On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 23:23:47 +0000, "Paul J. Adam"
wrote:

In message , Alan Minyard
writes
On 14 Dec 2003 22:11:39 GMT, (BUFDRVR) wrote:
Hmmm, okay Mary what would a 5th Generation fighter be? They are using that
term fairly regularly when discussing the Su-30 family.

IMHO it would be the F-22 and F-35. The first generation to
integrate true stealth,
super cruise (F-22) a new generation of electronics, etc.

See my other post. Supercruise is 5th generation if you're selling
F-22s, unless you're looking at Typhoon in which case supercruise is
irrelevant and stealth is crucial... and, again, many of those 'new
generation electronics' are common to both platforms.


Just my opinion but it *seems* like "generation" is a combination of
timeframe, sensors, avionics, and a few goodies the previous
generation didn't have. Internal weapons carriage isn't one but an
AESA radar and whatever the hell sharing of information is called as
in the Gripen and F-22 (don't know of others that have it, that was
just and example). IRST and helmet mounted sights, while they would
be found on a 5th generation fighter, don't necessarily make a plane a
"5th" generation because they are found on earilier aircraft. Stealth
is a 5th but "stealthy" is generally found on those considered "4th+"
or "4th and a half". Just my two cents.