Contents
Why do we need fighter jets?
In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield permits bombers and attack aircraft to engage in tactical and strategic bombing of enemy targets.
Why do fighter jets cost so much?
Every fighter jet is made of state-of-the-art tech and state-of-the-art tech costs money. But in the case of fighter jets, only governments get to order such weapons systems. And they do so in relatively small quantities. This makes it much difficult to spread the design and production costs among several fleet units.
Why do aircraft manufacturers keep on making planes more maneuverable?
In today’s age, when dogfights are simply a relic from the past, why do manufacturers keep on increasing their aircraft maneuverability, in order to make them better dogfighters. It is more understandable if they were to make stealthier or more efficient fighters, but when the dogfight is extinct, why make planes even more agile and maneuverable?
Why are all new European fighter jets designed?
The nature of the potential conflict plays a role in military aircraft design. European military aircraft, certainly in the past, were designed for fast sprints over relatively short distances where the delta’s supersonic characteristics are a benefit, as in a NATO/Warsaw Pact conflict in Germany.
Do you need a forward facing gun on a fighter aircraft?
Modern missiles can be fire-and-forget, automatically tracking a target from many miles away. Guns aren’t very effective in this type of combat. In fact, it’s debated whether fighter aircraft even need a forward facing gun anymore. The gun on the F-35 may not even be usable until after the first squadrons are operational.
Why do combat aircraft not have rear facing?
If by combat aircraft you mean fighter jets; then the answer is simply: If the opponent is behind you, you have lost the battle. The entire point of aircraft with extremely mobility and flight dynamics is to keep the other guy in front – where all the guns are pointing.