MILITARY AVIATION
The history of military aviation can be traced back to the first successful flight of a balloon in France in 1783. The decision of the French government in 1794 to organize an aeronautical service was recognized as the military significance of this flight. It was the world's first aviation military unit. In 1909, the US Army Signal Corps for the first time in history adopted a military aircraft. Like its prototype, the Wright brothers' machine, this craft was powered by a piston engine (located behind the pilot, in front of the pusher propellers). Engine power was 25 kW. The aircraft was also equipped with skis for landing, and its cockpit could accommodate a crew of two. The plane took off from a monorail catapult. Its maximum speed was equal to 68 km / h, and the flight duration did not exceed an hour. The cost of manufacturing the aircraft amounted to 25 thousand dollars. Military aviation progressed rapidly on the eve of the First World War. So, in the period 1908-1913, Germany spent 22 million dollars on research and development in the field of aviation, France - approx. 20 million dollars, Russia - 12 million dollars. Over the same period, the United States spent only 430 thousand dollars on military aviation.
World War I (1914-1918). Some of the military aircraft built during these years are quite famous today. The most famous, probably, should be recognized as the French fighter "Spud" with two machine guns and the German single-seat fighter "Fokker". It is known that in just one month of 1918 Fokker fighters destroyed 565 aircraft of the Entente countries. In the UK, a two-seat reconnaissance fighter-bomber "Bristol" was created; British aviation was also armed with a Camel single-seat front-line fighter. The French single-seat fighters Nieuport and Moran are quite well known.

The MOST FAMOUS German fighter aircraft in World War I was the Fokker. It was equipped with a Mercedes engine with a power of 118 kW and two machine guns with synchronized firing through the propeller.

The period between the First and Second World Wars (1918-1938). During the First World War, special attention was paid to reconnaissance fighters. By the end of the war, several heavy bomber projects were being developed. The best bomber of the 1920s was the Condor, which was produced in several versions. The maximum speed of the "Condor" was 160 km / h, and the range did not exceed 480 km. Aircraft designers were more fortunate with the development of interceptor fighters. The PW-8 Hawk fighter, which appeared in the mid-1920s, could fly at a speed of 286 km / h at altitudes up to 6.7 km and had a range of 540 km. Due to the fact that the fighter-interceptor in those days could make a circular flight of bombers, the leading design bureaus abandoned the design of bombers. They transferred their hopes to low-altitude attack aircraft designed to directly support the ground forces. The first aircraft of this type was the A-3 Falcon, capable of delivering a bomb load of 270 kg over a distance of 1015 km at speeds up to 225 km/h. However, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, new, more powerful and lighter engines were created, and bomber speeds became commensurate with those of the best interceptors. In 1933, the US Army Aviation Administration awarded a contract to develop the B-17 four-engine bomber. In 1935, this aircraft covered a record distance of 3400 km without landing with an average flight speed of 373 km/h. In the same 1933, the development of an eight-gun fighter-bomber began in Great Britain. In 1938, Hurricanes, which formed the basis of the RAF, began to leave the production lines, and Spitfires began to be produced a year later. They were widely used in World War II.
World War II (1939-1945). Many other aircraft of the Second World War are well known, such as the British four-engine Lancaster bomber, the Japanese Zero aircraft, the Soviet Yaks and Ils, the German Ju-87 Junkers dive bomber, Messerschmitt fighters and "Focke-Wulf", as well as American B-17 ("Flying Fortress"), B-24 "Liberator", A-26 "Invader", B-29 "Super Fortress", F-4U "Corsair", P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. Some of these fighters could fly at altitudes over 12 km; of the bombers, only the B-29 could fly long enough at such a high altitude (thanks to the pressurization of the cockpit). Except for the jet aircraft that appeared by the end of the war with the Germans (and a little later with the British), the P-51 fighter should be recognized as the fastest: in level flight, its speed reached 784 km / h.

R-47 "THUNDERBOLT" - the famous US fighter during the Second World War. This single-seat aircraft had a 1545 kW engine.

Immediately after the Second World War, the first US jet aircraft, the F-80 Shooting Star fighter, was put into production. The F-84 Thunderjets appeared in 1948, as did the B-36 and B-50 bombers. The B-50 was an improved version of the B-29 bomber; He has increased speed and range. The B-36 bomber, equipped with six piston engines, was the largest in the world and had an intercontinental range (16,000 km). Subsequently, two additional jet engines were installed under each wing of the B-36 to increase speed. The first B-47 Stratojet bombers entered service with the US Air Force in late 1951. This medium jet bomber (with six engines) had the same range as the B-29, but much better aerodynamic characteristics.
War in Korea (1950-1953). B-26 and B-29 bombers were used in combat operations during the Korean War. The F-80, F-84 and F-86 fighters had to compete with the enemy MiG-15 fighters, which had in many respects the best aerodynamic characteristics. The Korean War stimulated the development of military aviation. By 1955, the B-36 bombers were replaced by the huge "stratospheric fortresses" B-52 "Stratofortress", which had 8 jet engines each. In 1956-1957, the first fighters of the F-102, F-104 and F-105 series appeared. The KC-135 jet tanker was designed for in-flight refueling of B-47 and B-52 bombers during their intercontinental operations. The C-54 and other aircraft of the World War II period were replaced by aircraft specially designed for the transport of goods.
Vietnam War (1965-1972). Air duels in the Vietnam War were relatively few in number. Aircraft of various types were used to support the operations of the ground forces - from jet fighters to transport aircraft armed with guns. US Air Force B-52 bombers were used for carpet bombing in the implementation of scorched earth tactics. A huge number of helicopters were used for the transfer of landing units and fire support for ground forces from the air. Helicopters could operate in areas where there were no landing sites. See also HELICOPTER.

