What is a nth Generation fighter?

On 14 Dec 2003 15:02:22 GMT, (BUFDRVR) wrote:

Good question, and one I asked an intel officer shortly after becoming mission
qualified in the BUFF. Here's the way he layed it out:

1st Generation (early jet fighter) - MiG-15,17,19 or F-84, F-86

2nd Generation (early supersonic)- MiG-21 or Century Series.

I'd put these all in the first generation, at least in their original
incarnation.

3rd Generation (advanced supersonic) - MiG-23 or F-4

Second generation here.

4th Generation ("next generation") - MiG-25, 29, 31, Su-27 or F-14,15,16

Third generation, some upgraded to fourth.

5th Generation (???) - MiG 1.42, Su-30 series or FA/22, F-35

Fourth.

The system I'm accustomed to is based on the level of avionics and
flight control. First generation is the standard control system and
electro-mechanical FCS, with fairly basic avionics. Second generation
is more advanced integrated avionics, with analog feedback control
system, not just dampers. Third generation is integrated avionics.
LRUs, augmentation, HUD, fadec or equivalent. Fourth generation is
heavy augmentation (probably digital) and FBW, highly integrated
avionics that can used inputs from other sources, HMS, and so on.

I think this is biased in favor of the Western generations and it's
not really about the airframe, except perhaps low observables. It's
pretty much what was used contemporaneously (well, not with the first
generation, of course) in the business.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer