Fighter and Attack Aircraft

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Fighter and Attack aircraft
Fighter and Attack aircraft represent some of the
most exciting machines in the sphere of military
power because of their design, speed, and weaponry.
The sheer diversity of this category of aircraft, their
evolution through military history, and the modern
race to produce the most advanced and lethal fighter
and attack aircraft yield a great deal of information
and generates more interest than any other category
of military aircraft.
History
In the early 1900s, as the airplane emerged as a vital
reconaissance tool during WWI, the need to protect
the skies over the battlefield was realized. The fighter
aircraft emerged in 1914 as a countermeasure to
aerial reconaissance, and evolved quickly as new
technologies were developed to compliment the
fighter aircraft's mission.
It wasn't until WWII that the fighter aircraft began
reaching a level of refinement recognized in today's
fighter and attack aircraft - indeed beneficiaries of
these developments. Integrated systems instead of
disparate technologies cobbled together became the
norm. Improved aerodynamics, the monoplane
design, engine performance, weapons accuracy and
destructive force, and survivability became design
factors that worked in tandem to determine an
aircraft's effectiveness.
As WWII progressed, the fighter aircraft's role
varied. The roles of defending the skies from
attacking strategic bombers and bomber escort into
enemy territory both yielded numerous epic air-to-air

confrontations. The role of ground attack of strategic
targets and enemy infantry became prominent as
well. And naval fleet attack and defense by carrierborne aircraft proved how a country's military might
could be projected globally.
During the Korean conflict and some of the other
regional conflicts that occurred prior to it, jet
propulsion on military aircraft began to take shape.
As the Vietnam conflict progressed into its waning
years, America's emphasis on technological advances,
pilot training, and improved armament designed to
engage multiple enemies simultaneously catapulted
the world into what is perceived as the modern age of
the fighter aircraft.
Characteristics
In both cases, fighter and attack aircraft are typically
one- or two-seated, relatively small compared to its
bomber and transport counterparts, and represent a
higher thrust to weight ratio making them the fastest
category of military aircraft.
The role of fighter aircraft can be generalized as that
of air superiority. Nutralizing other enemy fighter
aircraft, or in the interceptor role to target enemy
bombers and being complimented with the increased
firepower to destroy these larger targets.
Attack aircraft are equipped to strike ground or naval
targets. This might include providing close-air
support for friendly troops via the destruction of
heavily armored or dug-in enemy forces, elimination
of enemy anti-air batteries and radar nutralization, or
strategic percision destruction of high-value enemy
targets.

Aircraft are armed and equipped specifically for their
roles, and generally have at least rudimentary
methods of defending themselves.
Modern Advancements
Presently, this category of aircraft is dominated by
manufactures in America, Russia, and joint ventures
coming out of Europe. However, developments from
Israel, India and China continue to emerge out of the
desire for an autonomous military aircraft production
industry.
Additionally, as the emphasis appears to be moving
away from air superiority and more toward flexibility
of the platform to both protect the skies and eliminate
targests on the ground, the multi-role fighter aircraft
is being given the most significant attention at this
time.

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