US Air Force Aircraft

Tasks. Military aviation is used to perform the following four main tasks: supporting strike forces during strategic operations; protection of troops, strategic facilities and communications from air attack; tactical air support for active ground forces; long-distance transportation of troops and cargo.
Basic types. Bombers.
Improvement of bombers goes along the path of increasing speed, range, payload and flight altitude ceiling. A notable achievement of the late 1950s was the giant B-52H Stratofortress heavy bomber. Its takeoff weight was approx. 227 tons with a combat load of 11.3 tons, a range of 19,000 km, an altitude ceiling of 15,000 m and a speed of 1,050 km / h. It was designed for nuclear strikes, but nevertheless found wide application in the Vietnam War. The 1980s saw a second life for the B-52 due to the advent of cruise missiles that can carry a thermonuclear warhead and can be accurately aimed at a distant target. In the early 1980s, Rockwell International began developing the B-1 bomber to replace the B-52. The first serial copy of the B-1B was built in 1984. 100 of these aircraft were produced, each costing $ 200 million.

SUPERSONIC BOMBER V-1. Variable sweep wings, crew of 10, maximum speed 2335 km/h.
Cargo and transport aircraft. The C-130 Hercules transport aircraft can carry up to 16.5 tons of cargo - field hospital equipment or equipment and materials for other special tasks, such as high-altitude aerial photography, meteorological surveys, search and rescue, in-flight refueling, delivery fuel to forward-based airfields. The C-141A "Starlifter", a high-speed swept-wing aircraft with four turbofan engines, was designed to carry cargo weighing up to 32 tons or 154 fully equipped paratroopers over a distance of 6500 km MILITARY AVIATION at a speed of 800 km / h. The US Air Force C-141B aircraft has a fuselage lengthened by more than 7 m and is equipped with an in-flight refueling system. The largest transport aircraft C-5 "Galaxy" can carry a payload weighing 113.5 tons or 270 paratroopers at a speed of 885 km/h. The range of the C-5 at maximum load is 4830 km.
Fighters. There are several types of fighters: interceptors used by the air defense system to destroy enemy bombers, front-line fighters that can engage in air combat with enemy fighters, and tactical fighter-bombers. The US Air Force's most advanced interceptor is the F-106A Delta Dart fighter, which has a flight speed of twice the speed of sound, M = 2. Its standard armament consists of two nuclear warheads, air-to-air missiles, and multiple projectiles. The front-line all-weather F-15 Eagle fighter, with the help of a radar installed in the bow, can direct air-to-air Sparrow missiles at the target; for close combat, he has Sidewinder missiles with a thermal homing head. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bomber is also armed with Sidewinders and can win a fight against almost any opponent. To combat ground targets, the F-16 carries bomb cargo and air-to-ground missiles. Unlike the F-4 Phantom it replaced, the F-16 is a single-seat fighter.

SINGLE ALL-WEATHER F-104 "Starfighter" US Air Force front-line fighter.
One of the most advanced front-line fighters is the F-111, which can fly at supersonic speeds at sea level and reach M = 2.5 when flying at high altitudes. The maximum takeoff weight of this all-weather two-seat fighter-bomber is 45 tons. It is equipped with a radar missile control system, a locator that ensures the aircraft follows the terrain, and sophisticated navigation equipment. A distinctive feature of the F-111 is the variable geometry wing, the sweep angle of which can be varied in the range from 20 to 70 °. At low sweep angles, the F-111 has a long cruising range and excellent takeoff and landing characteristics. At large sweep angles, it has excellent aerodynamic characteristics at supersonic flight speeds.
Refueling aircraft. In-flight refueling makes it possible to increase the range of non-stop flights of fighters and bombers. It also excludes the need for intermediate operational air bases in the performance of strategic missions and is limited only by the range and speed of the tanker aircraft. The KC-135A Stratotanker jet tanker has a maximum flight speed of 960 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 10.6 km.

Targets and unmanned aerial vehicles. The flight of the aircraft can be controlled both from the ground and in the air; the pilot can be replaced by an electronic "black box" and specially designed autopilots. Thus, the unmanned version of the QF-102 interceptor fighter is used as a fast-moving target in missile tests and to gain shooting experience. For the same purpose, the QF-102 Firebee unmanned target with jet engines was specially designed, which develops a maximum speed of 925 km / h at an altitude of 15.2 km with an hourly flight duration at this altitude.
Reconnaissance aircraft. Almost all reconnaissance aircraft are modifications of high-speed front-line fighters; they are equipped with a telescopic camera, an infrared receiver, a tracking radar system and other necessary devices. The U-2 is one of the few aircraft specifically designed for reconnaissance missions. It could operate at very high altitudes (about 21 km), well above the ceiling of fighter-interceptors and most ground-to-air missiles of the time. The SR-71 Blackbird aircraft can fly at a speed corresponding to M = 3. Various artificial satellites are also used for reconnaissance purposes.
See MILITARY SPACE; STAR WARS.

US Air Force F-117 "Stealth" ATTACK AIRCRAFT.

Training aircraft. For primary pilot training, a twin-engine T-37 aircraft with a maximum speed of 640 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 12 km is used. To further improve flight skills, the supersonic T-38A "Talon" aircraft with a maximum Mach of 1.2 and an altitude ceiling of 16.7 km is used. The F-5 aircraft, which is a modification of the T-38A, is operated not only in the United States, but also in a number of other countries.
Aircraft to fight the rebels. These are small light aircraft designed for reconnaissance, ground attack and simple support operations. An aircraft of this type should be easy to operate and allow the use of small unprepared areas for takeoff and landing. For reconnaissance tasks, it is necessary that these aircraft have good flight characteristics at low flight speeds and be equipped with equipment for advanced detection of active targets; at the same time, in order to destroy passive ground targets, they must be armed with various guns, bombs and missiles. In addition, such aircraft must be suitable for the transport of passengers, including the wounded, and various equipment. To fight the rebels, the OV-10A "Bronco" aircraft was created - a light (4.5 t) aircraft equipped not only with the necessary weapons, but also with reconnaissance equipment.

