The Millennium’s Sky Guardians: 2000-2010 Fighter Jets
Journey through the 2000-2010 era, a time of remarkable innovation in aviation, featuring advanced fighter jets like the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, JAS 39 Gripen, and the Chengdu J-20. This decade was defined by unprecedented strides in stealth capabilities, integrated avionics, and multi-dimensional warfare tactics, setting new benchmarks in air combat.
Interested in these modern fighters? Click on the name of a fighter jet to uncover a world of technological sophistication, operational excellence, and strategic prowess. Or, take your time to explore our collection of articles, offering a comprehensive view of the evolutionary leaps in fighter jet technology during the first decade of the new millennium.
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…
Lockheed-Martin X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) / F-35 Lightning II
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, the X-35) and Boeing (designer of aircraft on the right, the X-32). The winner of this competition will produce the F-16’s replacement.…
MiG-35 Fulcrum, Mikoyan-Gurevich
Development of the MiG-29 Fulcrum with larger wings, upgraded cockpit and thrust vectoring engines. The engines have been moved backwards to make more room for fuel in the fuselage. The MiG-35 is classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter and and now classed as a medium-weight aircraft because its maximum take-off weight increased by 30 percent.The fighter…
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,…
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 -…
Rafale, Dassault-Breguet
French Next-Generation Fighter: France’s decision to develop its own fighter, the Rafale, marked a significant shift from the European EFA, primarily due to the EFA’s unsuitability for carrier use and high export costs. The Rafale, known for its canard delta wing design and less angular lines compared to the EFA, heavily incorporates composite materials in…
JAS 39 Gripen, Saab
Despite it’s small size, the JAS 39 Gripen is a true multi-role aircraft, carrying all electronics required for every mission. Thus a single aircraft will be able to replace the Viggen in all its versions. The JAS 39 is one of the lightest of the new generation of fighters for the late ’90s. Its configuration…
F-22 Raptor: The Ultimate Sky Dominator
In the pantheon of aerial warfare, few fighters command the skies with the authority and mystique of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. This pinnacle of aviation technology, born from the Cold War’s closing chapters, was not just designed to dominate the airspace but to redefine the very parameters of air combat. The F-22 Raptor, a…
Mikoyan Project 1.44 / MiG 1.42 MFI
In the annals of modern aviation history, the Mikoyan Project 1.44 / MiG 1.42 MFI stands out as a remarkable yet enigmatic chapter in the development of fighter planes. Conceived in the late 20th century, this ambitious project aimed to catapult Russian aviation technology into a new era, setting a benchmark in aircraft design and…
Stealth design SU-35 aircraft, enhanced Radar Evasion Capabilities
In modern aerial warfare, the ability to evade radar detection is paramount. A groundbreaking development in this field has emerged with the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter, a formidable aircraft now boasting enhanced stealth capabilities. Russian stealth researchers, in collaboration with Sukhoi and the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Electromagnetics (ITAE) at the Russian Academy of Sciences…
JF-17 Thunder, FC-1 Fierce Dragon (CAC / PAC)
The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder, also known in China as the Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon (Xiaolong), represents a significant step in modern fighter technology and international cooperation. This single-seat multirole fighter aircraft is the product of a collaborative effort between China and Pakistan, symbolizing not only a technological achievement but also a geopolitical partnership.…