Numerous authorities and organizations have classified fighter planes into generations. Typically, these generation designations are based on technological leaps. However, the definition can be more subjective than you might think. It is common for aircraft to exhibit both characteristics from each generation.
The earliest jet fighters were classified as Gen 1. The Meteor, the first generation of fighter jets, was in service during World War II. This generation also included the Hawker Hunter and McDonnell F2H Banshee. They have a speed record that is unmatched by their piston-engine counterparts.
The next generation of fighter planes was created with multi-role capability. They would be equipped with a range of armaments including laser-guided bombs, pulse-doppler radar and other types of weapons. They would also be expected to be more maneuverable, and to have a longer range. The use of radars to fire beyond visual range was also expected, as was the ability to engage in air-to-air interception.
It was also expected that the next generation fighters would have radars that could be used for shooting down enemy planes. They were expected to be quicker and more precise than the previous generation aircraft. They will also carry laser-guided weapons and terrain-warning devices. They would have newer radars that could fire at targets beyond visual range, and they would be capable of flying into a shallow dive to attain super-cruise.
Fourth-generation fighters came with thinner control surfaces as well as sweptback wings. They were capable also of high-G flight. They could also carry nuclear-tipped missiles air-to-air. Their engines could reach Mach 2 speeds. The US F-86 Sabre and the North American F-86 Sabre were both outstanding fighters of this generation.
The fifth generation of fighters is characterized by all-aspect stealth, active electronically scanned array radars, and internal carriage of precision weapons. They can also be used for air-to–ground missions. These aircraft also come with sixth-generation, gas-turbine engines. They have more power than their predecessors. They are also able to sustain high-G flight and maintain low 70 knots at angles of attack.
The fifth generation of fighters is also equipped with advanced integrated avionics systems, including data fusion. These advanced systems allow the aircraft to communicate with a variety of sensors and drones. The F-35, which is the world's most advanced data-fusion platform, is an important weapon in today's combat arsenal. It is also one of the few fifth generation fighters that has super-cruise capability.
These fighters are also known for their superior performance and high thrust-to-weight ratio. They can fly high-G for extended periods of time and can do air-to–air and ground missions. They are also capable of performing air-to-ground strafing missions. They are also equipped with sophisticated integrated avionics and low-observable surveillance techniques. They can also act as a networking hub to other assets on and off the battlefield.
Fifth generation fighters today are more advanced than their predecessors. The F-22 Raptor, the first of these aircraft, is the only fifth generation fighter currently on service. However, it is not the most advanced fighter currently in service. It is expected that the F-35 Lightning II joins the 5th-generation fighter club once it becomes operational within a few years.