U.S. Army Aircraft

Tasks. The ground forces use aircraft for military reconnaissance and surveillance, as flying command posts, and for transporting military personnel and equipment. Reconnaissance aircraft have a light, fairly simple design and can operate from short, unprepared runways. For larger command communications aircraft, improved runways are needed in some cases. All these aircraft must be of rigid construction and easy to operate. As a rule, it is necessary that the aircraft of the ground forces require minimal maintenance and be able to be used in heavily dusty air in battle conditions; it is also necessary that these aircraft have good aerodynamic characteristics at low flight altitudes.
Basic types. Transport helicopters. Rotary-wing aircraft are used to transport soldiers and supplies. The CH-47C Chinook helicopter, equipped with two turbines, has a maximum level flight speed of 290 km/h and can carry a payload weighing 5.4 tons over a distance of 185 km. The CH-54A "Skycrane" helicopter can lift a payload weighing more than 9 tons. See also HELICOPTER.
Attack helicopters. Helicopter "flying guns" created by order of army specialists were widely used during the Vietnam War. The AH-64 "Apache" attack aircraft helicopter can be considered one of the most advanced, which is an effective means of destroying tanks from the air. Its armament includes a rapid-fire 30mm cannon and Helfire missiles.
Communication aircraft. The army uses both helicopters and planes to maintain communications. A typical example is the U-21A Ut support aircraft, which has a maximum speed of 435 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 7.6 km.
Aircraft surveillance and reconnaissance. Aircraft intended for surveillance should be able to operate from small unprepared areas in the front line. Such devices are used mainly by infantry, artillery and tank units. An example is the OH-6A "Cayus" - a small (weighing approx. 900 kg) observation helicopter with a gas turbine engine, which is designed for two crew members, but can accommodate up to 6 people. The OV-1 Mohawk aircraft, designed for surveillance or reconnaissance, can reach speeds of up to 480 km / h. Various modifications of this aircraft are equipped with a set of reconnaissance equipment, in particular, cameras, side-looking radars and infrared target detection systems in conditions of poor visibility or enemy camouflage. In the future, high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with television cameras and transmitters will be used for reconnaissance. See also OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS; RADAR.
Auxiliary aviation aircraft. Auxiliary aviation vehicles (both helicopters and airplanes) are, as a rule, multi-seat means of transporting military personnel over short distances. They involve the use of fairly flat unprepared sites. The UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter, which can carry a fully equipped 11-man unit or a 6-man 105-mm howitzer, as well as 30 boxes of ammunition, has found the widest use in army operations. The Black Hawk is also suitable for the transport of casualties or general cargo.

US Navy AIRCRAFT

Tasks. With the exception of the coastal patrol service, naval aviation is always based on aircraft carriers and coastal airfields located in the combat zone. One of its most important tasks is the fight against submarines. At the same time, naval aviation must protect ships, coastal installations and troops from air raids and attacks from the sea. In addition, it must attack sea and land targets when conducting landing operations from the sea. The tasks of naval aviation also include the transportation of goods and people and the conduct of search and rescue operations. When designing aircraft operating from aircraft carriers, the limited space on the ship's deck must be taken into account. The wings of such devices are made "folding"; It also provides for the strengthening of the landing gear and fuselage (this is necessary to compensate for the force impact of the catapult and the brake landing hook of the deck arrester). Basic types.
Stormtroopers. The range of a ship's radar is limited by the horizon line. Therefore, an aircraft flying at low altitude above the sea surface remains practically invisible until the moment when it is close to the target. As a result, when designing an attack aircraft, the main attention should be directed to achieving good tactical performance when flying at low altitudes. An example of such an aircraft is the A-6E "Intruder", which has a speed close to the speed of sound at sea level. It has a modern fire control system and means of attack. Since 1983, the operation of the F / A-18 Hornet aircraft began, which can be used as both an attack aircraft and a fighter. The F/A-18 replaced the A-9 Corsair subsonic aircraft.
Fighters. If a successful layout of a fighter aircraft is obtained, then various modifications are usually developed on its basis, designed to perform special tasks. These can be fighter-interceptors, reconnaissance aircraft, fighter-bombers and night attack aircraft. Good fighters are always fast. Such a ship-based fighter is the F / A-18 Hornet, which replaced the F-4 Phantom. Like its predecessors, the F / A-18 can also be used as an attack aircraft or reconnaissance aircraft. The fighter is armed with air-to-air missiles.
Patrol aircraft. As patrol aircraft, both seaplanes and conventional aircraft are used. Their main tasks are mining, photographic reconnaissance, as well as the search and detection of submarines. To perform these tasks, the patrol aircraft can be armed with mines, cannons, conventional and depth charges, torpedoes or rockets. The P-3C "Orion" with a crew of 10 has special equipment for detecting and destroying submarines. In search of targets, he can move away from his base for 1600 km, stay in this area for 10 hours, after which he returns to base.
Anti-submarine aircraft. The emergence of nuclear submarines armed with nuclear missiles gave impetus to the development of anti-submarine aviation. It includes seaplanes, aircraft operating from aircraft carriers and land bases, as well as helicopters. The standard ship-based ASW aircraft is the S-3A Viking. It is equipped with a powerful computer for processing information from the on-board radar, infrared receiver and from sonobuoys dropped from an aircraft by parachute. The sonobuoy is equipped with a radio transmitter and microphones that are submerged in water. These microphones pick up the noise from the submarine's engine, which is transmitted to the aircraft. Having determined the location of the submarine from these signals, the Viking drops depth charges on it. Helicopters are also involved in anti-submarine operations; they can use sonar buoys or lower sonar equipment on a cable and listen to underwater noises with it.

SH-3 "SEA KING" is an anti-submarine helicopter with a watertight hull that allows landing on the surface of the water (NASA modification is shown in the picture).

Special search aircraft. Long-range aircraft are also suitable for long-range detection. They conduct round-the-clock surveillance of the airspace in the controlled area. In solving this problem, they are assisted by aircraft with a shorter flight range and ship-based helicopters. Such a helicopter is the E-2C Hawkeye with a crew of 5 people. Like its predecessor, the E-1B Tracer, this helicopter is equipped with equipment that allows it to detect enemy aircraft. Long-range aircraft operating from coastal bases are also useful in this respect. Such an assistant is the E-3A Sentry aircraft. This modification of the Boeing 707 aircraft with a radar antenna mounted above the fuselage is known as AWACS. Using on-board computers, the aircraft crew can determine the coordinates, speed and direction of movement of any ships and aircraft within a radius of several hundred kilometers. Information is immediately transmitted to aircraft carriers and other ships.

DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

Organization of engineering works. The speed of the first military aircraft did not exceed 68 km/h. Today there are aircraft that can fly at speeds of 3,200 km/h, and in flight tests, some of the experimental aircraft reached speeds of over 6,400 km/h. It is to be expected that airspeeds will increase. In connection with the complication of the design and equipment of aircraft, the organization of work of aircraft designers has radically changed. In the early days of aviation, an engineer could design an airplane alone. Now this is done by a group of firms, each of which specializes in its own field. Their work is coordinated by the general contractor, who received an order for the development of the aircraft as a result of the competition. see also AVIATION AND SPACE INDUSTRY.
Design. During the first half of the 20th century the appearance of the aircraft has undergone significant changes. The biplane with struts and braces gave way to the monoplane; a streamlined landing gear appeared; the cockpit is made closed; the design has become more streamlined. However, further progress was hampered by the overly large relative weight of the piston engine and the use of a propeller that kept the aircraft out of the range of moderate subsonic speeds. With the advent of the jet engine, everything changed. The flight speed surpassed the speed of sound, but the main characteristic of the engine was thrust. The speed of sound is approx. 1220 km / h at sea level and approximately 1060 km / h at altitudes of 10-30 km. Speaking about the presence of a "sonic barrier", some designers believed that the aircraft would never fly faster than the speed of sound due to structural vibrations, which would inevitably destroy the aircraft. Some of the first jet planes actually broke up as they approached the speed of sound. Fortunately, the results of flight tests and the rapid accumulation of design experience made it possible to eliminate the problems that arose, and the "barrier", which once seemed insurmountable, has lost its meaning today. With proper choice of aircraft layout, it is possible to reduce harmful aerodynamic forces and, in particular, drag in the transition range from subsonic to supersonic speeds. The fuselage of a fighter aircraft is usually designed according to the "area rule" (with a narrowing in the central part where the wing is attached to it). As a result, a smooth flow around the wing-to-fuselage interface is achieved and drag is reduced. On aircraft whose speeds are noticeably higher than the speed of sound, large swept wings and a high aspect ratio fuselage are used.
Hydraulic (booster) control. At supersonic flight speeds, the force acting on the aerodynamic control becomes so great that the pilot simply cannot change its position on his own. To help him, hydraulic control systems are being designed, in many respects similar to a hydraulic drive for driving a car. These systems can also be controlled by an automated flight control system.
Influence of aerodynamic heating. Modern aircraft develop in flight speeds several times higher than the speed of sound, and surface friction forces cause heating of their skin and structure. An aircraft designed to fly with M = 2.2 must no longer be made of duralumin, but of titanium or steel. In some cases, it is necessary to cool the fuel tanks to prevent overheating of the fuel; the chassis wheels should also be cooled to prevent the rubber from melting.
Armament. Enormous progress has been made in the field of armaments since the First World War, when the fire synchronizer was invented, which allows firing through the plane of rotation of the propeller. Modern fighters are often armed with multi-barreled 20-mm automatic cannons that can fire up to 6000 rounds per minute. They are also armed with guided missiles such as Sidewinder, Phoenix or Sparrow. Bombers can be armed with defensive missiles, optical and radar sights, thermonuclear bombs and air-to-ground cruise missiles that are launched many kilometers from the target.
Production. With the complication of the tasks facing military aviation, the labor intensity and cost of aircraft is rapidly increasing. According to available data, 200,000 man-hours of engineering labor were spent on the development of the B-17 bomber. For the B-52, it took already 4,085,000, and for the B-58 - 9,340,000 man-hours. In the production of fighters, similar trends are observed. The cost of one F-80 fighter is approx. 100 thousand dollars For the F-84 and F-100, this is already 300 and 750 thousand dollars, respectively. The cost of the F-15 fighter was once estimated at about $30 million.
Pilot work. Rapid advances in navigation, instrumentation, and computing have had a significant impact on pilot performance. Much of the routine flight work is now done by the autopilot, and navigation problems can be solved using airborne inertial systems, Doppler radar and ground stations. By monitoring the terrain with the help of an airborne radar and using an autopilot, it is possible to fly at low altitudes. The automated system in conjunction with the onboard autopilot ensures the reliability of the aircraft landing in very low clouds (up to 30 m) and poor visibility (less than 0.8 km).
see also AIRCRAFT ON-BOARD INSTRUMENTS ;
AIR NAVIGATION ;
AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. Automated optical, infrared or radar systems are also used to control weapons. These systems provide an accurate hit on a distant target. The ability to use automated systems allows one pilot or a crew of two to perform tasks that previously involved the participation of a much larger crew. The job of a pilot is mainly to monitor the readings of instruments and the functioning of automated systems, taking control only when they fail. At present, even television equipment can be placed on board the aircraft, which has a connection with the ground control center. Under these conditions, an even greater number of functions that were previously supposed to be performed by the aircraft crew are taken over by electronic equipment. Now the pilot must act only in the most critical situations, such as visual identification of the intruder and deciding on the necessary actions.
Overalls. The pilot's attire has also changed markedly since the days when a leather jacket, goggles, and a silk scarf were her must-haves. For a fighter pilot, anti-g suits have now become standard, insuring him from losing consciousness during sharp maneuvers. At altitudes above 12 km, pilots use a body-hugging high-altitude suit that protects against the destructive effects of explosive decompression in the event of cabin depressurization. The air tubes along the arms and legs are filled automatically or manually and maintain the required pressure.
Ejection seats. Ejection seats have become a common piece of equipment in military aviation. If the pilot is forced to leave the aircraft, he is fired from the cockpit, remaining tied to his seat. After making sure that the aircraft is sufficiently far away, the pilot can free himself from the seat and descend to the ground by parachute. In modern designs, the entire cockpit is usually separated from the aircraft. This protects against initial shock braking and the effects of aerodynamic loads. In addition, if the ejection occurs at high altitudes, a breathable atmosphere is maintained in the cockpit. Of great importance for the pilot of a supersonic aircraft are the cooling systems of the cockpit and the pilot's spacesuit to protect against the effects of aerodynamic heating at supersonic speeds.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Trends. The displacement of fighter-interceptors from air defense systems by missiles slowed down the development of military aviation (see AIR DEFENSE). The pace of its development will probably change depending on the political climate or the revision of military policy.
Aircraft X-15. The X-15 experimental aircraft is an aircraft with a liquid rocket engine. It is designed to study the possibility of flight in the upper atmosphere at Mach numbers greater than 6 (ie at a flight speed of 6400 km/h). Flight research carried out on it gave engineers valuable information about the characteristics of a controlled aircraft liquid rocket engine, the ability of the pilot to operate in zero gravity and the ability to control the aircraft using a jet stream, as well as the aerodynamic characteristics of the X-15 layout. The flight altitude of the aircraft reached 102 km. To accelerate the aircraft to M = 8 (8700 km / h), ramjet engines (ramjet engines) were installed on it. However, after an unsuccessful flight with a ramjet, the test program was terminated.
Aircraft projects with M = 3. The YF-12A (A-11) was the first military aircraft to fly at a cruising speed of M = 3. Two years after the YF-12A flight tests, work began on a new version (SR-71 "Blackbird" ). The maximum Mach number of 3.5 is achieved by this aircraft at an altitude of 21 km, the maximum flight altitude is more than 30 km, and the range significantly exceeds the flight range of the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft (6400 km). The use of light high-strength titanium alloys in the design of both the airframe and turbojet engines made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the structure. A new "supercritical" wing was also used. Such a wing is also suitable for flying at speeds slightly less than the speed of sound, which makes it possible to create an economical transport aircraft. Vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft. For a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the presence of a 15-meter obstacle at a distance of 15 m from the launch site is not significant. A short takeoff and landing aircraft must fly at an altitude of more than 15 m, 150 m from the launch site. Aircraft have been tested with wings that can rotate up to 90° from horizontal to vertical or any position in between, as well as fixed-wing fixed-wing engines that can be rotated or helicopter blades that can retract or fold in cruising. horizontal flight. Aircraft with a thrust vector changed by changing the direction of the jet flow, as well as vehicles using combinations of these concepts, were also studied. See also AIRCRAFT CONVERTIBLE.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

