Air superiority fighter facts for kids
An air superiority fighter is a special type of fighter jet designed to win battles in the sky against other enemy fighter jets. These powerful airplanes are built for close-up air combat. Because they are so advanced and powerful, they are usually very expensive. This means countries often have fewer of them compared to other kinds of fighter planes.
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What is an Air Superiority Fighter?
For a long time, fighter planes were given different jobs. During big wars like World War II and the Korean War, planes had specific roles. Some were called heavy fighters, others were interceptors, and some were escort fighters or night fighters.
But in the 1950s, something new happened: guided missiles were invented! This changed how fighter jets were designed. From then on, fighters were mainly made in two different ways:
- Interceptors: These fighters were built to fight enemies from far away, even before the pilot could see them. They had powerful radar and long-range air-to-air missiles. They didn't need a front gun and weren't very good at sharp turns, because they weren't meant for close-up dogfights.
- Air Superiority Fighters: These are the planes we're talking about! They were designed for close-up fights where pilots could see each other. They have guns and short-range missiles for these battles. What makes them special is their amazing ability to turn quickly and move well in the air. This is called maneuverability.
Famous Air Superiority Fighters
Many countries have built incredible air superiority fighters. Here are some examples:
France
Russia
United States
Images for kids
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A USAF F-22 Raptor. This is a fifth generation stealth jet. It can fly very fast without using afterburners (called supercruise) and can change the direction of its engine thrust (called thrust vectoring).
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A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30.
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A USAF F-15 Eagle.
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See also
In Spanish: Caza de superioridad aérea para niños
