F/A-18E Super Hornet

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a fighter and attack aircraft in service with the United States Navy. The Super Hornet is essentially an all-new aircraft, with similar appearance to and some systems carried over from the F/A-18C/D Hornet. The fighter is colloquially referred to as the "Rhino" (for its prodigious nose). The Super Hornet was ordered from McDonnell Douglas in 1992, first flew in November 1995, made its first carrier landing in 1997 and entered service in 1999. Current versions include the F/A-18E single-seater and F/A-18F two-seater. These are replacing the older F/A-18 models in the Navy's inventory, as well as the F-14 Tomcats.

The Super Hornet maintained the "F/A-18" designation for political reasons only (to procure the development of an essentially new combat aircraft at a time when Congress was unwilling to sponsor new military systems); if the plane had been designated in proper sequence, its designation would have been "F-24A." (the "F-24" designation seems politically undesirable for some reason, it was also recommended for the operational version of the X-35, which was adopted as the F-35 Lightning II).

The early 1990s brought a number of problems for US naval aviation. The A-12 Avenger II program, intended to replace the obsolete A-6 Intruders and a-7Corsair IIs, had run into serious problems and was cancelled. The Gulf War revealed that the Navy's strike capability lagged that of the Air Force in certain respects. With no clean-sheet program likely to produce results before about 2020, updating an existing design became an attractive approach. One such proposal was the "Super Hornet" (or, originally, "Hornet II"), originally put forward in the 1980s to improve early F/A-18 models.

Compared with its predecessor, the Super Hornet has a 25 % larger wing that allows the aircraft to return to an aircraft carrier with a larger load of unspent munitions. This had become important with the greater use of more expensive, precision-guided weapons and a growing consciousness about avoiding collateral damage. The fuselage was stretched to carry more fuel and room for future avionics upgrades. An engine with 35 % more power, the General Electric F414, was developed to power this larger, heavier aircraft. The aircraft can carry five 440-US-gallon (1700-litre) external fuel tanks for long-distance ferry flights or four tanks plus an Aerial Refuelling Store (ARS), or "buddy store," which permits the Super Hornet to refuel other aircraft. Other differences include angular intakes for the engines, a smaller radar cross section (RCS), two extra wing hardpoints for payload, and other aerodynamic changes. By the end of all this, the Super Hornet shared little with earlier F/A-18's aft of the forward fuselage.

Upgraded avionics being introduced in the Super Hornet include the APG-79 AESA radar, the ASQ-228 ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting FLIR), and the ALE-50 Towed Decoy System.

JAS 39 Gripen, Saab

The JAS 39 Gripen is the result of a joint development by Saab Military Aircraft, Ericsson Microwave Systems, Volvo Aero Corporation and Celsius Aerotech. It is a fourth generation, multi-role combat aircraft. The Gripen fighter combines new knowledge-based, software-controlled avionics systems; modern materials; advanced aerodynamic design; a well-proven engine and fully-integrated system to produce a highly-capable, true multi-role combat aircraft. The Gripen is the first Swedish aircraft that can be used for interception, ground-attack and reconnaissance (hence the Swedish abbreviation JAS -- Fighter (J), Attack (A) and Reconnaissance (S) in Swedish) and is now successively replacing the Draken and the viggen.

In 1978 the Swedish Government decided that the Swedish Air Force needed a new multirole aircraft for the turn of the century. At the same time as the Swedish aerospace industry was defining a new project, the Air Force made an evaluation of existing foreign aircraft such as the American F-16 and F-18. After an evaluation process, Parliament decided in June 1982 to go ahead with the Swedish project and the Defence Materiel Administration signed a contract for development of the JAS 39 Gripen, and the final flight tests were completed in December of 1996.

A total of 204 aircraft in three batches have been ordered for the Swedish Air Force. The first batch of 30 aircraft has been completed. Deliveries from the second batch are ongoing, and comprises 96 one-seater and 14 two-seater aircraft. About 60 Gripens are in service with the Swedish Air Force. In June 1997, a third batch of 64 Gripens was approved by the Swedish Government and ordered by the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). This will take the total for the Swedish Air Force to 204 aircraft, including 28 two-seaters. Production of batch three is scheduled for 2002-2007.

Gripen offers high agility, advanced target acquisition systems - including a powerful multi-role radar, modern weapons, low environmental signatures and a comprehensive electronic warfare (EW) suite. The JAS39 Gripen system is designed to counter all current and future threats. The aircraft has been developed for the Swedish Air Force by the Industry Group JAS (SAAB, Ericsson, Volvo Aero and FFV Aerotech) in close co-operation with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV). In partnership with Sweden's Saab, British Aerospace is engaged in a number of marketing campaigns for the highly capable Gripen fourth generation combat aircraft. Engineering activity associated with improving the operability of the aircraft in the export market is now underway.

Rafale, Dassault-Breguet

French next-generation fighter. France decided to developed its own fighter, rejecting the European EFA as too heavy for carrier use and too costly for export. Rafale is also a canarded delta, but has less angular lines than EFA. Extensive use was made of composite materials. Rafale A was the prototype, Rafale B is the two-seat version, Rafale C the single-seater, and Rafale M carrier fighter version. Four prototypes were flying in early 1997. Orders for 272 production aircraft for the French armed forces are expected.

France chose to produce the Rafale, which will begin operation in 1999, instead of the EUROFIGHTER. The Rafale is lighter and smaller than the Eurofighter. It will be produced in three versions: Rafale M, Rafale C, and Rafale D. The M is the carrier version, with a spring-loaded nose wheel to help it into the air when launching. The C is a one-seater and the D it a somewhat stealthy version for the air force.

The Rafale, like most of its contemporaries, has taken longer to develop than expected. The Rafale A technology demonstrator made its first flight in July 1986. After the breakdown of discussions between France and the four Eurofighter nations, the French Government decided to proceed unilaterally with full-scale development and production of Rafale in 1987. The first of four production-type prototypes flew in 1991.

B-2A Spirit stealth bomber

Revealed on November 22, 1988, the B-2A is a stealth strategic bomber which resulted from a program started in 1978. The first of six prototypes made its maiden flight on July 17, 1989 with testing scheduled to be completed in 1997. The B-2 is shaped in the form of a 'flying wing', with smoothly contoured surfaces and rounded edges to help deflect radar. Engine exhausts are positioned above and back of the wing front-edge to help reduce infrared signatures. The USAF plan to acquire a total of 20 B-2A aircraft.

The B-2 will probably only be built in small numbers (currently 21 have been ordered), because the cost of replacing all the old B-52's is considered to be far too high. The B-2 is a stealth bomber, a flying wing design with a smooth, rounded upper surfaces, but angular wingtips and a double-W trailing edge. The four engines are deeply buried in the midwing section. The B-2 is difficult and expensive to operate, with 124 maintenance hours per flight hour.