The international cooperation. The high cost of designing a military aircraft forced a number of European countries that are members of NATO to pool their resources. The first aircraft of the joint development was the 1150 Atlantic, a land-based anti-submarine aircraft with two turboprop engines. Its first flight took place in 1961; it was used by the French, Italian, German, Dutch, Pakistani and Belgian navies. The results of international cooperation are the Anglo-French Jaguar (a training aircraft also used for tactical support of the ground forces), the Franco-German transport aircraft Transal and the multi-purpose front-line aircraft Tornado, designed for Germany, Italy and Great Britain.

WESTERN EUROPEAN FIGHTER "TORNADO"

France. The French aviation company "Dassault" is one of the recognized leaders in the development and production of fighter aircraft. Its Mirage supersonic aircraft are sold to many countries and are also produced under license in such countries as Israel, Switzerland, Australia, Lebanon, South Africa, Pakistan, Peru, Belgium. In addition, the company "Dassault" develops and produces supersonic strategic bombers.

United Kingdom. In the UK, British Aerospace has created a good VTOL fighter known as the Harrier. This aircraft requires a minimum of ground support equipment other than the equipment needed for refueling and resupply.
Sweden. The Swedish Air Force is armed with SAAB aircraft - the Draken fighter-interceptor and the Viggen fighter-bomber. After World War II, Sweden develops and operates its own military aircraft so as not to violate its status as a neutral country.
Japan. For a long time, the Japan Self-Defense Forces used exclusively US aircraft manufactured by Japan on a license basis. Recently, Japan has begun to develop its own aircraft. One of the most interesting Japanese projects is the Shin Meiwa PX-S, a short takeoff and landing aircraft with four turbofan engines. This is a flying boat designed for maritime reconnaissance. It can land on the surface of the water even in high seas. The Mitsubishi company produces the T-2 training aircraft.
USSR/Russia. The USSR was the only country whose air force was comparable to the US air force. Unlike the United States, where the award of an aircraft development contract is the result of a comparison of engineering designs that exist only on paper, the Soviet methodology was based on a comparison of flight-tested prototypes. This does not allow us to predict which of the new models shown from time to time at various exhibitions of aviation technology will go into mass production. Experimental Design Bureau (or Moscow Machine-Building Plant) them. AI Mikoyan specializes in the development of MiG fighters (Mikoyan and Gurevich). The Air Force of the former allies of the USSR continues to have MiG-21 fighters, a large number of which are also in Russia itself. The MiG-23 front-line fighter is capable of carrying a large stock of bombs and missiles. The MiG-25 is used for interception of targets and reconnaissance at high altitudes.

The history of military aviation began almost immediately after the first flight of the Wright brothers' American aircraft, which took place in 1903 - after a few years, the military of most armies of the world realized that the aircraft could become an excellent weapon. With the outbreak of the First World War, combat aviation as a branch of service was already quite a serious force - first, reconnaissance aviation was used, which made it possible to obtain complete and operational data on the movements of enemy troops, followed by bombers, first improvised, and then specially built. Finally, fighter aviation was created to counter enemy aircraft. Air aces appeared, about the success of which films were made and newspapers wrote with admiration. Soon the fleet also acquired its own Air Force - naval aviation was born, the first air transports and aircraft carriers began to be built.

