959:
790:
331:
129:
875:
507:
718:(QRA) aircraft were kept piloted, fully fueled and armed, with the engines running at idle on the runway ready to take off. The aircraft being kept topped up with fuel via hoses from underground fuel tanks. If a possible intruder was identified, the aircraft would be ready to take off as soon as the external fuel lines were detached. However, keeping QRA aircraft at this state of readiness was physically and mentally draining to the pilots and was expensive in terms of fuel.
645:
32:
459:. Hence, for a brief period of time they fared rapid development in both speed, range, and altitude. At the end of the 1960s, a nuclear attack became unstoppable with the introduction of ballistic missiles capable of approaching from outside the atmosphere at speeds as high as 3 to 4 miles per second (5 to 7 km/s). The doctrine of
1069:
was specifically designed for intercepting aircraft passing
Swedish airspace at high altitudes in the event of a war between the Soviet Union and NATO. With the advent of low flying cruise-missiles and high-altitude AA-missiles the flight profile was changed, but regained the interceptor profile with
917:
fighters, among their other roles. The F-16, however, was originally designed for air superiority while evolving into a versatile multirole fighter. The F-15, with its Mach 2.5 maximum speed enabling it to intercept the fastest enemy aircraft (namely the MiG-25 Foxbat), is also not a pure interceptor
470:
The interceptor mission is, by its nature, a difficult one. Consider the desire to protect a single target from attack by long-range bombers. The bombers have the advantage of being able to select the parameters of the mission – attack vector, speed and altitude. This results in an enormous area from
387:
The term "interceptor" was in use by 1929. Through the 1930s, bomber aircraft speeds increased so much that conventional interceptor tactics appeared impossible. Visual and acoustic detection from the ground had a range of only a few miles, which meant that an interceptor would have insufficient time
520:
In the spectrum of various interceptors, one design approach especially shows sacrifices necessary to achieve decisive benefit in a chosen aspect of performance. A "point defense interceptor" is of a lightweight design, intended to spend most of its time on the ground located at the defended target,
403:
made possible early, long-range detection of aircraft on the order of 100 miles (160 km), both day and night and in all weather. A typical bomber might take twenty minutes to cross the detection zone of early radar systems, time enough for interceptor fighters to start up, climb to altitude and
857:
devised a pair of proposals for interceptor aircraft, the first such designation in the US. One proposal was for a single-engine fighter, the other for a twin-engine. Both were required to reach an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 m) in six minutes as a defense against bomber attack. Kelsey said
709:
and the adoption of high speed, low level flight profiles, the time available between detection and interception dropped. Most advanced point defence interceptors combined with long-range radars were struggling to keep the reaction time down enough to be effective. Fixed times, like the time needed
427:
in the 1950s obviated the need for fast reaction time interceptors as the missile could launch almost instantly. Air forces increasingly turned to much larger interceptor designs, with enough fuel for longer endurance, leaving the point-defense role to the missiles. This led to the abandonment of a
415:
The introduction of jet power increased flight speeds from around 300 miles per hour (500 km/h) to around 600 miles per hour (1,000 km/h) in a step and roughly doubled operational altitudes. Although radars also improved in performance, the gap between offense and defense was dramatically
583:
speeds. Initial transonic and supersonic fighters had modest internal fuel tanks in their slim fuselages, but a very high fuel consumption. This led fighter prototypes emphasizing acceleration and operational ceiling, with a sacrifice on the loiter time, essentially limiting them to point defense
552:, which launched vertically and thus eliminated the need for an airbase. In general all these initial German designs proved difficult to operate, often becoming death traps for their pilots, and had little effect on the bombing raids. Rocket-boosted variants of both of Germany's jet fighters; the
862:
designation to sidestep a hard USAAC policy restricting fighters to 500 pounds (230 kg) of armament. He wished for at least 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of armament so that
American fighters could dominate their battles against all opponents, fighters included. The two aircraft resulting from
258:
created air force demand for highly capable interceptors; it is in regards to this period that the term is perhaps most recognized and used. Cold War-era interceptors became increasingly distinct from their air superiority counterparts, with the former often sacrificing range, endurance, and
729:
were in general larger designs intended to stay on lengthy patrol and protect a much larger area from attack, depending on greater detection capabilities, both in the aircraft themselves and operating with AWACS, rather than high speed to reach targets. The exemplar of this concept was the
949:
missiles. Like the USAF's F-15, the USN's F-14 was also designed primarily as an air superiority (fighter-to-fighter combat) and F-14s served the interceptor role until it received upgrades in the 1990s for ground attack. Both the fighter and the
Phoenix missile were retired in 2006.