Development of the ATB (Advanced Technology Bomber) began in 1978; the programme was revealed to the public in 1981, when Northrop's design was chosen over a Lockheed/Rockwell proposal. Although no details of the design were revealed, it was widely assumed that the aircraft would be a "flying wing" design, based on Northrop's experience with the XB-35 and YB-49, and this was confirmed when the first prototype was rolled out on 22 November 1988. It made its first flight on 17 July 1989, and the first production B-2 was delivered to the USAF in 1993. Production plans have been drastically cut from 135 aircraft to only 20, of which the last is expected to be delivered in 1997. The aircraft was officially named "Spirit" in February 1994; Northrop became Northrop Grumman in May 1994.

Ching-Kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF)

After the severance of diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei in January 1979, the future supply of military equipment for Taiwan's armed forces was in question. Thanks to the enactment of the the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) in early 1979, Taiwan was able to purchase advanced weapons and military equipment from the US.

Taiwan built nearly 300 Northrop F-Ss under license from 1974 to 1986. From the early 1980's, Taiwan expressed an interest in purchasing US fighter aircraft to replace its obsolescent Northrop F-5 and Lockheed F-104 fighters. The United States, which was interested in improving relations with China, denied Taiwan's request to purchase the more capable F-16, and blocked a subsequnetly proposed $1 billion sale of 100F-20 Tigersharks in July 1982. The 1982 decision by the Reagan administration to bar export of new fighters to Taiwan left technical assistance unrestricted. Taiwan decided to go it alone to build the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF).

Taiwan produced the Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter with extensive assistance by American corporations, led by General Dynamics. The project consisted of four sub-projects. They were the Ying-yang project (in cooperation with General Dynamics Corporation) which made the air-frame; the Yun-han project (in cooperation with Hughes Corporation), which designed the engine; the Tian-lei project (in cooperation with Westinghouse Company), which took care of the avionics system; and the Tian-chien project, which developed the weapons system.

The twin-engine IDF is similar to the F-16 except that it is slightly smaller and has a slightly shorter range. The IDF is a hybrid as far as its external appearance is concerned. The nose of the fighter jet is a replica of the F-20A Tigershark, while ts body, wings, and vertical tail surface are apparently lifted from the F-16, and the shape of its cockpit hood and vertical tail wing and its girth near the engine inlets have a notable French flavor.

The IDF is superior to the F-5E in airborne performance. The IDF accelerates better than the F-104 and its turning radius is smaller than that of the F-5. The aircraft, equipped with four Sidewinder missiles, but without spare fuel tanks, has a combat endurance of three minutes on afterburner and a combat radius of between 70 and 90 nautical miles. With a combat radius of 600 nautical miles while carrying out armed reconnaissance and patrol missions, the IDF is capable of conducting preemptive raids and strikes at airports along the Chinese coast. It is mainly used in combat for air control and is capable of using "Hsiung Feng"-II missiles to attack targets at sea. Most of the IDFs are expected to be armed with the indigenously-produced, BVR Tien Chien-II (Sky Sword-II) ARAAM.

It is equipped with a GD-53 radar, which evolved from the APG-67 and is essentially similar to it in performance. The APG-67 radar uses pulse Doppler technology at X-band and has 15 operational modes in all, eight air-to-air and seven air-to-ground. It can also operate at three different pulse repetition frequencies [PRF]--high, medium, and low--depending on whether the plane is looking up, looking down, or involved in a dogfight in the air, respectively. In a look-down mode, the plane has an effective scanning range of 39 kilometers; looking up, 57 kilometers. The eight air-to-air modes are as follows: searching and range finding while looking down, searching and range finding while looking up, speed searching, tracking (10 targets) and scanning simultaneously, dogfight, tracking a single target, surveying the situation, and continuous-wave indicator interfacing. The seven air-to-ground modes are as follows: real wave velocity topography, Doppler wave velocity sharpening, air-to-ground range finding, moving surface target indicating, freezing, and searching for target at sea surface. In April 1997 Litton's Applied Technology division was awarded a production contract and options totaling $116.2 million by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation of Taiwan, ROC, for Improved Radar Warning Receivers (IRWR) to be installed aboard the Indigenous Defense Fighter.

Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker

Improved 'glass cockpit' version of the SU-27, with canard foreplanes, more powerful radar, more powerful engines, and possibly thrust-vectoring nozzles, and an electronics upgrade. The Su-35 has a completely new FCS from that on the Su-27. As well as canards, it has a new, square-topped tailfin (with internal fuel tanks). It also has a new N-011 radar with a range of up to 400 km (or 200 km against ground targets) which can simultaneously track more than 15 targets, engaging six. The new EO complex gives compatibility with advanced "smart" weapons. An advanced datalink allows coordinated group operation and the tailcone houses the antenna for a rear-facing radar which will allow "over-the-shoulder" missile shots. The Su-35 will be compatible with the new 400-km Novator KS-172 AAM-L missile. Flight testing in now reportedly complete and production has been funded. The Su-35 looks a lot like the Su-33. Consideration is being given to retrofit Su-35s with thrust vector control as seen in the Su-37.

Yak-141 Freestyle, Yakovlev

The Yak-141 is the world's first supersonic VTOL fighter. It operates with lift engines in the forward fuselage and a vectoring nozzle on the main engine, placed well forward, between twin tail booms. The Yak-141 seems to be more a technology demonstrator than an actual fighter aircraft, and the need to use afterburner for take-off is a distinct problem. Development is continuing, after being halted temporarily.

Yakovlev Yak-41/141 Freestyle Design of the Yak-41 began in 1975; the first prototype flew on 9 March 1987, followed by a second in April 1989. Tests were conducted on the aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov". In April 1991, one of the prototypes set several records for VTOL aircraft; it was displayed at the Paris Air Show shortly afterwards. One prototype was lost in a crash (attributed to pilot error) on the carrier in November 1991, after which development was suspended (due to lack of funds rather than any problems with the aircraft); the surviving aircraft was mothballed.

Yakovlev have recently announced their intention to restart development of the Yak-41, apparently as a result of renewed interest from the Russian Ministry of Defence (a similar revival of the twin-turboprop Yak-44 AEW aircraft is also being considered).

A more advanced version, has also been designed, with the emphasis now on Air Force rather than Navy service. This version has an extensively modified airframe, with a strong emphasis on stealth (there is a distinct resemblance to theF-22), a much more powerful engine, and more fuel and payload.

The "Freestyle" has been referred to as both Yak-41 and Yak-141; it appears that one designation refers to the standard fighter (Yak-41) and one to the single prototype modified for record attempts (Yak-141).

YF-23 Black Widow II

The YF-23 was a stealth air-superiority fighter, which lost the competition with the YF-22. The YF-23 was the most unconventional of the two designs; it had a diamond-shape wing platform and a V-tail. Missiles were to be carried in two fuselage bays. The second prototype had the General Electric YF120 engine.

