These are Italian & Swedish equivalents to UK based BAE. Hi TrevorH, My understanding is that Italy and Sweden are represented on the corporate level as far as investment goes. However, the type is let down by mediocre ‘high and fast’ performance, and fewer missiles and a smaller detection range than some of its larger rivals. Rather than totally new capabilities. U.K. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson speaks at RAF Marham on Jan. 10, 2019, declaring initial operational capability on nine F-35 Lightning jets. Tempest… Read more ». BVR engagements are all about situational awareness, positioning/energy advantage, and persistence in terms of fuel and missiles. But again, we’re seeing development that could fix this issue. Su-35S were deployed in Syria in 2016 to provide air cover for Russian forces engaged in anti-rebel/ISIL attacks. The Back End Screams YF23 to me,but it looks Impressive nonetheless. BAE Systems test pilots are now trialling these psycho-physiological technologies in controlled test flight conditions in a Typhoon aircraft. In 2016 China downed a target drone with a massive air-to-air missile. Would that not be Pushing it a bit ? Team Tempest is a UK technology and defence partnership formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and the RAF, and involving hundreds of high-tech companies, SMEs and academia across the UK. Good question about the nukes. Design isnt finalised, but at the moment its looking like a long range heavy fighter/bomber. The black magic of the aircraft’s electronic warfare suite can also come into its own, reducing the opponent’s situational awareness. Hi Herodotus, Yup, for the most part they are a very mediocre bunch and driven by a single over arching goal, Brexit. The recent addition of the AIM-120D to the Raptor’s arsenal give it a weapon of improved range and sophistication. If we think that surface vessels may encounter increasing difficulties, notwith standing their ability to move considerable distances, how much more will traditional static land bases find survival? Top Speed: 2,665 km/h F-15. I’m not a Boris cheerleader but I am sort of waiting to… Read more ». Even in terms of missiles, the Su-35 can carry up to twelve to the F-22’s eight but combat practice, especially against stealthy targets, involves firing salvos of six missiles with mixed seekers so the Su-35 only really has two credible shots. OK, so we said ‘top 10’, but the F-16 deserves a mention. This has now been rectified (it is believed that Qatari Rafale are operating with HMD). Its greatest weakness remains its lack of an AESA radar and its non-stealthiness. October 25, 2019 Top 10 night fighters. The recent R-37M, which is believed to be in limited operational service (though there is no open source material to support this claim) is even more potent and may even have some advantages over Meteor. You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Whether at the time it was stable enough to land with extended wings etc I don’t know. It’ll be interesting to see what she actually turns out like, ideally I’d like to see the project 100% British but it’ll more than likely be a collaboration with close NATO allies and/or partners. Top Speed: 1,200 mph; Max Flight Distance: 1,381 miles on internal fuel Hardware is generally less important than training and tactics — removing these human factors from the mix allows us to judge the most deadly long-range fighting machines currently in service. (British Ministry of Defence) Its a placeholder, the actual shape hasnt been finalised yet. Many of the teething problems encountered in Syria have now rectified. The Tempest looks well proportioned. All the more to realise that the F35B will likely evolve over the years and we will in time buy some 138-odd numbers of them or the RN. LANCA seems to be smaller than the projects being developed by the US, Australia and Europe for remote carriers, with the idea that there should be more of them and attritable. The origin of the Tempest airframe (not systems) is the BAe Replica design study from the 1990s. Possibly even hydrogen fuel. The J-20 has a canard-delta rather than the (essentially) tailed-delta of both the Raptor and the Su-57 (which has yet to enter service). Head on signature could be comparable to competing systems if appropriate engine installation and airframe treatments are used. You have to admit, that Tempest image is basically a 5++ gen jet. For such a nation, the key aim is deterrence, ensuring that any country wishing to invade or dominate you cannot easily do so. Six AIM-120s limits the extent to which the F-22 can exploit its relative invisibility, and compromises from its stealthy design mean it does not have the range one would expect of such a large modern platform. Saudi Arabia began operations with Meteor-armed Typhoons in late 2019. The perennial issue of immature Chinese engine technology is yet to be solved, and the current status of the Xian WS-15, the powerful definitive service engine, is unclear. Currently, the fighter jet is still being produced. With the expressed in service date mid 2030’s. I’m looking forward to the post Covid wash up to see how things pan out with regard to both the shady shenanigans and also the competency angle. It is expected to complete certification tests by 2020. The canard, is likely, to be at low deflection for supersonic flight, especially if Su-35-like thrust vectoring is available to trim the aircraft. The B2 bomber is a very good example, where it uses uses split ailerons and differential thrust to control its yaw. The additional fuel could confer either additional range, or long combat persistence, and this suggests that, if armed with a long-range AAM a role as an anti-AWACS or anti-tanker system. Plans to equip it in the future with a new generation US BVR missile could push all the American aircraft in this chart up in