Indeed, military aviation proved to be one of the main branches of the military with the outbreak of World War II. Luftwaffe bombers and fighters became one of the main instruments of the German blitzkrieg, which predetermined the success of Germany in the first years of the war on all fronts, and Japanese naval aviation, as the main strike force of the navy, set the course of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean with an attack on Pearl Harbor. British fighter aircraft were the decisive factor in preventing the invasion of the islands, and Allied strategic bombers brought Germany and Japan to the brink of disaster. The legend of the Soviet-German front was the Soviet attack aircraft.
Not a single modern armed conflict can do without military aviation. So, even in the event of the slightest tension, military transport aircraft carry out the transfer of military equipment and manpower, and army aviation, armed with attack helicopters, provides support to ground troops. Modern aviation technology is developing in several directions. UAVs are increasingly being used - unmanned aerial vehicles, which, like 100 years ago, first became reconnaissance aircraft, and now more and more often perform strike missions, demonstrating spectacular training and combat firing. However, so far, drones are not able to completely replace traditional manned combat aircraft, the design of which is now focused on reducing radar signature, increasing maneuverability and the ability to fly at supersonic cruising speed. However, the situation is changing so rapidly that only the most daring science fiction writers can predict in which direction military aviation will develop in the coming years.
On the Warspot portal, you can always read articles and news on aviation topics, watch videos or photo reviews on the history of military aviation from its inception to the present - about airplanes and helicopters, about the combat use of the air force, about pilots and aircraft designers, about auxiliary military equipment and equipment used in the Air Force of different armies of the world.

The Air Force has long been the backbone of the armed forces of any army. Aircraft are becoming not just a means of delivering bombs and missiles to the enemy camp, modern aviation is multifunctional combat systems with wings. The latest F-22 and F-35 fighters, as well as their modifications, have already been put into service with the US Army, and here we mean "army" as ground forces. This means that the infantry is now on a par with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles have fighters in their composition. This highlights the role of aviation in modern warfare. This shift towards multifunctionality made possible new developments in the field of aircraft construction and a change in the principles of war. A modern fighter can fight without approaching a target closer than 400 km, launch missiles at 30 targets and turn around and fly to the base at the same second. The case is of course a private one, but it describes the picture more than. Not exactly what we are used to seeing in Hollywood blockbusters in which, no matter how far you look into the future, fighters in the air and in space are fighting the classic "dog fights" of the Great Patriotic War. Some time ago, a couple of news sites were full of news that in the simulation of the battle of "drying" and the F-22, the domestic machine emerged victorious due to superiority in maneuverability, of course, it was about superiority in close combat. All articles noted that in long-range combat, the Raptor is superior to the Su-35 due to more advanced weapons and guidance systems. What distinguishes 4 ++ and 5 generations.

At the moment, the Russian Air Force is armed with combat aircraft of the so-called 4 ++ generation, the same Su-35s. This is a product of a deep modernization of the Su-27, MiG-29, which have been available since the 80s, it is planned to begin a similar modernization of the Tu-160 soon. 4 ++ means as close as possible to the fifth generation, in general, modern "drying" differs from PAK FA in the absence of "stealth" and AFAR. Nevertheless, the possibilities for modernizing this design have been exhausted in principle, so the issue of creating a new generation of fighters has been standing for a long time.

Fifth generation

Fifth generation of fighters. We often hear this term in the news about modern weapons and at aviation shows. What is it? "Generation" is, in general terms, a list of requirements that modern military doctrine imposes on a combat vehicle. The 5th generation vehicle should be stealthy, have supersonic cruising speed, advanced target detection systems and electronic warfare, but the most important thing is versatility. No wonder the projects have the word "complex" in their name. The ability to fight equally well in the air and hit ground targets largely determines the appearance of the fifth generation. These are the tasks that were set before the future designers of the new symbol of domestic aviation.

The development of a new generation began in the USSR and the USA almost simultaneously, back in the 80s, and in the States in the 90s they already chose a prototype. Due to events known to the whole world, the Soviet program found itself in stagnation for many years, this is the reason for the backlog in our days. As you know, the 5th generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning are already in service with the United States and a number of other countries. Remarkably, the Raptors have not yet been supplied even to the allies, having significant advantages over the Lightnings, the exclusive presence of the Raptors in the US Army makes their Air Force the most advanced in the world.

Our response to the Raptors is still being prepared, the deadlines have been repeatedly postponed, from 2016 to 2017 2019, now it’s 2020, but experts say that another postponement is possible, although they note that the new Russian fighter every day more and more takes the form of a product ready for serial production.

Su-47 Berkut

In Russia, the fifth generation has a long-suffering history. As you know, PAK FA, also known as the T-50, and more recently the Su-57, is not the first attempt to get an ultra-modern multi-role fighter into service. One of these attempts was the Su-47, also known as the Berkut. The test of a new aircraft with reverse swept wings took place back in the 90s. The car is very memorable and has been in sight and heard for a long time. "Reverse" wings partly played a cruel joke with him. Such a design brought the aircraft to a new level of maneuverability, however, to solve all the problems of a similar design of forces, neither in Russia nor in the States, where in the 80s there was a project X-29, a fighter with a similar wing sweep. Also, this prototype did not meet all the requirements of the fifth generation, for example, it could overcome supersonic sound only in afterburner.

Only one fighter was built and now it is used only as a prototype. Perhaps the Su-47 will be the last attempt to create an aircraft with a reverse swept wing.

Su-57 (PAK FA)

PAK FA (Perspective Aviation Complex of Frontal Aviation) is a new Russian aircraft. Became the first successful attempt to bring to life the fifth generation of aircraft. At the moment, there is little information about its characteristics in the public domain. From the obvious, it has all the characteristics of the fifth generation, namely supersonic cruising speed, "stealth" technologies, active phased array antenna (AFAR) and so on. Outwardly, it looks like the F-22 Raptor. And now everyone who is not too lazy is already starting to compare these machines, no wonder, because the Su-57 will become the main “protagonist” in the fight against the Raptors and Lightnings. It is worth noting that in the new realities, the improvement of missiles will also occupy a special place, as already mentioned, entry into battle takes place at gigantic distances, so how much a fighter will be maneuverable and how well it feels in close combat is the tenth thing.

In Russia, the “arrows” for the latest aviation technology are the R-73 rocket and its modifications, which rightfully bear the glory of a formidable weapon. But the designers, according to the good Russian tradition, "just in case" provided for the installation of a 30-mm air gun on the Su-57.