The body of the YF-23A is a blend of stealthy shapes and aerodynamic efficiency, hopefully providing a low radar cross section without compromising performance. The YF-23A was longer and more slender than the Lockheed YF-22A. The main load-bearing fuselage structure, measured from the stablizer to the front of the cockpit, is about 7 feet longer than the YF-22A. From the side, the profile of the YF-23A is reminiscent of that of the Lockheed SR-71. The general impression from other angles is that of a long, high forebody mounted between two widely-separated engine nacelles. The lengthwise variation in cross-sectional area is very smooth, minimizing transonic and supersonic drag. The forward section has a modified double-trapezoid cross section, one above the other in mirror image, with the aft region blending into a circular cross section and disappearing into the rear fuselage. The upper component of the engine box is dominated by two parallel engine nacelles that blend smoothly into the wing, each nacelle being of a modified trapezoidal cross section. The forebody has the cockpit, the nose landing gear, the electronics, and the missile bay. The YF-23 engine nacelles were larger than they would have been on the production F-23, since they had been designed to accommodate the thrust reversers originally planned for the ATF but later deleted.

Trapezoid-shaped air inlets are located underneath each wing, with the leading edge forming the forward lip of a simple fixed-geometry two-shock system. The placement of the intakes underneath the wings has the advantage in removing them from the sides of the fuselage so that a large boundary-layer scoop is not needed. Instead, the thin boundary layer which forms on the wing ahead of the inlet is removed through a porous panel and is vented above the wing. An auxiliary blow-in inlet door is located on each of the upper nacelles just ahead of the engine to provide additional air to the engines for takeoff or for low speeds. The inlet ducts leading to the engines curve in two dimensions, upward and inward, to shield the faces of the compressors from radar emitters coming from the forward direction.

Tejas / Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)

The Tejas (formerly known as LCA; Light Combat Aircraft) is India's second indigenous jet fighter design, after the HF-24 Marut of the 1950s. It's the world's smallest, light weight, multi-role combat aircraft designed to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force as its frontline multi-mission single seater tactical aircraft during the period 2000 - 2020. Development began in 1983; the basic design was finalised in 1990; the first prototype rolled out on 17 November 1995. On 04 January 2001 at 10.18 a.m. the first LCA Prototype TD-1 (Technology Demonstrator-1), finally took off on its first flight from Yelahanka AFS.

The configuration is a delta wing, with no tailplanes or foreplanes, and a single vertical fin. The LCA is constructed of aluminium-lithium alloys, carbon-fibre composites, and titanium. The design incorporates "control-configured vehicle" concepts to enhance manoeuvrability, and quadruplex fly-by-wire controls. Both prototypes are powered by General Electric F404-GE-F2J3 engines, but an indigenous engine, the GTX-35VS Kaveri, is being developed for the production TejasShort takeoff and landing, high maneuverability with excellent maintainability and a wide range of weapon fit are some of Tejas' features. Two aircraft technology demonstrators are powered by single GE F404/F2J3 augmented turbofan engines. For maintenance the aircraft has more than five hundred Line Replaceable Units (LRSs), each tested for performance and capability to meet the severe operational conditions to be encountered. Major subsystems like fly-by-wire digital flight control system, integrated avionics, hydraulic and electricalsystems, environmental control system, fuel system etc., are being tested to ensure performance and safety. Following satisfactory subsystem test results the flight test program of the Tejan began in 2001. Production will start in 2007

JF-17 Thunder

The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder, also known as the Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon (Xiaolong) in China (initially known as Super-7), is a single-seat multirole fighter aircraft co-developed by China and Pakistan. Currently four prototypes are flying. A joint venture between CAC and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will begin initial production of 16 aircraft in 2006. The designation of the aircraft in the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder. It is still not clear whether the Pakistan Air Force (PLA) Air Force will eventually acquire any of this aircraft. If they do introduction can be as soon as 2007.

The JF-17 is designed to meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force with a minimal reliance on imports from other countries. In addition, the requirement was for the aircraft to have sufficient space for future upgrades and/or equipment specified by export buyers. The JF-17 is considered to be in the "mid-high-tech class" of fighter aircraft The JF-17 is being built by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC), and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAIC) is expected to license produce it at a later stage. Initial reports claimed that the aircraft was based on the design of the MiG-33, a proposed single-engined version of the MIG-29, which was rejected by the Soviet Air Force. However, the FC-1/JF-17 is instead derived from the "Super Seven" project, not the Project 33 (not to be confused with the MiG-33) or the failed Chengdu J-9. Indications are that MiG assisted the program by contributing their light fighter design as well as providing additional design & development assistance.

V-22 Osprey, Bell-Boeing

The V-22 Osprey is destined to be the first operational tilt-rotor aircraft. It has the configuration of the smaller V-15, with rotating engine pods set at the wingtips. The fuselage is box-like. The wing is set above the fuselage, and can rotate to be parallel with the fuselage, for storage. The tiltrotor aircraft takes off and lands like a helicopter. Once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight. The USAF received the first CV-22 Osprey in November 2006

The V-22 Osprey is a joint service multi-role combat aircraft utilizing tiltrotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed wing aircraft. With its engine nacelles and rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter, but once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight. This combination allows the V-22 to fill an operational niche no other aircraft can approach.

The Osprey can carry 24 combat troops, or up to 20,000 pounds of internal cargo or 15,000 pounds of external cargo, at twice the speed of a helicopter. It includes crosscoupled transmissions so either engine can power the rotors if one engine fails. The rotors can fold and the wing rotates so the aircraft can be stored on board an aircraft carrier or assault ship.

The Osprey's development processes have been long and controversial. When the development budget, first set at $2.5 billion in 1986, had reached $30 billion in 1988, then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney zeroed out the budget, but was overruled by Congress. The first flight occurred on March 19, 1989.

The MV-22B is equipped with a glass cockpit, which incorporates four Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and two Communications Display Units (CDUs), allowing the pilots to display a variety of layers, including: digimaps centered or decentered on current position, FLIR imagery, primary flight instruments, navigation (TACAN, VOR, ILS, GPS, INS) and system status. The flight director panel of the Cockpit Management System (CMS) allows for fully-coupled (aka: autopilot) functions which will take the aircraft from forward flight into a 50' hover with no pilot interaction other than programming the system.

Mikoyan Project 1.44 / MiG 1.42 MFI

The MiG 1-42 MFI (Mnogofunktsionalny Frontovoi Istrebitel - Multifunctional Frontline Fighter), sometimes referred to in the West as "ATFski," is a low-observable (LO) multirole fighter. The primary mission of the 1.42 is air-superiority, which makes 1.42 a direct Russian equivalent of the USAF F-22, but, being a multi-functional fighter, it performs almost just as well in a strike mission. Two prototype have been built, called the MiG 1-44. The program has been suspended many times due to lack of funds but it has survived. It carries missiles in internal bays and on external pylons (like the F-22) and, as MiG MAPO claims, it is stealthier than the F-22. The chief designer of the 1.42 claims it will have greater agility and range than the F-22 (It has 3D TVC and it is big). If it's built, it could enter service around 2006-2008.

