Latest news with #F-86Sabre
News18
23-05-2025
- News18
How Each New Generation Of Fighter Jets Gets Smarter And Deadlier
Last Updated: The evolution of fighter jets shows how technology and warfare have changed, with each generation—from the first to the fifth—facing new challenges and reinventing itself Fighter jets, now capable of stealth and high-speed maneuvers, have come a long way from their early days as slow, piston-engine aircraft. This evolution marks a significant leap in military technology and aerial combat. Each generation of fighter jets has brought advances in speed, power, intelligence, multi-functionality and network integration. The term 'fighter jet generations" charts the evolution of combat technology and strategy. Starting from World War II, we have now reached the fifth and sixth generations, where jets feature advanced sensors, data links and AI-driven systems. News18 explores the unique characteristics of each generation, highlighting their technological breakthroughs and how these jets have expanded modern warfare beyond the skies—into cyber and space domains. Generation 1 – Early Era Jets (1940-1950) This era marked the transition from propellers to jet engines, though the technology was still nascent. These jets lacked radar, had only machine guns and unguided rockets, and were limited in speed and altitude. Their design and construction were quite basic. Notable examples include the F-86 Sabre (USA), MiG-15 (USSR), Gloster Meteor (UK), de Havilland Vampire (UK), and Dassault Ouragan (France). Generation 2 – Supersonic And Radar Era (1950-1960) Jets in this era achieved supersonic speeds, incorporated basic radar, and introduced air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9. Radar became crucial in warfare. Examples include the MiG-21 (USSR), F-104 Starfighter (USA), Mirage III (France), and English Electric Lightning (UK). Jets evolved to perform both air-to-ground and air-to-air attacks. With digital avionics, fly-by-wire systems, and improved thrust-to-weight ratios, they became more manoeuvrable and adaptable to various missions. Notable examples include the F-4 Phantom II (USA), MiG-23 and MiG-27 (USSR), SEPECAT Jaguar (UK/France), and Mirage F1 (France). Generation 3.5 – Upgraded 3rd Generation (1980-1990) This generation modernised older aircraft with Pulse-Doppler radar, glass cockpits, limited BVR missile capabilities, and digital systems. Examples include the MiG-23MLD (USSR), F-4E (USA), F-5E Tiger II (USA), Mirage F1 CR/CT (France), and MiG-21 Bison (India). Generation 4 – Digital Revolution And Beginning of Stealth (Since 1990s) Jets underwent a digital revolution, becoming part of a complex network rather than solitary fighters. Modern warfare now involves information, communication, and technology. Fighter jets in this era became centres of digital technology, advanced avionics, and network-centric warfare. Examples include the Mirage 2000 (France), MiG-29 (USSR), F/A-18 Hornet (USA), JAS 39 Gripen A/B (Sweden), and HAL Tejas Mk1 (India). Generation 4.5 – Advanced 4th Generation These jets, technically 4th Generation, have been upgraded with modern technology, improved avionics, advanced sensors, and weapon systems. Sometimes called '4th Generation Plus," they incorporate some 5th Generation technologies like sensor fusion and low radar visibility. Examples include the MiG-29SMT/UPG (Russia/India), Dassault Mirage 2000-5 (France), F-16 Block 50/52+ (USA), HAL Tejas Mk1A (India), JAS 39 Gripen C/D, and Dassault Rafale. Generation 5 – Fully Stealth And Next-Generation Jets The most advanced and revolutionary generation, these jets are built entirely on stealth technology to evade detection. They feature state-of-the-art avionics, sensor fusion, supercruise capabilities, and network-centric warfare systems. Examples include the F-22 Raptor (USA), F-35 Lightning II (USA), Su-57 Felon (Russia), Chengdu J-20 (China), and HAL AMCA (India). The evolution of fighter jets showcases how technology and warfare requirements have changed over time. From the early beginnings of the first generation to the game-changing advancements of the fifth generation, each era has faced new challenges and reinvented itself. Future advancements will likely push the boundaries of imagination, further strengthening air forces and national security.
