All articles tagged with #fighter aircraft
The article ranks the top 11 fighter aircraft currently in service, highlighting their capabilities, roles, and technological features, with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II leading the list due to their advanced stealth, situational awareness, and combat performance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first head of government to fly in an indigenously developed fighter aircraft, the Tejas. The sortie lasted 30 minutes and took place in Bengaluru. The twin-seat fighter jet is fully designed, developed, and manufactured in India, capable of offensive air support and ground attack roles. The Indian Air Force has already inducted the first version of the aircraft, and deliveries of the LCA Mk 1A will begin in February 2024. The Tejas will become the largest fleet of fighter aircraft operated by the IAF, with two squadrons currently operational. Modi also visited the Tejas production facilities and viewed other indigenous helicopters.
The US Air Force has released a classified solicitation for an engineering and manufacturing development contract for its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, which will replace the F-22 Raptor. The NGAD platform will be a "family of systems" that incorporates a crewed aircraft component as well as collaborative combat aircraft. The Air Force plans to award the NGAD contract in 2024 and hopes to start fielding the crewed component by the end of the decade. Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin have expressed interest in pursuing the contract.
Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, has promised to provide more updates soon regarding the provision of modern fighter aircraft to Ukraine, stating that intensive diplomacy is taking place at all levels to strengthen the country's Air Forces and acquire new capabilities. Kuleba emphasized the significance of President Zelensky's visits to Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in forming an aviation coalition. Training for Ukrainian pilots will begin in the United Kingdom this summer.