It is a twin-engined aircraft with a cranked delta wing, canards, twin tail fins, jet intakes under the nose, and 3D vectoring nozzles. It's supposed to be incredibly agile and it will be able to supercruise. It features the new Phazotron N-014 phased array fire control radar as well as a rearward-facing N-012 radar. To reduce RCS it sports a heavy coating of RAM, S-shaped compressor channels, internal weapon storage, LO airframe geometry, and maybe an active radar cancellation system (RCS) or a plasma cloud stealth (PCS) system. The MiG 1.42 will cost about $70 million, compared to the Eurofighter's $60 million, the USAF F-35 Lightning II (JSF) $36 million, and the F-22's $150 million. Though it will probably never enter service in Russia due to its high price tag and Russia's financial crisis, China and India could supply some of the money to develop it and might be primary customers. It is featured in Jetfighter: Full Burn (as the MiG-42) but looks a little different

Su-37 Terminator, Sukhoi

A derivative of the SU-27 'Flanker', the Su-37 is a super-maneuverable thrust vectoring fighter. Designed from an SU-35 prototype, the Su-37 test aircraft (designated T10M-11) made its maiden flight in April 1996 from the Zhukovsky flight testing center near Moscow. The Su-37 powerplant features more standard thrust than all earlier 'Flanker' variants, including the Su-35. In addition, the hydraulically actuated nozzles of its Lyulka/Saturn AL-37FU (ForsazhUpravlaemoye meaning 'afterburning steerable') engines are steerable -15 to +15 degrees along the vertical plane. Thrust control is fully integrated into the flight control system, requiring no input from the pilot. An emergency system can automatically return the nozzles to level flight in the event of an onboard failure. The Su-37 has the newer, more powerful, NIIP NO-11M pulse-Doppler phased-array nose radar. A rearward-facing missile system and NIIP NO-12 rear-radar will give the pilot the ability to fire at enemy aircraft behind the Su-37, in addition to the front. While the Su-37 is the first Russian aircraft to feature thrust vector control comparable to that of the American F-22, it may not be the last. A new axisymmetrical (three-dimensional) nozzle is currently being developed by Lyulka for the future Sukhoi S-55 aircraft, a single-engined version of the Su-35. Nozzles are also being readied to make current Su-35s TVC capable.

Sukhoi Su-47

The Sukhoi's candidate for the Russian air force requirement for a Mnogo-funktsional'ny Frontovoy Istrebitel' (MFI - multifunctional frontal fighter) is less known than its rival Mikoyan article1.42. Vladimir Ilyushin, Sukhoi's veteran test pilot, revealed in mid 1997 that the aircraft was "close to completion", adding that it will be a "worldwide sensation" when it is unveiled. The scarce information on Simonov's new fighter indicate that it had already underwent high-speed taxi tests by the end of the summer and made its maiden flight at Zhukovsky at September 25th, 1997, in hands of Sukhoi's test pilot Igor Votintsev.

The S-32 (do not mix with Su-32!) is an internal Sukhoi OKB designation which is rationalized in terms of commonly used yet controversial indexing originated with Sukhoi Su-7 and Su-9 prototypes. These were designated S-1 and T-1 respectively, with "S" being a first letter of swept wing in Russian "Strelovidnoe krylo" and "T" from the Russian for delta wing "Treugol'noe krylo". Clearly, the "S" in S-32 implies that new Sukhoi has a swept wing but the index conflicts with another S-32 taken by Sukhoi SU-17 prototypes few decades ago. There is a great deal of hints that S-32 is a phony designation and presently a different designation is used in conjunction with new Sukhoi fighter -- S-37 (do not mix with SU-37!). The S-37 index was formerly allocated to a single-engined lightweight multirole combat aircraft broadly similar to French RAFALE which was cancelled in 1994. In any event, both S-32 and S-37 are internal bureau designation, and could become Su- anything. Reported name of S-37 is Berkut (Ber-koot) which means golden eagle in Russian. The NATO reporting name for this aircraft is "Firkin

Martin X-35 Joint Strike Fighter

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is going to be the mass produced 5th generation aircraft of the 21st century. Until 26 October 2001 there was an ongoing competition between Lockheed Martin (designer of aircraft on the left, the X-35) and Boeing (designer of aircraft on the right, the X-32). The winner of this competition will produce theF-16's replacement. Unlike the F-22, the JSF will be a relatively low cost aircraft. The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and Royal Navy, and the US Marine Corps will use the JSF.

Overall the airframes will be alike with a few exceptions; the U.S. Air Force version will be a conventional takeoff multi-role fighter. The U.S. Navy's version of the JSF will be similar to the Air Force version except with a stronger internal structure, landing gear, and arresting hook to allow carrier landings. The U.S. Marine Corps and Britain's Royal Navy version (X-35B) will have a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability thus allowing this version of the JSF to land almost anywhere. The JSF will use many of the advanced technologies employed in the F-22 yet still remain a low cost 5th generation fighter. It is scheduled to enter service in around 2012.

On 7 July 2006, with a nod to Air Force history, the US service's chief of staff has dubbed the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "Lightning II". Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced the decision Friday at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas, where the stealthy multi-role fighter is made. He based the decision on input received from airmen as well as the other services and coalition partners involved in the JSF program. TheP-38 Lightning, the JSF's namesake, was designed in the late 1930s and was used during World War II. The name also refers to a supersonic British jet called the BAC LIGHTNING, built in the 1950s by English Electric. English Electric eventually became BAE Systems, an industry partner on the program. Moseley considered five other names: Mamba, Cyclone, Piasa, Reaper and Spitfire II. The ceremony also marked the first public unveiling of the F-35A, the conventional take-off-and-landing variant.

J-10, Chengdu

J-10 (Project 10/Project 8810?) is a multi-role single-engine fighter being developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and 611 Institute. It has been selected by PLAAF as the next generation fighter to replace the obsolete J-7 fighter and Q-5 attack aircraft. The aircraft appears to have an SU-27 style nose and retangular air intake, an AL-31F type engine, twin nosewheels, and a distinct low-visibility camouflage color scheme. The aircraft also has a large vertical tail plus twin F-16 style ventral stablizers believed to provide greater stability at high AoA. Its fuselage looks considerably longer compared to Israeli Lavi. However its bubble canopy appears less elevated than that of F-16, suggesting the pilot has yet to possess a true 360° view. Unlike J-7E with double-delta wings, it appears to have a pair of inverted gull wings (i.e. the inner portion extends slightly downward, while the outer portion extends flat). Two red dummy PL-8 AAMs are regularly seen carried under the wing as well.

The J-10 project was started in the mid-80s based on the experience (tailless delta wing and canard foreplanes) with J-9 which was cancelled earlier in favor of the less risky J-7C/ project. An early model of J-10 revealed a MIRAGE 2000 style intake with a center shock cone for better high speed performance and a Lavi style tail section, suggesting a possible connection with the cancelled Israeli fighter (however this was firmly denied by both parties). The change indicates that J-10 has gone through at least one major redesign in its 10-year development period from the initial conventional layout (as an air-superiority fighter) to the latest semi-stealthy design (as a multi-role fighter). This change may reflect a shift of its potential adversaries from former Soviet SU-27 to current American F-16 after end of the Cold War.

