Categorization of fighter jets in generations is a classification system used around the world. The basic classification into five generations is widely accepted and recognized. Some accounts have subdivided the 4th generation into 4 and 4.5, or 4+ and 4++.
First generation subsonic jet fighters (mid 1940s to mid 1950s)
- This category comprised of the earliest subsonic jet fighters that appeared during and after the last years of World War II.
- They were similar in most respects to their piston-engine contemporaries, having generally straight wings and being of wood and/or light alloy construction.
- The main feature of Gen 1 fighter was their advance in speed over its piston-engine predecessors. Introduction of the swept wing allowed transonic speeds to be reached, but controllability was often limited at such speeds. The jet engines did not have afterburners and the aircraft operated in the subsonic regime.
- They had basic avionic They had no radars or self- protection countermeasures, and were armed with machine guns or cannons, as well as unguided bombs and rockets.
- These aircraft were typically aimed at the air-superiority interceptor role.
According to available sources, fighters in this generation include the following:-
- Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe
- Heinkel He 162 Salamander
- Messershmitt Me 162 Komet
- Gloster Meteor
- de Havilland Vampire
- de Havilland Venom
- Hawker Siddeley/Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk
- Supermarine Attacker
- Supermarine Swift
- Lockheed P-80 (F-80) Shooting Star
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet / Thunderstreak
- North American F-86 Sabre
- Northrop F-89 Scorpion
- Lockheed F-94 Starfire
- McDonnell FH-1 Phantom
- Vought F6U Pirate
- Vought F7U Cutlass
- North American FJ (F-1) Fury
- McDonnell F2H (F-2) Banshee
- McDonnell F3H (F-3) Demon
- Douglas F4D (F-6) Skyray
- Grumman F9F (F-9) Panther / Cougar
- Douglas F3D (F-10) Skyknight
- Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15
- Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-17
- Lavochkin La-15
- Yakovlev Yak-15
- Yakovlev Yak-17
- Yakovlev Yak-23
- Dassault Ouragan
- Dassault Mystčre
- Saab J21R
- Saab J29
- Saab Lansen
- Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
Coming Up: Generation wise description (2nd – 6th)
References:
https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/top-sixth-generation-fighter-jets/
https://www.sldinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Air-Combat-Seminar-summary-AndrewMcL.pdf
https://www.fighterworld.com.au/az-of-fighter-aircraft/five-generations-of-jets
http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2005/articles/oct_05/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_fighter
https://migflug.com/jetflights/fighter-jet-generations/
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0182.shtml
Comments and value additions are most welcome
Excellent. The Air Marshal is building up a very essential aspect to clarify the mysteries of the “Generation” jargon often associated with aircraft. The difference in the Genarations of aircraft is very fine in some cases especially when we start looking at 4th and 5th generation of aircrafts. I am sure this will be valuable guidance to every reader.
Thanks Gopi.
Yes lines are even more blurred when we come to 4, 4.5 and 5th generation.
More Coming up shortly.
More coming up