UNN tells in regards to the uniqueness of American plane, how a lot the machines price, and what made them standard.
The American F-series fighter jets are usually not only a set of indices, however an entire evolution of plane: from the F-14 Tomcat with variable-sweep wings and world reputation in cinema to the F-35 Lightning II – essentially the most mass-produced stealth fighter of our time. UNN tells in regards to the uniqueness of American plane, how a lot the machines price, and what made them standard.
F-14 Tomcat fighter: how the sequence' reputation started
The F-14 Tomcat is a two-seat, twin-engine, supersonic, variable-sweep wing interceptor, multirole fighter of the fourth era manufactured by Grumman Plane Engineering Company.
In 1968, the US Navy launched a contest for a heavy carrier-based fighter with variable-sweep wings, supposed to switch the outdated F-4 "Phantom II," which lacked the maneuverability wanted to realize superiority over Soviet MiGs.
From the very starting of the challenge, the F-14 was designed as an plane able to reaching air superiority in shut proximity to the plane carriers from which these plane have been supposed to function. An extra operate was to be the flexibility to strike tactical floor and floor targets.
The primary F-14 prototype took to the air on December 21, 1970, adopted instantly by a pre-production batch of 11 plane. In the summertime of 1972, F-14 trials on plane carriers have been accomplished, and industrial deliveries to the fleet started in October of the identical yr.
F-14 fighter
The plane has cannon armament: a 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannon with 675 rounds. It may carry a fight load of as much as 6600 kg, together with AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, in addition to GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-24, GBU-24E Paveway I/II/III LGB, GBU-31, GBU-38 JDAM, Mk-20 Rockeye II, Mk-82, Mk-83, and Mk-84 bombs.
Two F-14 Tomcat fighters, armed with 500-pound GBU-12 bombs, within the sky over Iraq
Key elements of recognition:
- progressive design: variable-sweep wings allowed efficient operation at each low speeds (touchdown on an plane service) and supersonic speeds as much as Mach 2.34 (roughly 2900 km/h);
- distinctive interception capabilities: designed to guard service teams from Soviet bombers, it was essentially the most highly effective carrier-based fighter of its time;
- fight expertise: in the course of the Iran-Iraq Conflict, F-14s achieved dozens of confirmed victories, demonstrating excessive effectiveness in actual air fight. Particularly, Iranian ace Jalil Zandi shot down 11 enemy plane, together with unconfirmed ones, amongst which have been 4 MiG-23s, 2 Su-22s, 2 MiG-21s, and three Mirage F1s in the course of the Iran-Iraq Conflict.
As well as, the plane gained its reputation due to the movie "Prime Gun" starring Tom Cruise. The aviation theme of the movie created such success in attracting curiosity in naval aviation that the US Navy, which helped make the movie, arrange recruiting stations close to some cinemas.
Tom Cruise – scenes from the film "Prime Gun"
Apparently, the plane, which prices about $38 million, was decommissioned within the US in September 2006, however it’s nonetheless in service with Iran.
F-16 fighter: a flexible plane of a number of generations
The F-16 Preventing Falcon is essentially the most mass-produced fourth-generation plane. Since 1976, over 4,600 F-16 items have been manufactured, and they’re in service with 25 international locations, together with Ukraine, making the machine essentially the most mass-produced fight plane on the planet. There are greater than 10 modifications of it.
The fighter, which prices from $34 million to $162.5 million relying on the modification, was developed as a day fighter for air superiority.
Key options of the F-16 embody a frameless cover for good visibility, a side-stick controller for simpler dealing with throughout maneuvering, an ejection seat that may recline 30 levels from vertical to cut back G-force results on the pilot, and a fly-by-wire management system that helps stabilize flight management. This method was first put in on this plane.
F-16 fighter with two exterior gas tanks, AIM-9 and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and an ECIPS/CJS digital warfare pod
Ihnat refutes rumors of an "worldwide squadron" of F-16s in Ukrainian skies17.02.26, 14:23 • 39391 view
In complete, there are three predominant generations of F-16 plane, particularly F-16A/B, F-16C/D, and F-16V. All F-16 generations have totally different modifications.
F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 15 OCU – that is the primary era of F-16 fighters, outfitted with an older radar, able to utilizing solely a restricted vary of weapons. Particularly, they’ll solely use short-range AIM-9 air-to-air missiles.
The second-generation F-16C/D plane has many various modifications. F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42, not like the older F-16A/B, can function at night time.
Beginning with the Block 30/32 modification, they’ll use medium-range AIM-7 and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, in addition to AGM-84 anti-ship missiles and AGM-45 anti-radiation missiles.
Beginning with the Block 40/42 modification, they’re all-weather. A major variety of plane of those modifications have been upgraded to the Block 50/52 stage.
The trendy modification of the F-16C/D is the F-16C/D Block 50/52, Block 50/52+ and F-16CM/DM Block 50/52 MLU, Block 50/52 + MLU.