541:, in the very-short-range interceptor role. The engine allowed about 7 minutes of powered flight, but offered such tremendous performance that they could fly right by the defending fighters. The Me 163 required an airbase, however, which were soon under constant attack. Following the
738:
was able to achieve long range in a smaller airframe through the use of more efficient engines. Rather than focusing on acceleration and climb rate, the design emphasis is on range and missile carrying capacity, which together translate into combat endurance,
471:
which the attack can originate. In the time it takes for the bombers to cross the distance from first detection to being on their targets, the interceptor must be able to start, take off, climb to altitude, maneuver for attack and then attack the bomber.
631:. In the case of ground radar systems this can be countered by placing radar systems on mountain tops to extend the radar horizon, or through placing high performance radars in interceptors or in AWACS aircraft used to direct point defense interceptors.
486:), by tuning their performance for either fast climbs or high speeds. The result is that interceptors often look very impressive on paper, typically outrunning, outclimbing and outgunning slower fighter designs. However, pure interceptors fare poorly in
223:
were part of a successful defensive strategy. However, dramatic improvements in both ground-based and airborne radar gave greater flexibility to existing fighters and few later designs were conceived as dedicated day interceptors. Exceptions include the
811:(VVS) in that they were by no means small or crudely simple, but huge and refined with large, sophisticated radars; they could not take off from grass, only concrete runways; they could not be disassembled and shipped back to a maintenance center in a
416:
reduced. Large attacks could so confuse the defense's ability to communicate with pilots that the classic method of manual ground controlled interception was increasingly seen as inadequate. In the United States, this led to the introduction of the
533:
s most critical requirement was for interceptors as the
Commonwealth and American air forces pounded German targets night and day. As the bombing effort grew, notably in early 1944, the Luftwaffe introduced a rocket-powered design, the
755:(AAM) against these targets. High speed and acceleration was put into long-range and medium-range AAMs, and agility into short range dog fighting AAMs, rather than into the aircraft themselves. They were first to introduce all-weather
1044:
Several other countries also introduced interceptor designs, although in the 1950s–1960s several planned interceptors never came to fruition, with the expectation that missiles would replace bombers.
834:, an area range interceptor, was notably the heaviest fighter aircraft ever to see service in the world. The latest and most advanced interceptor aircraft in the Soviet (now Russian) inventory is the
906:
proposal during the 1960s, but came to nothing as the USSR strengthened their strategic force with ICBMs. Hence, the F-106 ended up serving as the primary USAF interceptor into the 1980s.
1110:, 6 December 1929, Page 1273: "the type of single-seater fighter known as an "Interceptor" is a class of aircraft designed, as the title suggests, for intercepting hostile aircraft."
926:
is the USA's latest combat aircraft that serves in part as an interceptor due to its super-cruise capabilities, however it was designed primarily as a stealth air superiority fighter.
838:"Foxhound". Improving on some of the flaws on the proceeding MiG-25, the MiG-31 has better low altitude and low speed performance, in addition to carrying an internal cannon.
463:
replaced the trend of defense strengthening, making interceptors less strategically logical. The utility of interceptors waned as the role merged with that of the heavy
1274:
204:(BVR) missile systems since the 1960s has allowed most frontline fighter designs to fill the roles once reserved for specialized night/all-weather fighters.
207:
For daytime operations, conventional light fighters have normally filled the interceptor role. Day interceptors have been used in a defensive role since
521:
and able to launch on demand, climb to altitude, manoeuvre and then attack the bomber in a very short time, before the bomber can deploy its weapons.