News18
02-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
When A Pakistani Fighter Jet Killed The Gujarat CM And His Wife, Blamed It On A 'Mistake'
Last Updated: Following the tragedy, India mourned not just the loss of a leader, but the broader risks posed to civilian life during periods of military escalation. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following the brutal terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley of J&K's Pahalgam on April 22 that left 27 people dead. As India vows accountability for the perpetrators of the attack, Pakistan has heightened security along the border and the Line of Control, amid concerns of potential cross-border fallout. While both nations have experienced periods of strain over the decades, the current climate has evoked memories of a particularly somber chapter in their shared history – an incident during the 1965 Indo-Pak war that claimed the life of Gujarat's Chief Minister, Balwantrai Mehta. On September 19, 1965, at the height of that conflict, Mehta boarded a Beechcraft aircraft from Ahmedabad, headed to Mithapur for a routine visit. Accompanying him were his wife Sarojben, aides, a journalist, and two crew members. The aircraft was flying near the Rann of Kutch, close to the international border, when it was mistakenly identified by Pakistani radar as a potential threat. Two Pakistani Air Force pilots, flying F-86 Sabre jets, were dispatched to investigate. Despite the civil nature of the aircraft, it was targetted and shot down, killing all eight on board. The loss of Mehta, a respected statesman and proponent of grassroots democracy through India's Panchayati Raj system, sent shockwaves through the nation. At the time, Pakistan described the incident as a wartime 'mistake". While one of the pilots later expressed personal remorse in a letter written decades afterward, no formal apology or acknowledgment came from the Pakistani state. In the days that followed, India mourned not just the loss of a leader, but the broader risks posed to civilian life during periods of military escalation. Mehta's death, though tied to an era of conventional warfare, remains a reminder of how quickly miscalculation and mistrust can result in tragedy. Today, with tempers running high again in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the 1965 incident offers more than just a historical echo – it stands as a cautionary tale. As both countries navigate another period of volatility, the focus, many hope, will remain on de-escalation and justice, rather than confrontation. First Published: May 02, 2025, 13:20 IST
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buy Canadian has to extend to aerospace and defence if Canada is to defend its borders
Aviation doesn't just move people; it moves economies and shapes history. It has always reflected our national ambition. Canada's aerospace and defence leadership began during the Second World War, when we trained more than 130,000 Allied pilots under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, one of history's largest aviation training efforts. That legacy led United States president Theodore Roosevelt to call Canada the 'aerodrome of democracy.' During that time, Canada made a deliberate decision to build domestic aviation manufacturing capacity, recognizing it as vital for both defence and economic development. That continued after the war, with programs such as the F-86 Sabre, built under licence in Montreal to grow local expertise and supply chains. The government also chose Toronto-made engines from Orenda Engines, a Canadian upgrade that boosted performance and enabled exports. Next came the CF-100 Canuck, a fully Canadian-designed and -built interceptor. It marked the start of CAE Inc.'s flight simulation journey, establishing domestic expertise that now spans civil and military aviation training. The CF-104 Starfighter followed, again built in Canada, enhanced for export, and paired with CAE simulators — first for Canada, then Germany. That marked CAE's first international program and the dawn of a global capability that today helps power North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) readiness. Procurement of aircraft such as the F-86, CF-104, T-33 and CF-5, all built under licence in Montreal, gave Canadair Ltd. the expertise to design its own platforms, like the CT-114 Tutor, still flown by the Snowbirds. That foundation led to the Challenger business jet and, ultimately, to the CRJ and Global Express families — programs that firmly established Bombardier Inc. as a global aerospace leader. Similarly, defence procurement in the 1950s and 1960s supported the development of rugged transport aircraft such as the DHC-3 Otter, DHC-4 Caribou and DHC-5 Buffalo, procured from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. in Toronto. These aircraft met Canadian Army and NATO needs and were adopted by the U.S. military. This legacy of innovation led to the development of the Twin Otter and Dash 8, uniquely Canadian aircraft still operating in airline service around the world today. Together with related programs awarded to CAE for simulators and Pratt & Whitney Canada for engines, these procurements helped anchor aerospace innovation and manufacturing across Canada, including Montreal and Toronto, making both cities global aerospace hubs. The CF-18 program in the 1980s followed the same logic. Though not built here, Canada ensured sustainment capability at home, enabling our engineers in Mirabel to manage classified source code critical to our fighters' performance. From the Sabre to the CF-18, the lesson is clear: smart procurement didn't just equip the Canadian Forces; it built a world-class aerospace and defence sector. Today, this sector contributes $29 billion to our economy and supports 218,000 jobs, strengthening trade ties and giving Canada rare full-spectrum aerospace capability. As Canada prepares to boost defence spending, we must learn from this legacy: prioritizing national champions and placing key industrial capabilities at the heart of procurement strategies. If we want to meaningfully contribute to future platforms, such as sixth-generation fighters, we need to start investing now. The Future Aircrew Training Program offers a real-time example of smart procurement. Its 25-year horizon lets CAE and partners invest early in technology, talent and Canada's industrial base. Together with the Future Fighter Lead-in Training initiative, it's a model for how Canada can build sovereign capability. From the outset, industry plays a direct role in shaping, delivering, and sustaining a made-in-Canada solution for the Royal Canadian Air Force. But to be a meaningful contributor to allied readiness, Canada must go beyond procurement and sustainment to play a greater role in delivering critical defence capabilities. That includes meeting our North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and NATO commitments and integrating more deeply into their industrial bases. In today's defence landscape, simulation, training systems and personnel development are no longer peripheral; they are core to mission readiness. Aerospace and defence is not an industry that rewards hesitation; it rewards action. Canada has built its aerospace industry through smart policy, coupled with innovation and R&D from the private sector, designing iconic aircraft, training those who defend freedom and advancing systems and technologies that safeguard the skies. In an uncertain world, we must treat aerospace and defence as a national strategic priority, engaging industry from the outset, not just as suppliers, but as partners. This ensures sovereign control over critical capabilities essential to our security. I've spent my career championing this industry because I know what it means to our country. It's not just an economic pillar; it's part of our identity and a promise to future generations. It's time to act. The question isn't whether Canada can; it's whether we will. Marc Parent, CM, is chief executive of CAE Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