F/A-22 Raptor

The ATF (Advanced Technology Fighter) programme began in September 1983, when design contracts were awarded to seven companies; in October 1986, development contracts were awarded to two consortia, one consisting of Lockheed (prime contractor), Boeing, and General Dynamics, the other of Northrop (prime contractor) and McDonnell Douglas. The first Northrop/MD YF-23A (unofficially "Black Widow II") flew on 27 August 1990, followed by the first Lockheed/Boeing/GD YF-22A (unofficially "Lightning II") on 29 September 1990. In April 1991, the YF-22A was selected for development and The F/A-22 is destined to replace the F-15 and become the next-generation fighter of the USAF. Together with the competing F-23 it is one of the first fighter designs optimised for stealth. In addition, it was designed to "supercruise", i.e. fly at supersonic speeds without afterburner. The F/A-22 has a relatively conventional appearance, with twin tails and flat fuselage sides. The engines have two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles. To conserve a low radar cross-section, the armament is carried in internal weapons bays. First operational F-22 made it's debut in December 2005. Plans for a naval version, intended to replace the F-14, with extensive changes to make the aircraft suitable for carrier use, have been shelved. service.

Recent budget cuts have slowed down the schedule slightly; the first flight of the production Lockheed/Boeing F-22A (General Dynamics sold its fighter division to Lockheed in December 1992), originally scheduled for June 1996, will now be in September 1997. Service entry is expected to begin in 2005; the USAF is currently fighting an attempt by the General Accounting Office to delay this to 2010. Total production, originally planned to be 648 aircraft, has now been reduced to 339.

Reports differed as to whether the aircraft had an official name yet; for a while the Pentagon was considering "Superstar", and some magazine reports have claimed that the name "Rapier" has been assigned. However, Chris Ridlon of USAF ROTC/Academy reports that all the USAF people he knows (including F-22 acquisition officers) are using Lockheed's name of "Lightning II", so that may be officially approved after all. We now know it's Raptor...

Vital statistics (YF-22A): length 18.90 m, span 13.56 m, empty weight 15422 kg, max weight 28123 kg, max speed 2655 km/h (Mach 2.5), ferry range 3704 km; power plant: two 155.68 kN Pratt & Whitney F119-100 augmented turbofans; armament: 20mm cannon, internal bays for two AIM-9 and four AIM-120A or six AIM-120C air-to-air missiles, or two AIM-9, two AIM-120, and two air-to-surface missiles, external hardpoints for four more AIM-120s or other ordnance; radar: Westinghouse/Texas Instruments APG-77.

EuroFighter Typhoon

The first flight of the prototype Eurofighter Typhoon took place on March 27, 1994, when Messerchmitt-Bülkow-Blohm (MBB) chief test pilot Peter Weger took the prototype on a test flight around Bavaria. The basic configuration is reminiscent of the British Aerospace (BAe) EAP agile combat aircraft demonstrator, which flew back in August, 1986. In fact, the EAP was used to test many Eurofighter systems before final configuration of the latter plane was decided. (The relationship is similar to the F-17 and F\A-18, where the basic planform is the same but many design changes were made.)

The EuroFighter, formerly known as the EF2000, is built by a consortium made up of BAe (UK), MBB and Dornier (Germany), Aeritalia (Italy), and CASA (Spain). It was initially designed for air-superiority and air defense roles, but a changing world situation has also resulted in an emphasis on excellent air-to-surface capabilities as well.

The STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft has a fundamentally unstable aerodynamic design; while this requires computer assistance for stable flight, gives the Eurofighter superior agility. Two Eurojet EJ200 advanced technology turbofans each provide 20,250 pounds of afterburning thrust; with a maximum take-off weight of 37,480 pounds fully loaded, this means the Eurofighter has power to spare. Although it's not actually a stealth aircraft, careful shaping and use of composites and low-detectability technologies (the airframe surface is only 15 % metal) means the Eurofighter is extremely light and has a much smaller radar profile than 1980s-era fighters.

Sagarika (missile)

Sagarika is a nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 750 kilometres (466 mi).Sagarika has a length of 10 metres (33 ft), diameter of 0.74 metres (2 ft 5 in), weighs 17 tonnes (17 LT; 19 ST) and can carry a payload of up to 500 kilograms (1,102 lb). Sagarika was developed at the DRDO’s missile complex in Hyderabad.This missile will form part of the triad in India's nuclear deterrence, and will provide retaliatory nuclear strike capabilityThe development of this missile (under the title Project K-15) started in 1991. The Indian government first confirmed Sagarika's development seven years later (1998), when the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes, announced it during a press conference

Agni (missile)

The Agni missile (is a family of Medium to Intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. As of 2008, the Agni missile family comprises three deployed variants:
Agni-I short range ballistic missile, 700 - 800 km range.
Agni-II medium range ballistic missile, 2,500 km range.
Agni-III intermediate range ballistic missile, 3,500 km range.
There will not be an Agni-IV missile, with DRDO leapfrogging from intermediate range Agni-III to a standard ICBM possibly.
Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile, 5,000 - 6,000 km range (under development).
Agni-I was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur in 1989, and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead. Agni missiles consist of one (short range) or two stages (intermediate range). These are rail and road mobile and powered by solid propellants.

Prithvi (missile)

Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
In September 2008 Indian scientists developed a path-breaking technology that has the potential to increase the range of missiles and satellite launch vehicles by at least 40%.The enhanced range is made possible by adding a special-purpose coating of chromium metal to the blunt nose cone of missiles and launch vehicles. This would add-up on the stated range.The Government of India launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 for achieving self sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of Ballistic Missiles, Surface to Air Missiles etc

Pluton (missile)

The Pluton missile was a French nuclear-armed short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) system launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) platform mounted on an AMX 30 tank chassis. It was designed to provide the tactical part of French nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.
The Pluton came in replacement of the U.S.-built Honest John missile. It had an operating range between 17 and 120km, with a CEP of 150 m. This short range only allowed strikes on targets in West or within France itself, which led to the development of the longer ranged Hadès missile.
The system was relatively light-weight, which allowed its deployment in difficult conditions. A CT-20 drone was available to provide last-minute information about the target before launch, making the Pluton system battle-capable.

M51 (missile)

The M51 SLBM is the French Navy's future submarine launched ballistic missile, designed to replace the M45 SLBM (In French terminology the MSBS - Mer-Sol-Balistique-Stratégique “Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic”).
Each missile carries six to ten independently targetable TN 75 thermonuclear warheads.
The three-stage engine of the M51 is directly derived from the solid propellant boosters of Ariane 5.
The missiles are a compromise over the M5 SLBM design, which is to have a range of 11,000 km (6,200 miles) and carry 10 TNO MIRV of the new generation (Tête Nucléaire Océanique, “Oceanic nuclear warhead”). The M51 will enter service in 2010.The M51 performed its first flight test (unarmed) on 9 November 2006 from the French missile flight test centre in Biscarrosse (Landes). The target was reached twenty minutes later, in the north-west of the Atlantic Ocean.
A second and third successful test were carried out on 21 June 2007 and 13 November 2008

M45 (missile)

The M45 SLBM is the current standard French Navy's submarine launched ballistic missile (In French terminology the MSBS - Mer-Sol-Ballistique-Stratégique (Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic missile). Forty-eight M45 are in commission in the Force océanique stratégique the submarine nuclear deterrent component of the French Navy.
The missiles, derived from the M4, are produced by Aerospatiale (now EADS SPACE Transportation). Initially, an ICBM land-based version was considered but these plans were discarded in 1996 to favour an all-naval deployment.
The M45 differs from its predecessor by its increased range (6,000 km vs. 4,000 km), its increased accuracy and penetration capabilities and its new TN-75 warheads. Each missile carries six MIRVs, each armed with a thermonuclear warhead of 100 kT.
The M45 has a reported accuracy of 350 m using an inertial guidance system coupled with computer payload control. It will be succeeded by the M51 SLBM.

