Jet fighter
A jet fighter is a jet-powered fighter aircraft . In colloquial language (as is the case here) fighter-bombers (mainly supersonic multi-purpose fighter aircraft) are also referred to as jet fighters .
Modern jet fighters are mostly supersonic and typically reach a top speed of around Mach 2. Jet fighters used for intercepting usually have a thrust-to-weight ratio that is approximately 1: 1. This means that they can climb almost vertically immediately after take-off in order to be able to carry out their respective tasks (e.g. intercepting enemy aircraft, dropping bombs, reconnaissance).
Engines
A modern fighter jets used to drive a two or turbofan engines with afterburner , low power to weight ratio and low bypass ratio (close to or above 1: 1). The low bypass ratio is a requirement of supersonic capability. Too large a fan would generate more drag in supersonic flight than the engine delivers in terms of thrust , which means that the aircraft would no longer be able to fly at supersonic speed . When the afterburner is used, fuel consumption increases roughly tenfold, and the thrust for short-term peak performance increases.
One consequence of the low bypass flow ratio is that the bypass flow only insufficiently shields the hot and supersonic main flow of the engine, which is why these engines are very loud compared to the engines of passenger planes and generate a thundering noise. When the afterburner is used, the bypass flow is completely eliminated and the jet fighter's engines reach their maximum volume.
Aerodynamics and shape
Most jet fighters are aerodynamically optimized for supersonic flight (pointed noses, sharp edges, flowing shapes). Recently, so-called stealth technology (e.g. the Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 ) have also been used in aircraft whose shapes are less fluid and more angular and flat. Most jet fighters carry their armaments under the wings at so-called underwing stations. At some of the under wing stations provided for this purpose, additional tanks can usually be attached to increase the range. The stealth jet fighters, on the other hand, carry their armament for attacking enemy positions in closed fuselage chambers so as not to increase the radar reflective surface . However, they can also be equipped with weapons and additional tanks at underwing stations for missions in which one does not have to pay attention to a small radar reflection area.
Armament
Depending on the type and mission of the jet fighter, different numbers of weapons and types of weapons can be loaded.
The spectrum ranges from the ammunition of the on- board cannon to air-to-air missiles , air- to-surface missiles , conventional bombs of all types and sizes, cluster bombs to tactical atomic bombs .
history
Around 1940 there were several projects in Germany, England and the USA to improve the propulsion of aircraft. The first operational jet fighter in the world was the German model Messerschmitt Me 262 . In 1945, a number of complete Me-262 aircraft as well as components and construction plans of other jet-powered aircraft fell into the hands of the USA and the Soviet Union as spoils of World War II . The Me 262 thus significantly influenced the further development of jet-powered combat aircraft . As a result, all of the aircraft-building countries relied on jet propulsion for fighter aircraft.
See also
- Jet Fighter (film) , an adventure film of the Cold War with Janet Leigh and John Wayne in the lead roles