In developing

Another transition to the "five" is planned for another 4 ++ aircraft - MiG-35. Sketches of the "face" of the future interceptor have already been shown, but it is not yet clear whether there will be a need for it or whether the Su-57 will cope with its functions. Not only would a light fighter meet all the requirements of a new generation, it is necessary to develop a fundamentally new engine and solve the problem with the installation of "stealth". Which is impossible for machines of this class in modern realities. As mentioned earlier, the fifth generation assumes multifunctionality, which, in theory, the Su-57 should have, so what tasks will be assigned to the MiG is still not clear.

Another promising machine for the aviation forces of the Russian Federation is the PAK DA, which is being developed within the walls of the Tupolev design bureau. From the abbreviation it is clear that we are talking about long-range aviation. According to the plan, in 2025 - the first flight, but given the craving for postponing the release of anything, you can immediately throw on a couple of three, or even five years. Therefore, most likely we will not soon see how the new "Tupolev" takes off into the sky, obviously long-range aviation will get by with the Tu-160 and in the near future its modification.

sixth generation

On the Internet, no, no, yes, a yellow article about the sixth generation of fighter jets slips through. That development is already in full swing somewhere. This is certainly not the case, because we recall that the latest fifth generation is in service only with the United States. Therefore, it is too early to talk about “development in full swing”. Here we would finish with the fifth. As for the speculation about what the weapons of the future will look like, there is room for discussion. What will be the new generation of aircraft?

From the sixth generation, we should expect that all standard characteristics will increase. Speed, agility. Most likely, the weight will decrease, thanks to new materials of the future, electronics will reach a new level. In the coming decades, we can expect breakthroughs in the creation of quantum computers, this will allow us to move to an unprecedented level of computing speed, which in turn will allow us to seriously modernize the modern aircraft AI, which in the future may rightfully be called a “co-pilot”. Presumably, there will be a complete rejection of the vertical tail, which is absolutely useless already in modern realities, since fighters operate mainly at the limiting and prohibitive angles of attack. From this, interesting forms of the airframe may follow, perhaps again an attempt to change the sweep of the wing.

The most important question that the designers of the future will decide is whether a pilot is needed at all? That is, whether the fighter will be controlled by AI or by a pilot, and if by a pilot, whether the pilot will control the aircraft remotely or still in the old fashioned way from the cockpit. Imagine an airplane without a pilot. This is a huge “relief” for the car, because in addition to the weight of the pilot himself and his equipment, a decent load is created by the pilot’s seat, which should save lives, which makes it difficult for a car stuffed with electronics and mechanisms for pilot ejection. Not to mention the change in the design of the airframe, in which it is not necessary to allocate a huge space for a person and puzzle over the ergonomic design of the cockpit to make it easier to control the machine in the air. The absence of a pilot leads to the fact that you no longer need to worry about overloads, which means that the car can be accelerated to any speed that the structure will pull, the same goes for maneuvers in the sky. It will also facilitate the training of pilots. And this is not only about reducing the requirements for the health of the pilot. Now the pilot is the most valuable thing in fighters. Colossal amounts of time and resources are spent on preparation, the loss of a pilot is irreplaceable. If the pilot controls the fighter from a comfortable chair deep in a bunker at a military base, then this will change the face of war no less than a "transplant" from horses to tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The prospect of completely abandoning the pilot still looks like a task for the more distant future. Scientists warn about the consequences of using AI, and the very philosophical and ethical component of replacing a person with a robot in war is still being studied. Still, we do not yet have the computing power to create a full-fledged replacement for the pilot, but in the coming decades a technological revolution in this area is possible. On the other hand, the flair and military ingenuity of the pilot cannot be recreated by zeros and ones. So far, all these are hypotheses, so the appearance of modern aviation and the air force of the near future will still have a human face.

The latest best military aircraft of the Air Force of Russia and the world photos, pictures, videos about the value of a fighter aircraft as a combat weapon capable of providing "air supremacy" was recognized by the military circles of all states by the spring of 1916. This required the creation of a special combat aircraft that surpasses all others in terms of speed, maneuverability, altitude and the use of offensive small arms. In November 1915, Nieuport II Webe biplanes arrived at the front. This is the first aircraft built in France, which was intended for air combat.

The most modern domestic military aircraft in Russia and the world owe their appearance to the popularization and development of aviation in Russia, which was facilitated by the flights of Russian pilots M. Efimov, N. Popov, G. Alekhnovich, A. Shiukov, B. Rossiysky, S. Utochkin. The first domestic machines of designers J. Gakkel, I. Sikorsky, D. Grigorovich, V. Slesarev, I. Steglau began to appear. In 1913, the heavy aircraft "Russian Knight" made its first flight. But one cannot fail to recall the first aircraft creator in the world - Captain 1st Rank Alexander Fedorovich Mozhaisky.

Soviet military aircraft of the USSR of the Great Patriotic War sought to hit the enemy troops, his communications and other objects in the rear with air strikes, which led to the creation of bomber aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load over considerable distances. The variety of combat missions for bombing enemy forces in the tactical and operational depth of the fronts led to the understanding of the fact that their performance should be commensurate with the tactical and technical capabilities of a particular aircraft. Therefore, the design teams had to resolve the issue of specialization of bomber aircraft, which led to the emergence of several classes of these machines.

Types and classification, the latest models of military aircraft in Russia and the world. It was obvious that it would take time to create a specialized fighter aircraft, so the first step in this direction was to try to equip existing aircraft with small arms offensive weapons. Mobile machine-gun mounts, which began to equip the aircraft, required excessive efforts from the pilots, since the control of the machine in a maneuverable battle and the simultaneous firing of an unstable weapon reduced the effectiveness of firing. The use of a two-seat aircraft as a fighter, where one of the crew members played the role of a gunner, also created certain problems, because an increase in the weight and drag of the machine led to a decrease in its flight qualities.

What are the planes. In our years, aviation has made a big qualitative leap, expressed in a significant increase in flight speed. This was facilitated by progress in the field of aerodynamics, the creation of new more powerful engines, structural materials, and electronic equipment. computerization of calculation methods, etc. Supersonic speeds have become the main modes of fighter flight. However, the race for speed also had its negative sides - the takeoff and landing characteristics and the maneuverability of aircraft deteriorated sharply. During these years, the level of aircraft construction reached such a level that it was possible to start creating aircraft with a variable sweep wing.