our rankings. I would suggest less energy manoeuvrability, as the configuration is likely to have somewhat higher transonic drag. When asked what he thought of the F111 he said bound to fail, it defeats the purpose of swing wings. We are well over due for some change. Armament: 6-8 x new generation PL-12C/PL-15s or new generation BVR missile+ 2 x PL-10, 6. If it goes ahead, and we end up going it alone, then at least I’d really wish to see it incorporate carrier-launch ability, since we’d not likely be able to support two advanced jet designs and would have to max out it flexibility. Now if these will just be produced in significant numbers…. It would be more efficient and more stealthy. The F-35B, one of the three variants of the warplane, is Britain's most advanced and expensive fighter jet. To put this into perspective the famously prissy B-1B which is very big, very complicated, old, has swing wings and four engines may now have a superior mission capable rate. The last combat aircraft Australia procured from the UK was the Canberra bomber, 65+ years ago, we then looked at TSR-2 as a possible replacement, and we know what happened there. In effect buying access to technology… Read more ». Sweden is to be the first partner nation in the British Tempest programme to build a next-generation fighter jet. F3R involves major software upgrades, and the full integration of Thales TALIOS long-range airborne targeting pod. The enormous PESA radar was the first ever fitted to a fighter. In this category the F-22 has failings, which include a low combat readiness and a small fleet. It is not clear from open source literature if this is the case, but it is likely the PLA are looking into it. Again, totally agree CR, I’m hardly a ‘wild eyed rebel’ myself but aye, the ‘ruling classes’ have had a lesson with populist governments being the result. British RAF fighter jets return home following Operation Azotize. You may be less concerned about signature and platform manoeuvrability because your ideal approach will be to stand back and hit bombers rather than engage fighters.”. Typhoon is still the best armed fighter in the world for beyond visual range combat, bar none. But surely, we could start seeing, finless fighters, with great flybywire tech whereby the computers do the yaw adjustments for the pilot and he always had the surfaces to manually operate if he needs any more yaw authority. Recently, engineers revealed some of the latest concepts under development for the Royal Air Force’s next generation combat aircraft. US F-15Cs were among the first fighters in the world to receive the AIM-120D AMRAAM, the best Western air-to-air missile after the Meteor.With an estimated 100mile range, new hardware and software systems for improved navigation, an improved HOBS (High-Angle Off-Boresight) capability, the D model offers a significant advantage. Those dinosaurs have no friends, just states they shaft for all their worth. If the pilots helmet could look outside and cams/radar gives info to the helmet screen why have a cockpit? The main benefit to be gained from this arrangement is the carriage of significantly more fuel, coupled with the scope for use of a longer weapons bay. ... ‘comical’ appearance compared to the standard version hence the ‘Comic’ nickname and it became the standard British night fighter during 1918. F22 was the first 5th gen, and is now 20+ years. Even with major partners, a most desirable outcome of course, such STOL design enhancements would add significant sales and operational attraction. I was merely replying to your comment ” This looks very 5 ++ and not a whole leap forward to 6th gen” The Flying Wing concept/design you are talking about was from the 30’s. The F-22 is now proven in combat; though it has not taken part in air-to-air combat, it has performed in the CAS, ISR and Combat Air Patrol missions over Syria, and more recently in Afghanistan. The only potential rivals, the Russian Su-57 and Chinese J-20, remain immature. In Russia, development work continues on the R-77M with its AESA seekerhead offering a larger field of regard than existing technology. The fastest modern fighter in the world, with a top speed of Mach 2.83+, the MiG-31 offers some unique capabilities. The large weapons bay might also provide sufficient volume for a wide range of weapons. When Prandtl published his papers in the 30’s, the Hortens’ used his concepts in their flying wing designs. It is being developed by a consortium known as "Team Tempest", consisting of the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo S.p.A. and MBDA, and is intended to enter service from 2035 replacing the Eurofighter … This is great news. Against bombers and cruise missiles it is superbly capable (and would be ranked higher on this list), however as a defensive interceptor it is vulnerable to more agile and stealthier fighter opponents. A word of caution about the high ranking we have given the F-35: procurement moves by the US (both F-22s and 6th Gen’ plans), Japan (with the F-3) and Turkey (prior to the 2019 F-35 boycott) with the TF-X show that those who can afford an alternative don’t consider the F-35 a viable air superiority platform. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. The aircraft made its maiden flight in January 2010 but was only introduced formerly into the Russian Air Force in 2019. Read an exclusive interview with a Super Hornet pilot here. It would have to be used carefully, taking advantage of its advanced connectivity and superior Electronic Warfare systems to make the most of its formidable armament. Some caution could be expressed about the Meteor, as it is far from being a combat proven weapon. Is it more a bomber or attack plane than a fighter? Let’s suppose you have a small-ish nation, where the Government does not have global dominance in its agenda. 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