever flown. Its operational deployments speak for themselves. If I had to go into combat, on any mission, against anyone, I would, without question, choose the Rafale."
Cockpit
The cockpit uses a Martin-Baker Mark 16F "zero-zero” ejection seat, i.e., capable of being used at zero speed and zero altitude. The seat is inclined 29 degrees backwards to improve G force tolerance. The canopy hinges open to the right. An on-board oxygen generating system is provided to eliminate the need for multiple oxygen canisters.
The cockpit includes a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD), two head-down flat-panel colour multi-function displays (MFDs) and a center collimated display. Display interaction is by means of touch input for which the pilot wears silk-lined leather gloves. In addition, in full development, the pilot will have a head-mounted display (HMD).
The pilot flies the aircraft with a side-stick controller mounted on his right and a throttle on his left. These incorporate multiple hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. The Rafale cockpit is also planned to include Direct Voice Input (DVI), allowing for pilot action by voice commands.
| Role | Multirole fighter aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation |
| First flight | 7/4/1986. |
| Introduced | 12/4/2000. |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Armée de l'Air |
| Aéronavale | |
| Program cost | €39.6 billion (1 January 2008 [1]) |
| Unit cost | Rafale C: €64 million, US$82.3 million (flyaway cost, 2008) |
| Rafale M: €70 million, US$90.5 million (flyaway cost, 2008) | |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 1.8 |
| Armament (air to air) | MICA IR/EM or AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-132 ASRAAM |
| or AIM-120 AMRAAm |
Number 4
JAS 39 Gripen (Sweeden)
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (English: Griffin) is a lightweight single engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world.
The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Air Force, the Hungarian Air Force and the South African Air Force, and has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. A total of 236 Gripens have been ordered as of 2008
Cockpit
The cockpit has three full colour head down displays and digital emergency instrument presentation unique to the aircraft. The cockpit layout provides a human-machine interface that eases pilot workload substantially and increases situational awareness, but still provides substantial future growth potential. The pilot flies the aircraft by means of a centre stick and left hand throttles.
The cockpit provides a display area some 30 percent larger than that available in most other fighters, with the multi-function displays taking up around 75 percent of available space.
It is dominated by three large (15.7 x 21 cm) active-matrix, liquid crystal, multi-function displays and a wide angle (20 x 28 degree) head-up display (HUD). The displays are equipped with light sensors for computer assisted brightness and contrast control.
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| Manufacturer | Saab AB |
| First flight | 12/9/1988. |
| Introduction | 6/9/1996. |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Swedish Air Force |
| Czech Air Force | |
| Hungarian Air Force | |
| South African Air Force | |
| Number built | 213 as of December 2008[update] |
| Unit cost | US$40–61 million (export price VAT excluded) |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2 |
| Armament | 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon 6 x Rb 74 or Rb 98 |
| 4 x Rb 99, Rb 71, MICA or Meteor |
Number 3
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (USA)
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A for Fighter/Attack). The F/A-18 was derived from the YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. It has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, since 1986.
The fighter's primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), air interdiction, close air support and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.
F/A-18 Hornet provided the baseline design for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a larger, evolutionary redesign of the F/A-18. Compared to the Hornet, the Super Hornet is larger, heavier and has improved range and payload capability. The F/A-18E/F was originally proposed as an alternative to a completely new aircraft to replace existing dedicated attack aircraft such as the A-6. The larger variant was also directed to replace the aging F-14 Tomcat, thus serving a complementary role with Hornets in the U.S. Navy, and serving a wider range of roles including refueling tanker, and electronic jamming platform.
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas / Boeing |
| Northrop | |
| First flight | 11/18/1978. |
| Introduction | 1/7/1983. |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | United States Navy |
| United States Marine Corps | |
| Royal Australian Air Force | |
| Spanish Air Force | |
| Number built | F/A-18A–D: 1,480 |
| Unit cost | US$29–57 million (2006) |
| Developed from | Northrop YF-17 |
| Variants | McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet |
| High Alpha Research Vehicle | |
| X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing | |
| Developed into | Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 1.8 |
| Armament | 1 x 20 mm M61 Vulcan internal gatling gun with 578 |
| rounds | |
| Hardpoint : 9:2 wings |
Number 2
Eurofighter Typhoon (EU)
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine canard-delta wing multirole aircraft designed and built by a consortium of three companies: Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, and EADS working through a holding company Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986. The project is managed by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, which acts as the prime customer.
The series production of the Eurofighter Typhoon is underway, and the aircraft is being procured under three separate contracts (named "tranches"), each for aircraft with generally improved capabilities. The aircraft has entered service with the British Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the Austrian Air Force. Saudi Arabia has signed a contract worth £4.43 billion (approx. €6.4 billion, $9.5 billion) for 72 aircraft.
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| Manufacturer | Eurofighter GmbH |
| First flight | 27 March 1994[1] |
| Introduced | 8/4/2003. |
| Status | Operational |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force |
| Luftwaffe | |
| Italian Air Force | |
| Spanish Air Force | |
| Number built | >200 as of December 2009 |
| 471 ordered (as of January 2009) | |
| Unit cost | €63 million (flyaway cost, estimated),[3] |
| GB£45.46 million in Tranche 1 contract[4] | |
| Developed from | British Aerospace EAP |
| Variants | Eurofighter Typhoon variants |
| Maximum Speed | At Altitude : Mach 2 |
| Armament | 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon Air-to-Air missiles : |
| AIM-9 Sidewinder , AIM-132 ASR |
Number 1
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (USA)
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and all of the pilot and maintenance training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component for the future of US tactical air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter, while Lockheed Martin claims that the Raptor's combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world today.[7] Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the "F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built."
Cockpit
The F-22 cockpit is a glass cockpit design without any traditional analog flight instruments and represents a marked improvement on the cockpit design of previous advanced aircraft. The leading features of the F-22 cockpit include simple and rapid start-up, highly developed HMI, light helmet, large anthropometric accommodation and highly integrated warning system. Other main features include the large single-piece canopy, side stick and improved life support systems.
All internal displays are designed to be used with night vision goggles because the aircraft lacks optical or IR vision devices. The Integrated Caution, Advisory, and Warning (ICAW) system combines and filters all messages so that the pilot can be a tactician rather than a housekeeper.
| Role | Stealth air superiority fighter, multirole fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Aeronautics |
| Boeing Integrated Defense Systems | |
| First flight | YF-22: 29 September 1990 |
| F-22: 7 September 1997 | |
| Introduced | 12/15/20053 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 166 as of September 2010 (187 planned) |
| Program cost | US$65 billion |
| Unit cost | US$150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009) |
| Developed from | Lockheed YF-22 |
| Developed into | X-44 MANTA |
| FB-22 | |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2+ |
| Armament | 1 x 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan gatling gun in starboard wing |
| root , 480 rounds |