In comparison with earlier modifications, their armament nomenclature has been expanded to incorporate AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, long-range AGM-154 air-to-surface missiles, and GPS-guided bombs.
The F-16V Block 70/72 is the third era of F-16s. These plane are designed to work along side fifth era fighters, i.e., F-35s. The F-16V Block 70/72 differs from the Block 50/52+ by a brand new trendy AESA radar with digital scanning.
It must be famous that in 2024, Ukraine obtained numerous F-16 plane from European international locations, together with Denmark, which have F-16A Block 20 MLU modifications.
These are machines created in 1982, however underwent intensive modification within the Nineteen Nineties underneath the Mid-Life Replace (MLU) program.
Particularly, the fighters obtained new avionics, and the radar station was changed with a strong AN/APG-66(V)2A. This radar can function each for detecting air targets and for air-to-surface operations. The goal detection vary exceeds 110 km.
After modernization, the F-16s additionally obtained a brand new onboard laptop, an up to date EW system, navigation and communication, in addition to up to date weaponry. After MLU, the service lifetime of the plane considerably will increase – at the very least as much as 30 years.
F-16 of the Ukrainian Air Power with AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
Epic footage: Air Power exhibits how an F-16 pilot destroys an enemy Shahed drone08.02.26, 22:13 • 11494 views
F/A-18 Hornet fighter: betting on carrier-based aviation
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an American carrier-based fighter-bomber and assault plane (therefore the F/A designation), developed within the Seventies.
Developed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was based mostly on the latter's YF-17 within the Seventies to be used by the US Navy and Marine Corps. The F/A-18 was designed as a flexible plane because of its avionics, cockpit shows, and glorious aerodynamic traits, in addition to its potential to hold quite a lot of weapons. The plane can carry out fighter escort, fleet air protection, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, shut air assist, and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have confirmed it to be a invaluable plane on an plane service.
F/A-18 Hornet
On the request of the US Navy command, nice consideration was paid to survivability and reliability in the course of the design of the F/A-18. The small dimensions of this plane, smokeless engines, low radar cross-section (RCS), weak infrared radiation, and the presence of onboard digital warfare tools – all this makes it troublesome to detect and monitor the plane.
F/A-18 Hornet plane are armed with a 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel cannon with 578 rounds of ammunition.
The fighter has 9 hardpoints with a complete weight of as much as 7 tons. It may carry many varieties of weapons, together with:
- air-to-air missiles – AIM-120, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder;
- air-to-ground missiles – AGM-88 HARM, Taurus, AGM-84 Harpoon;
- unguided bombs of the Mark 80 sort, CBU-87, and guided bombs outfitted with JDAM.
The price of the fighter is troublesome to call, given the massive variety of variations. Nonetheless, it will possibly vary from $29 million to $57 million.
The US misplaced an F-18 fighter within the Pink Sea: the airplane fell overboard from an plane carrier29.04.25, 01:31 • 5578 views
There’s additionally one other model of the plane – the F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet, which differs by a pair of Basic Electrical F414 engines that speed up the plane to 1.8 occasions the velocity of sound.
The fighter has 11 hardpoints for varied weapons. Like its predecessor, it is usually outfitted with a nose-mounted "Vulcan" cannon, however with 166 fewer rounds of ammunition.
F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet fighters (entrance; has rectangular air intakes) and F/A-18 Hornet (third in line; has spherical air intakes)
Apparently, as with the F-14, the F-18 additionally appeared within the film "Prime Gun: Maverick," launched in 2022, additionally starring Tom Cruise.
An fascinating second with the plane is a photograph that appeared in 2022, the place servicemen from the VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet squadron of the US Navy put in a bathroom on an F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet – a reference to the Vietnam Conflict, when in 1965, a US squadron aboard the USS Halfway, earlier than returning to the US, to have fun the 6 million pound mark used within the battle, determined to take a "particular bomb" to North Vietnam.
To do that, they hooked up a bathroom to the wing of an A-1 plane and dropped it on the North Vietnamese.
American fighter jet with a suspended rest room
F-22 fighters: a technological breakthrough of the fifth era
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is the world's first fifth-generation multirole fighter, adopted in 2005, designed for air superiority.
The F-22 is provided with a number of the most superior stealth and sensor applied sciences ever utilized. Its radar-evading design, supercruise functionality, thrust-vectoring engines, and inner avionics are underneath strict management.
Apparently, in 2006, the US Congress vetoed the export of the F-22 even to allied international locations that have already got fighters such because the F-15 and F-16. This plane, thought of the best US plane by way of air fight, was prohibited by federal regulation from being offered or leased.
Congress additionally ordered a examine of the capabilities of a doable export model, which would come with a discount within the plane's stage.
China introduced the manufacturing of a brand new era quantum radar for monitoring plane just like the F-22 – report14.10.25, 13:10 • 6417 views
The technological breakthrough is that it combines ultra-high stealth (stealth expertise), which makes it virtually invisible: the radar cross-section is equal to a golf ball, due to particular coatings and physique form, in addition to supercruise velocity (over 2,400 km/h with out afterburner) and distinctive maneuverability with thrust vectoring.
