But When I Do It’s For Planes - Blog Posts

/k/ Planes Episode 73: 4th Generation and Beyond

It’s time for another episode of /k/ Planes! This time, we’ll be looking at fourth- and fifth-generation jet fighters.

Starting in the late 60’s, fighter development would take a radical new approach. Gone were the days of prioritizing speed and long-range missiles, forcing engineers to take a more practical approach. High speeds gave way to maneuverability as short-ranged engagements were found to be far from obsolete. While the utopian ideal of pure BVR engagements was no more, these new fighters would be far from unsophisticated. The most advanced avionics suites yet installed on aircraft would complement advanced control systems, allowing for previously impossible arrangements and maneuverability to the point of absurdity. As this new generation of fighters arose, a new feature would come to define the latecomers - stealth. As stealth gained importance towards the end of the Cold War, radar-cross section reducing features would become invaluable. The sophistication of avionics would also rapidly increase as designers sought what is known as sensor fusion - managing all sensors by an onboard computer to aid the pilot in their duties and reduce workload.

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