In this video, we will look at some of the most dreaded aircraft currently in service.
Plenty of them are so powerful that they primarily act as a deterrent.
1.
Saab JAS 39 Gripen Gripen is a Swedish aerospace and defence
company Saab AB's light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft.
The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration, as well as relaxed stability and fly-by-wire
flight controls.
Later aircrafts are fully NATO compatible.
More than 271 Gripens of all styles, A–F, had been built as of 2020.
One feature that distinguishes the Gripen from the rest of the 4th generation combatants
on the market is its small size, as well as the low cost of operation.
Despite the difficulty of calculating flyaway costs, the Gripen reportedly cost the government
less than $60 million.
Gripen also boasted the lowest operational costs of any contemporary fighter jet.
2.
F-16 Fighting Falcon Another highly famous fighter after the F-15
Eagle, Falcon has been in existence for about 4 decades now.
Brazil, Turkey, Israel, Pakistan and India are some of the countries where this deadly
combat aircraft could be found.
One of the Lockheed Martin’s most prolific fighter, over 4,600 F-16s has been dispatched
by Lockheed Martin to more than 20 countries around the globe.
Several sources mentioned that over 3,000 Falcon are currently operational across the
continent.
For the armaments, F-16s have hardpoints for the payload of weapons; one at each wing tip,
three below each wing, and one centreline under the fuselage.
Munitions are being launched from Raytheon LAU-88 launchers, MAU-12 and Orgen bomb ejector
racks.
The gunsight of the aircraft is interfaced to the cockpit, while the port wing has a
20mm General Electric M61A1 multi-barrel cannon installed on it.
3.
F-22 Raptor Raptor is a single-engine multirole fighter
aircraft designed by General Dynamics for the US Air Force (USAF).
Originally intended as a day fighter for air superiority, it transformed into an effective
all-weather multirole aircraft.
Since production began in 1976, over 4,600 aircraft have been built.
Although they are no longer purchased by the United States Air Force, improved versions
are being constructed for export customers.
General Dynamics managed to sell its aircraft manufacturing company to Lockheed Corporation
in 1993, which became part of Lockheed Martin following a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
The Fighting Falcon's main features include a frameless bubble canopy for improved visibility,
a side-mounted control stick for easier control while maneuvering, an ejection seat to decrease
the impacts of g-forces on the pilot.
4.
Dassault Rafale Dassault Aviation's Dassault Rafale which
literally has the meaning of "gust of wind" and "burst of fire" in a military sense is
a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole combat aircraft.
The Rafale is designed to perform air superiority, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, logistical
support, in-depth attack, anti-ship strike, and nuclear deterrence missions.
Dassault describes the Rafale as an "omnirole" aircraft.
The Rafale, which was introduced in 2001, is produced both for the French Air Force
and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy.
The Rafale has been commercialised for export to several countries, including the Egyptian
Air Force, Indian Air Force, Qatar Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Indonesian Air Force and
the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
The Rafale also has been in service in countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria.
5.
Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E The Sukhoi Su-35BM, the most recent version
of the Sukhoi Su-35, is a highly developed functionality multirole air superiority fighter
derived from the Su-27.
The aircraft has a high blade angle and high manoeuvrability, and it is outfitted with
elevated weapon systems, which add value to the new aircraft's exemplary dogfighting capability.
The Su-35BM was revealed in August 2007 at the Aerosalon MAKS air show in Moscow, and
it managed to make its first flight in February 2008.
In 2010, the Russian Air Force began serial production of the SU-35BM as the Su-35S.
The Sukhoi Design Bureau in Moscow developed, tested, and introduced the aircraft into serial
production, while KNAPPO in Komsomolsk-on-Amur manufactured it.
Sukhoi Aviation Holding Joint Stock Company owns both companies.
6.
Eurofighter Typhoon The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multirole fighter
with two engines and a canard delta wing.
The Typhoon was developed as an air superiority fighter and is produced by a coalition of
Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, which manages the project under the Eurofighter joint holding
company.
The project is handled by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, which represents
the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Because of its purposefully relaxed stability design, the Typhoon is a very nimble aircraft
both at supersonic and low speeds.
Because manual operation alone could not compensate for the inherent instability, it incorporates
a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control system that provides artificial stability.
"Carefree" is how the fly-by-wire system is described.
7.
Chengdu J-20 Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) of
China is the one who manufactures the Chengdu J-20, a single-seat multirole stealth fighter
aircraft.
It is a fifth-generation aircraft being developed for the Air Force of the People's Liberation
Army.
Black Eagle is its NATO reporting name.
In November 2010, two prototypes were created for airborne and ground testing.
Even in dangerous conditions, the J-20 is built to carry out ground attack missions.
The aircraft's delta wings enable it to reach higher heights at supersonic speeds.
It dwarfs the Sukhoi T-50 and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in size.
The prototype's front section resembles the F-22 Raptor, while the back section resembles
a Sukhoi T-50.
8.
F-15 Fighting Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine,
all-weather tactical fighter plane developed by McDonnell Douglas in the United States.
The US Air Force chose McDonnell Douglas' design in 1969 after an assessment of bids
to answer the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter.
It is one of the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and zero losses in
aerial combat, with the Israeli Air Force accounting for the majority of the kills.
From the avionics, a multimission system includes a head-up display (HUD), sophisticated radar,
inertial guidance system, flight instruments, ultra-high frequency communications, and the
system of tactical air navigation as well as landing system receivers.
It also has an internally mounted, tactical electronic warfare system, Identification
friend or foe system, an electronic countermeasures suite, and a central digital computer.
The F-15 can carry a wide range of air-to-air weapons.
Using the head-up display and the avionics and weapons controls positioned on the engine
throttles or control stick, an automated weapon system allows the pilot to release weapons
effectively and safely.
9.
Sukhoi Su-57 Sukhoi Su-57 is a single-seat, twin-engine
stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russian aviation company Sukhoi.
Su-57, also known as Felon in NATO, is the first Russian fighter to be outfitted with
stealth technology.
The Su-57 was designed to replace the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian military's aviation
arms and provide the groundwork for stealth combat aircraft that would last in modern
warfare.
Because of its supermaneuverability, stealth, integrated avionics, and large internal payload
capacity, the Su-57 is known for being a capable fighter in aerial warfare as well as maritime
and ground strike.
The first Su-57 aircraft entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2020,
with a service life of up to 35 years predicted.
10.
F-35 Lightning The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a
stealth multirole combat aircraft designed to execute both air superiority and strike
missions.
It is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft.
It's also capable of electronic warfare, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Lockheed Martin is the primary F-35 contractor, with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as key
partners.
The variant F-35A is a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft, while the F-35B
is a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, and the F-35C is a carrier-based
(CATOBAR) aircraft.
Low observables, modern avionics, and sensor fusion are all features of the F-35, allowing
for a high level of situational awareness and long-range lethality.
And that would be all for today’s episode.
Hope you enjoy it and see you again next time!