Hadès (missile)

The Hadès system was a short-range ballistic pre-strategic nuclear weapon system designed by France, as a last warning before use of strategic nuclear weapons, in the perspective of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. It was designed from July 1984 as a replacement for the tactical road-mobile Pluton missile.
The 120 intended Hadès missiles were to be launched from wheeled trailers, each carrying two missiles in containers that acted as launch systems. The original design was a range of 250 km, which was later increased to 480 km. The missile was carried horizontally, erected by the truck itself, and launched immediately. The light weight of the missile made it easy to deploy even on difficult zones, and its great range made it usable for limited strategic aims, though not to destroy Soviet cities and missile silos.
The navigation system was an inertial platform which could be programmed to execute evasive maneuvers before hitting the target. The version of the Hades missile designed to hit solid underground targets also had a final guidance system which used a GPS-based digital system, resulting in a Circular Error Probable of only 5 m. "Regular" versions are likely to have had a CEP of less than 100 metres

B-611

of Chinese short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) first developed in the late 1990’s by the China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC). Typical targets intended for B-611 include supply line, warehouse, missiles sites, battery units, command centers, airfields, transportation hubs, and area targets in urban surroundings.B-611 missile with CSS-X-11 is the follow-on of earlier Dongfeng-11 (M-11, with NATO reporting name CSS-7) missile. The missile weighs approximately two tons and is powered by a solid rocket motor. The inertial guidance system with mechanical gyro provides an accuracy of CEP 150 meter or better, and this can be upgraded with laser gyro or fiber-optical gyro based on the customer’s request, thanks to the modular design concept adopted. When combined with other guidance system such as satellite guidance system, the accuracy is increased ten folds. Thanks to the same modular design concept, a variety of warhead can be equipped, increasing the versatility of the missile. Typical B-611 battery would include three vehicles, the transporter / erector / launcher housing the missile, the communication and command vehicle, and a support vehicle.

JL-2

The JL-2 is a Chinese second generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which has a two-stage, solid-liquid fuelled propulsion design. Accurate specifications of the new missile are hard to obtain and substantiate due to the secretive nature of the program. However, the missile is thought to be able to deliver its payload(s) up to a range of 7,200 km (4,500 miles) to 8,000 km (5,000 miles) and could carry either single or multiple warheads (conventional or nuclear).JL-2's design is based on the mobile land-based DF-31 ballistic missile. As such, it shares many features of DF-31 missile such as its operational range. There has been a debate among Western analysts on whether the JL-2 missile is capable of carrying multiple warheads (MIRVs) because China has never fielded any submarine-based MIRVs before. Most analysts within the U.S. intelligence community believe that the missile can carry only a single warhead (conventional or nuclear). Other analysts such as Jane's Defence asserted that the missile can deliver 3 to 4 MIRVs, each with a yield of 90 kt or a single warhead of 25 to 1,000 kt yield. The JL-2 SLBMs are carried on the new Chinese Type 094 (Jin-class) submarine. It replaces the earlier first-generation JL-1 SLBM which were primarily deployed by the older Type 092 (Xia-class) nuclear submarine

JL-1

The Julang-1, also known as the JL-1 and in US nomenclature as the CSS-N-3, was China's first solid fueled ballistic missile.
Research and development began in 1967 and detailed design in the early 1970s, with a first land launch 30 April 1982 and a sea launch from a Project 629A (Golf) class submarine on 12 October 1982. The general designer of the missile is Huang Weilu 1916-; academician Chen Deren served as deputy chief designer. The missile was assembled at Factory 307 (Nanjing Dawn Group Limited Liability
The JL-1 was deployed on Daqingyu/Xia class submarine 406 in 1986. The Type 092 Daqingyu/Xia class nuclear submarines have 12 launch tubes.
The JL-1 was initially tested and deployed on the PLAN's modified Golf class SSB. The Golf has since been modified again for further testing of other missiles, such as the JL-2, which has test launched multiple times with varying levels of success.
The DF-21 appears to be a land-based version of the JL-1.

DF-41

DF-41 is a type of solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile currently under development by the People's Republic of China.
It has an estimated operational range of 15,000+km, is capable of MIRV delivery (up to 10), and can cover any position on the planet. The project started in the 1980s, and is now quite likely coupled with the JL-1 program. However, some sources state that the program has been abandoned due to the end of the Cold War and a change of the world political situation.

DF-31

The Dong Feng 31 is a long-range, three stage, solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dongfeng missile series developed by the People's Republic of China It is a land-based variant of the submarine launched is operated by the Second Artillery which is estimated to have under 15 DF-31 missiles and under 15 DF-31A missiles in inventory.The DF-31 traces its origins to the JL-2 SLBM, which entered development in the 1970sThe PRC began development on the DF-31 as a second-generation ICBM successor to the DF-4 in the mid-1980s. ARMT (then called the 4th Aerospace Academy) was appointed as the main contractor while the research arm of the Second Artillery Corps provided contributing support. The land-based variant of the JL-2 was originally called the DF-23 but was changed later on to the DF-31 because of a change in operational requirements. During its development, the DF-31 reportedly had technical problems with its solid fuel motors.The DF-31 reportedly was first test-fired on April 29, 1992, and exploded after launch due to component quality problems. The second launch also reportedly failed due to similar component problems. In 1999, the missile was first displayed publicly at the National Day Parade. On August 2, 1999, the Chinese state news media reported the successful test of the DF-31Operational deployment of the missiles reportedly began sometime between 2002-2003, but as of early 2006 the US Defense Department reported to Congress that initial deployment was expected later that year. In 2009, US Air Force Intelligence reported that under 15 DF-31 missiles had been deployed.

DF-25

DF-25 (Dong Feng-25) is a Chinese two-stage, solid-propellant, mobile-launch medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). The system entered service with the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2004/2005. It can deliver a single and multiple conventional warheads weighting 2,000 kg over a maximum distance of 1,700 km.

DF-21

The Dong-Feng 21 represents China's first solid-fuel land-based missile. Development started in the late 1960s, and was completed around 1985-86 but was not deployed until 1991. It appears to be a land-based version of the JL-1 missile launched from submarines.
The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that China has 60-80 missiles, and 60 launchers. As well as a nuclear warhead of around 300kt, it is thought that high explosive, submunition and chemical warheads are also available.The DF-21A was operational by 1996 and has improved accuracy, with both GPS and a radar-based terminal guidance system in a redesigned nose. It is thought to have a lower yield, around 90kt, but longer range (up to 2500 km).