In order to further increase the flight speeds of jet fighters exceeding the speed of sound, Russian combat aircraft required an increase in their power-to-weight ratio, an increase in the specific characteristics of turbojet engines, and also an improvement in the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. For this purpose, engines with an axial compressor were developed, which had smaller frontal dimensions, higher efficiency and better weight characteristics. For a significant increase in thrust, and hence the flight speed, afterburners were introduced into the engine design. The improvement of the aerodynamic forms of the aircraft consisted in the use of wings and empennage with large sweep angles (in the transition to thin delta wings), as well as supersonic air intakes.

Main Structure Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Air Force Structure Aviation

Aviation

Air Force Aviation (Av VVS) according to its purpose and tasks to be solved, it is divided into long-range, military transport, operational-tactical and army aviation, which include: bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.

Organizationally, the Air Force aviation consists of air bases that are part of the Air Force formations, as well as other units and organizations directly subordinate to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Long Range Aviation (YES) is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic) and operational tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The formations and units of the DA are armed with strategic and long-range bombers, tanker aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft. Operating primarily in strategic depth, DA formations and units perform the following main tasks: destroying air bases (airfields), ground-based missile systems, aircraft carriers and other surface ships, objects from enemy reserves, military-industrial facilities, administrative and political centers, energy objects and hydraulic structures, naval bases and ports, command posts of formations of the armed forces and operational air defense control centers in the theater of operations, land communications facilities, landing units and convoys; mining from the air. Part of the DA forces may be involved in conducting aerial reconnaissance and performing special tasks.

Long-range aviation is a component of strategic nuclear forces.

DA formations and units are based taking into account its operational-strategic purpose and tasks from Novgorod in the west of the country to Anadyr and Ussuriysk in the east, from Tiksi in the north to Blagoveshchensk in the south of the country.

The basis of the aircraft fleet is made up of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range missile carrier-bombers, Il-78 tanker aircraft and Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft.

The main armament of the aircraft: long-range aviation cruise missiles and operational-tactical missiles in nuclear and conventional warheads, as well as aviation bombs of various purposes and calibers.

A practical demonstration of the spatial indicators of the combat capabilities of the DA command is air patrol flights of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft in the area of ​​the island of Iceland and the waters of the Norwegian Sea; to the North Pole and to the area of ​​the Aleutian Islands; along the east coast of South America.

Regardless of the organizational structure in which long-range aviation exists and will exist, the combat strength, the characteristics of the aircraft and weapons in service, the main task of long-range aviation on the scale of the Air Force should be considered both nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence of potential adversaries. In the event of a war, the DA will carry out tasks to reduce the military and economic potential of the enemy, destroy important military facilities, and disrupt state and military control.

An analysis of modern views on the purpose of the aircraft, the tasks assigned to it, and the predicted conditions for their fulfillment show that, at present and in the future, long-range aviation continues to be the main strike force of the Air Force.

The main directions for the development of long-range aviation:

• maintaining and building up operational capabilities to fulfill the assigned tasks as part of the strategic deterrence forces and general-purpose forces through the modernization of Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22MZ bombers with service life extension;
• creation of a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA).

Military transport aviation (VTA) is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic), operational and operational-tactical tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The military transport aircraft Il-76MD, An-26, An-22, An-124, An-12PP, transport helicopters Mi-8MTV are in service with the formations and units of the VTA. The main tasks of formations and units of the VTA are: landing of units (subunits) of the Airborne Troops from the composition of operational (operational-tactical) airborne assault forces; delivery of weapons, ammunition and materiel to troops operating behind enemy lines; ensuring the maneuver of aviation formations and units; transportation of troops, weapons, ammunition and materiel; evacuation of the wounded and sick, participation in peacekeeping operations. Includes air bases, units and subunits of special forces.

Part of the VTA forces may be involved in the performance of special tasks.

The main directions for the development of military transport aviation: maintaining and building up the capabilities to ensure the deployment of the Armed Forces in various theaters of operations, airborne landings, transportation of troops and materiel by air through the purchase of new Il-76MD-90A and An-70, Il-112V aircraft and modernization of the Il-76 MD and An-124 aircraft.

Operational-tactical aviation designed to solve operational (operational-tactical) and tactical tasks in operations (combat actions) of groupings of troops (forces) in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Army Aviation (AA) designed to solve operational-tactical and tactical tasks in the course of army operations (combat actions).

Bomber Aviation (BA) armed with strategic, long-range and operational-tactical bombers, is the main strike weapon of the Air Force and is designed to destroy enemy groupings of troops, aviation, naval forces, destroy its important military, military-industrial, energy facilities, communication centers, conduct air reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly in the strategic and operational depths.

Assault Aviation (ShA), armed with attack aircraft, is a means of aviation support for troops (forces) and is designed to destroy troops, ground (sea) objects, as well as enemy aircraft (helicopters) at airfields (sites) based, conducting aerial reconnaissance and mining from the air mainly at the forefront, in tactical and operational-tactical depth.

Fighter Aviation (IA), armed with fighter planes, is designed to destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the air and ground (sea) targets of the enemy.

Reconnaissance aviation (RzA), armed with reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of objects, the enemy, terrain, weather, air and ground radiation and chemical conditions.

Transport aviation (TrA), being armed with transport aircraft, is intended for landing airborne assaults, transporting troops, weapons, military and special equipment and other materiel by air, ensuring maneuver and combat operations of troops (forces), and performing special tasks.

Formations, units, subunits of bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance and transport aviation can also be involved in other tasks.

Special Aviation (SpA), armed with aircraft and helicopters, is designed to perform special tasks. Special aviation units and subunits are directly or operationally subordinate to the commander of an Air Force formation and are involved in: conducting radar reconnaissance and guiding aviation to air and ground (sea) targets; setting of electronic interference and aerosol curtains; search and rescue of flight crews and passengers; refueling aircraft in the air; evacuation of the wounded and sick; providing management and communications; conducting aerial radiation, chemical, biological, engineering reconnaissance and performing other tasks.