The fighter's armament contains inner bays for six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, two AIM-9 Sidewinders, and JDAM bombs, plus a 20mm M61A2 cannon with 480 rounds. The AN/APG-77 lively electronically scanned array radar detects targets as much as 400 km away, and the sensor system permits the pilot to "see" 360 levels with out turning their head.
One other fascinating truth is that the fighters have a secret button – an "emergency change" that erases secret software program in order that it doesn’t fall into the palms of the enemy. As well as, though the plane has a tailhook, it nonetheless can’t land on plane carriers, not like the F-18 and F-35.
The F-22 was created solely for the US Air Power as a land-based air superiority fighter. Its design doesn’t have the mandatory strengthening of the touchdown gear and airframe for the intense a great deal of arrested landings and catapult takeoffs, and the stealth coating is delicate to marine corrosion.
The price of one fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighter is roughly $130–180 million, and together with the complete prices of this system and growth, it exceeds $330–350 million per unit. This is among the most costly fighters that has by no means been exported. The price of one flight hour exceeds $85,000.
F-22 fires an AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile
F-35 fighters: how a lot do they price, who buys them, and have they met expectations?
In 1996, the Pentagon introduced the Joint Strike Fighter competitors – a program designed to create a single fighter for the US Air Power, Navy, and Marine Corps. Lockheed Martin, with their X-35 prototype, defeated Boeing's X-32 in 2001, profitable a multi-billion greenback contract. Improvement lasted over a decade, with the F-35A's first flight in 2006, and entry into service in 2015 for the F-35B.
The F-35 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, producing as much as 43,000 kilos of thrust, permitting it to speed up to Mach 1.6 – over 1930 km/h. Its size reaches 15.7 meters, wingspan – 10.7 meters, and most takeoff weight – 31,800 kg. The stealth coating makes it nearly invisible to radars, lowering the efficient reflection space to the scale of a golf ball.
Sensors just like the AN/APG-81 AESA radar detect targets at 250 km, and the DAS system offers a 360-degree view, like an all-seeing eye. The pilot receives information by way of a helmet with a show, the place data is projected instantly onto the visor, making management intuitive. In 2025, the TR-3 replace provides computational energy, permitting AI integration for autonomous missions.
In comparison with its predecessors, the F-35 has an extended vary – as much as 2200 km with out refueling – and carries as much as 8165 kg of weapons, from AIM-120 missiles to JDAM bombs. These traits make it versatile, however require complicated upkeep, which typically turns into its Achilles' heel.
The F-35 exists in three predominant variants, every with distinctive options. The F-35A is the traditional variant for the Air Power, with in-flight refueling functionality. The F-35B is for brief takeoff and vertical touchdown, very best for Marines, the place a fan within the fuselage creates raise, like a remodeling robotic.
The F-35C is for plane carriers, with bigger wings for higher maneuverability at low speeds and strengthened touchdown gear for deck landings. By 2025, over 1000 items have been produced, with the F-35A being the most typical.
One of many key benefits of the fighter is stealth, which permits it to penetrate enemy airspace undetected. The combination of information from different platforms, comparable to drones or satellites, creates a community the place the F-35 turns into the mind. Its armament contains AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, efficient towards air defenses, as demonstrated by an incident with the Houthis in 2025, the place the fighter evaded a missile.
A painful level for the plane is its price, as this system exceeded its funds by billions, with TR-3 delays in 2025 because of avionics issues. An hour of flight prices $33,000, requiring specialists and spare components. Critics level to vulnerability to cyberattacks, as community dependence makes it a possible goal for hackers.
Lockheed Martin reviews document F-35 deliveries with two-year delay27.01.26, 22:13 • 7578 views
In conflicts, comparable to in Yemen, the F-35 confirmed limitations in shut fight, the place maneuverability is inferior to the F-16. As well as, the environmental impression – excessive gas consumption – is changing into an issue within the period of inexperienced applied sciences. However Lockheed Martin is engaged on hybrid engines, making an attempt to mitigate these shortcomings.
Earlier, the pinnacle of the F-35 program administration mentioned that the price of the F-35A in 2023-2025 is on common $82.5 million. For the carrier-based model of the F-35C, which is deployed on plane carriers, the US Navy pays $102.1 million.
The most costly variant of the fifth-generation fighter is the F-35B. It has brief takeoff and vertical touchdown capabilities. Moreover the US, solely Italy and the UK at present have such plane. The typical price for the Pentagon is $109 million.
Fascinating information in regards to the plane:
- the pilot's helmet prices $400,000 and permits them to "see" by way of the plane, like an X-ray;
- the F-35 can carry the B61 nuclear bomb, making it a strategic weapon;
- over 1000 items produced, greater than every other stealth fighter.
Vertical touchdown of the F-35
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