DF-15

The Dong-Feng 15 (a.k.a. M-9, CSS-6) is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is the only non-nuclear missile being used by the People's Liberation Army Second Artillery Corps. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that China has 315-355 missiles, and 90-110 launchers.Development on the DF-15 began in 1985 with a finalized design proposal being approved by the PLA in 1987. From the late 1980s to the mid 1990's, testing of the missile was done in the Gobi Desert. The first public display of the missile took place at the Beijing Defense Exposition in 1988. The SAC had allegedly deployed a small number of the missiles the following year

Dongfeng (missile)

After the signing of Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance in 1950, the Soviet Union assisted China's military R&D with training, technical documentation, manufacturing equipment, and license-production of Soviet weapons. In the area of ballistic missiles, the Soviets transferred R-1 (SS-1), R-2 (SS-2), and R-11F to China. The first Chinese ballistic missiles were based on Russian design, which was originally based on the German V-2 rocket. Since then, China has made many advances in its ballistic missile and rocket technology. The space-launch Long March rocket, has its roots in the Dong Feng missile.The Dongfeng missile is a series of intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles operated by the People's Republic of China. Typically, the word Dongfeng is shortened to "DF", so Dongfeng 9 is written as DF-9.

DF-5

The Dongfeng 5 or DF-5 is a 3 stage Chinese ICBM. It has a length 32.6 m and a diameter of 3.35 m. It weighs in at 183,000 kilograms and it has an estimated range of 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers. The DF-5 had its first flight in 1971 and was in operational service 10 years later. One of the downsides of the missile is that it takes between 30 and 60 minutes to fuel.The DF-5 was designed under the leadership of Tu Shou'e at the China Academy of Launch Technology (served as deputy chief designer. The missile was produced at the China's Factory 211 When the DF-5 was first tested in September 1971, it had a range of 1,000 to 1,200 km which allowed it to threaten the western portions of the United States. Beginning in 1983 the Chinese inaugurated the improved DF-5A, with range increased to over 13,000 km and a more accurate guidance system. The DF-5A upgrade increased the throw-weight of the system from 3,000 kg to 3,200 kg

DF-4

The Dong Feng is a long-range two-stage Chinese Intermediate-range ballistic missile or Intercontinental ballistic missile with liquid fuel .It was thought to be deployed in limited numbers in underground silos beginning in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Dong Feng 4 has a takeoff thrust of 1,224.00 kN, a takeoff weight of 82000 kg, a diameter of 2.25 m, a length of 28.05 m and a fin span of 2.74 m. The range of the Dong Feng 4, which is equipped with a 2,190 kg nuclear warhead with 3.3 Mt yield, with a nominal range of 4,750 km. The missile uses an inertial guidance system, resulting in a CEP of 1,500 meters.The decision to develop the DF-4 was made in 1965 in response to the U.S. ballistic missile submarine patrols that began operating out of Guam. The missile's designer has been variously identified as Ren Xinmin or Tu Shou'e , and it was produced at Factory also known as Capital Machine Shop
There were two versions of the missile developed, one version housed in caves or garages to be rolled out on launch and another silo based version.
The U.S. DoD estimates that the missile will continue to serve as a regional deterrence instrument until they can be replaced by the DF-31

DF-3A

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the DF-3A represents China's main missile system. It is currently being retired and was inaccurately predicted to have been removed from China's missile arsenal in 2002. In 1987 China sold several dozen (reportedly between 36 and 60) outmoded DF-3 missiles to Saudi Arabia, minus their nuclear warheads.Deployment of the missile began in 1971 reaching a peak of 110 by 1984, then shrinking to 50 in 1993. It is estimated by the U.S. DoD that there are 16 missiles and 8 launchers in operation as of 2006. Because of delays in the DF-31 deployment, the U.S DoD speculated that the DF-21A was being used as a stop gap to replace the missiles as they retire.

Condor (missile)

The Argentine Condor missile program started in the 1970s as a multinational space research program with significant contract work being performed by German company MBB (now a group within Daimler AG).
The original Condor had little military capability but was used to build expertise that went into to the Alacrán program which was a functional short range ballistic missile. After the 1982 Falklands War's problems with French missiles (France placed an arms embargo during the conflict), the Argentine Air Force, under command of Ernesto Crespo, decided it was time have its own medium-range missile, and started the Condor II program.
This program was driven in close collaboration with Egypt, and then Iraq, but in the earliest 1990s Carlos Menem discontinued it because of political pressure from the United States. The missile was developed in Falda del Carmen, Córdoba Province.
It is believed that Libya has assumed the Condor II project around 1995. Extensive shifts in the Middle East have obscured the exact status of the Condor II program, but it was clearly the most promising of the Libyan missile programs.
In 1997 the Argentine Air Force reported to the US Congress that it still possessed 2 of the missiles that were to be destroyed.
Reports of a Condor III program are extensive. The Condor III would have an increased range to some 1,500 km (932 miles) with the same payload as the Condor II. It was however likely that this program ended with the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq.

McDonnell Douglas X-36

The X-36 was built to 28% scale of a possible fighter aircraft, and controlled by a pilot in a ground station virtual cockpit with a view provided by a video camera mounted in the nose of the aircraft.
For control, a canard forward of the wing was used as well as split ailerons and an advanced thrust vectoring nozzle for directional control. The X-36 was unstable in both pitch and yaw axes, so an advanced digital fly-by-wire control system was put in place to stabilize the aircraft.
First flown on May 17, 1997, it made 31 successful research flights. It handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals.
The aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Boeing X-36 as the test program was still in progress when McDonnell Douglas merged with the Boeing Company. In the adjoining photograph it is carrying Boeing markings.

NASA X-38

The X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) was a prototype for a wingless lifting body reentry vehicle that was to be used as a Crew Return Vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS). The X-38 was developed to the point of a drop test vehicle before its development was cancelled in 2002 due to budget cuts

The crew size for the ISS depends upon the crew return capability: the crew is limited to three because the Russian Soyuz TMA vehicle that will remain docked to the ISS can only hold three people. Since it is imperative that the crew members be able to return to Earth if there is a medical emergency or if other complications arise, a Crew Return Vehicle able to hold up to seven crew members was planned from the outset: this would have allowed the full complement of seven astronauts to live and work onboard the ISS. NASA has designed several crew return vehicles over the years with varying levels of detail.

General Dynamics F-16XL

The wing and rear horizontal control surfaces were replaced with a cranked-arrow delta wing 120% larger than the original wing. Extensive use of carbon fiber composites allowed the savings of 600 lb (270 kg) of weight but the F-16XL was still 2,800 lb (1300 kg) heavier than the original F-16A.
Less noticeable is that the fuselage was lengthened by 56 in (1.4 m) by the addition of 2 sections at the joints of the main fuselage sub-assemblies. With the new wing design, the tail section had to be canted up 3°, and the ventral fins removed, to prevent them from striking the pavement during takeoff and landing. However, as the F-16XL exhibits greater stability than the native F-16, these changes were not detrimental to the handling of the aircraft.

