Mostly people think aircraft is Fighter plane.. but Fighter and Attack
aircraft have to combat two diffrent motive in war field !!these 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 Behind Aircraft-
In the early 1900s, as
the airplane emerged as a vital reconaissance tool during WW-I, 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 WW-II
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 carrier-borne 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.
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.
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.
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.