F-106 Delta Dart

The F-106 served in the continental USA, Alaska, and Iceland, as well as brief periods in Germany and South Korea. The F-106 was the second highest sequentially numbered P/F- aircraft to enter service under the old number sequence, before the system was reset under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. In service, the F-106's official name, "Delta Dart," was rarely used, and the aircraft was universally known simply as the "Six."
Although contemplated for use in Vietnam, it never saw combat, nor was it exported to foreign users. After initial teething problems were resolved, in particular, an ejection seat that killed the first 12 pilots to eject from the aircraft its exceptional performance made it very popular with its pilots. Air-to-air combat testing suggested the "Six" was a reasonable match for the F-4 Phantom II in a dogfight, with superior high-altitude turn performance and overall maneuverability (aided by the aircraft's lower wing loading), although pilots conceded the Phantom had better radar and missiles. The F-4 also featured a greater missile capacity than the F-106, featured a higher thrust/weight ratio, superior climb performance, and better high speed/low-altitude maneuverability.

SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 designator is a continuation of the pre-1962 bomber series, which ended with the XB-70 Valkyrie. During the later period of its testing, the B-70 was proposed for a reconnaissance/strike role, with an RS-70 designation. When it was clear that the A-12 performance potential was much greater, the Air Force ordered a variant of the A-12 in December 1962. Originally named R-12, the Air Force version was longer and heavier than the A-12. Its fuselage was lengthened for additional fuel capacity to increase range. Its cockpit included a second seat and the chines were reshaped. Reconnaissance equipment included signals intelligence sensors, a side-looking radar and a photo camera. The CIA's A-12 remained a better reconnaissance platform than the Air Force's R-12, however, especially since the A-12 flew higher and faster, and with only one pilot it had room to carry a superior camera and more instruments.During the 1964 campaign, Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater continually criticized President Lyndon B. Johnson and his administration for falling behind the Soviet Union in the research and development of new weapons systems. Johnson decided to counter this criticism by announcing the YF-12A Air Force interceptor (which also served as cover for the still-secret A-12) and, on 25 July 1964, the Air Force reconnaissance model. Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the RS-71 to be named SR-71. Before the July speech, LeMay lobbied to modify Johnson's speech to read SR-71 instead of RS-71. The media transcript given to the press at the time still had the earlier RS-71 designation in places, creating the myth that the president had misread the aircraft's designation.This public disclosure of the program and its renaming came as a shock to everyone at the Skunk Works and to Air Force personnel involved in the program. All of the printed maintenance manuals, flight crew handbooks, training slides and materials were labeled "R-12" and the 18 June 1965 Certificates of Completion issued by the Skunk Works to the first Air Force Flight Crews and their Wing Commander were labeled "R-12 Flight Crew Systems Indoctrination, Course VIII". Following Johnson's speech the name change was taken as an order from the Commander-in-Chief, and immediate reprinting began of new materials, including 29,000 blueprints, to be retitled "SR-71

F-15 S/MTD

The aircraft used in the S/MTD program has flown several times since the successful S/MTD program completion in 1991 that used vectored thrust and canard foreplanes to improve low-speed performance. This aircraft tested high-tech methods for operating from a short runway. This F-15 was part of an effort to improve ABO (Air Base Operability), the survival of warplanes and fighting capability at airfields under attack.
The F-15 S/MTD tested ways to land and take off from wet, bomb-damaged runways. The aircraft used a combination of reversible engine thrust, jet nozzles that could be deflected by 20 degrees, and canard foreplanes. Pitch vectoring/reversing nozzles and canard foreplanes were fitted to the F-15 in 1988. NASA acquired the plane in 1993 and replaced the engines with Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines with Pitch/Yaw vectoring nozzles. The canard foreplanes were derived from the F/A-18's stabilator.
Prior to 1991, when McDonnell Douglas ended its program after accomplishing their flight objectives, the F-15 STOL/MTD plane achieved some impressive performance results

Rockwell-MBB X-31

Two X-31s were built, with the first flying on October 11, 1990. Over 500 test flights were carried out between 1990 and 1995. The X-31 featured fixed strakes along the aft fuselage, as well as a pair of movable computer-controlled canards to increase stability and maneuverability. There are no horizontal tail surfaces, only the vertical fin with rudder. Pitch and yaw are controlled by the three paddles directing the exhaust (thrust vectoring). Eventually, simulation tests on one of the X-31s showed that flight would have been stable had the plane been designed without the vertical fin, because the thrust-vectoring nozzle provided sufficient yaw and pitch control.

The X-31 showing its three thrust vectoring paddles.
During flight testing, the X-31 aircraft established several milestones. On November 6, 1992, the X-31 achieved controlled flight at a 70-degree angle of attack. On April 29, 1993, the second X-31 successfully executed a rapid minimum-radius, 180-degree turn using a post-stall maneuver, flying well beyond the aerodynamic limits of any conventional aircraft. This revolutionary maneuver has been called the "Herbst maneuver" after Dr. Wolfgang Herbst, an MBB employee and proponent of using post-stall flight in air-to-air combat. Herbst was the designer of the Rockwell SNAKE, which formed the basis for the X-31

Orbiter

The Orbiter Mini UAV System Is a compact and lightweight system designed for use in Military and Homeland Security missions. The system presents the ultimate solution for Over The Hill reconnaissance missions, Low Intensity Conflicts and Urban warfare operations as well as any close range ISR mission.Aeronautics Defense Systems, makers of the record-breaking Aerostar Tactical UAV, with over 20,000 operational flight hours to its credit, now bring you the Orbiter mini UAV for close Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.The Orbiter mini UAV provides field commanders with near-instant "over the hill" reconnaissance capability, and is easily controlled in either Waypoints Navigation or Camera Guidance (UAV slaved to camera) modes. The Orbiter System can be transported, assembled, launched and operated by just two persons after minimal training. The entire Orbiter System fits into one backpack and no additional personnel need to befielded.
Assembled in less than 10 minutes, the Orbiter is launched by a catapult ensuring easy and safe takeoff. The Orbiter navigates to its programmed reconnaissance flight area. The onboard avionics can be programmed during flight as well as before flight

Aerostar

Since its introduction in 2000, the Aerostar has broken several world records and set unprecedented standards for reliability, life cycle, ease of operation, logistics, endurance, operational range, payload options, ground systems interfaces, cost-effectiveness, and more. Currently operational in four continents, the Aerostar was chosen by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to perform its routine security missions and within only 18 months logged in excess of 10,000 operational flight hours. The system's performance and reliability has proven to be unrivaled in its category. A multi-mission system capable of carrying various payloads. the Aerostar enjoys the flexibility of operating as a stand alone, or engaging as a relay station within larger set-ups. allowing for a seamless integration into a comprehensive system of systems and existing customer set-ups. Furthermore, the system's virtual communication features and flexible interfaces allow the users to maThe Aerostar Tactical UAV system is specifically designed to operate in the modem battlefield, providing each component of the operation with the systems' entire array of capabilities. Field units are equipped with RPCS units for receiving and controlling the Aerostar throughout its operation in real-time- This provides field commanders with online updates of the battle and allows them to personally influence the system and adjust to recently occurred situations. Moreover, military command can receive the battlefield data accurately and in its entirety to their headquarters, all in real time, providing the appropriate personnel with the ultimate tool for making the right decisionsximize their capabilities