611:(SAMs)—which first reached an adequate level in 1954–1957. SAM advancements ended the concept of massed high-altitude bomber operations, in favor of
710:
for the pilot to climb into the cockpit, became an increasing portion of the overall mission time, there were few ways to reduce this. During the
408:
required constant contact between the interceptor and the ground until the bombers became visible to the pilots and nationwide networks like the
803:, an entire military service, not just an arm of the pre-existing air force, was designated for deployment of interceptors. The aircraft of the
994:
1267:
1218:
871:. Both aircraft were successful during World War II in standard fighter roles, not specifically assigned to point defense against bombers.
306:(ICBMs). Dedicated interceptor designs became increasingly rare, with the only widely used examples designed after the 1960s being the
1036:
missiles for interception purposes. The PLAAF/PLANAF currently still operates approximately 300 or so J-8s of various configurations.
1260:
96:
596:
were also related. None of these found practical use. Designs that depended solely on jet engines achieved more success with the
68:
1017:
is a high-speed, high-altitude
Chinese-built single-seat interceptor. Initially designed in the early 1960s to counter US-built
886:, consisting primarily of dedicated interceptors. Many post-war designs were of limited performance, including designs like the
918:
as it has exceptional agility for dogfighting based upon the lessons learned from
Vietnam; the F-15E Strike Eagle variant adds
1240:
1194:
666:
49:
75:
302:, having the performance to take on the point defense interception role, and the strategic threat moved from bombers to
1355:
1164:
393:
303:
82:
1137:
692:
417:
115:
674:
200:
and all-weather interceptor designs, the integration of mid-air refueling, satellite navigation, on-board radar and
627:
flight profiles the effective range, and therefore reaction time, of ground-based radar was limited to at best the
232:, which had heavy armament specifically intended for anti-bomber missions, was also a specialized day interceptor.
64:
1580:
1304:
670:
490:
against the same "less capable" designs due to limited maneuverability especially at low altitudes and speeds.
405:
53:
1032:
planes, it still retains the ability to 'sprint' at Mach 2+ speeds, and later versions can carry medium-range
990:
841:
Russia, despite merging the PVO into the VVS, continues to maintain its dedicated MiG-31 interceptor fleet.
815:. Similarly, their pilots were given less training in combat maneuvers, and more in radio-directed pursuit.
1103:
910:
460:
437:
299:
20:
420:
to computerize this task, while in the UK it led to enormously powerful radars to improve detection time.
1555:
1425:
1366:
923:
978:
601:
513:
276:
225:
762:
Countries that were strategically dependent on surface fleet, most notably US and UK, maintained also
1585:
1475:
1055:
941:
fleet air defense fighter, but this project was cancelled too. Finally, the role was assigned to the
883:
804:
784:
542:
291:
228:, which was the only rocket-powered, crewed military aircraft to see combat. To a lesser degree, the
553:
1470:
1059:
655:
268:
133:
89:
1516:
1443:
1324:
1051:
was a prototype jet fighter developed during the 1950s. It never flew and was cancelled in 1960.
868:
827:
659:
565:
475:
464:
373:
338:
287:
229:
169:
165:
42:
1001:
being introduced in the 1980s. The
Tornado was eventually replaced with a multirole design, the
1415:
958:
619:) flying a combination of techniques colloquially known as "flying below the radar". By flying
608:
483:
424:
1129:
894:. In the late 1940s ADC started a project to build a much more advanced interceptor under the
1528:
1506:
1433:
1403:
1079:
1029:
789:
705:
As capabilities continued to improve – especially through the widespread introduction of the
612:
283:
1154:
372:. They were told about their target's location before take-off from a command centre in the
1252:
740:
715:
535:
216:
721:
As an alternative, longer-range designs with extended loiter times were considered. These
8:
1319:
1002:
998:
963:
864:
735:
307:
295:
201:
185:
561:
1022:
930:
854:
752:
593:
589:
922:
while retaining the interception and air-to-air combat of other F-15s. Presently, the
1453:
1420:
1309:
1284:
1236:
1190:
1160:
1133:
1122:
850:
808:
597:
479:
389:
368:. Early units generally used aircraft withdrawn from front-line service, notably the
264:
212:
902:
after a lengthy development process. Further replacements were studied, notably the
330:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1521:
1511:
1438:
1408:
1398:
1332:
919:
899:
895:
624:
456:
239:
220:
153:
1361:
1314:
1184:
982:
974:
620:
616:
607:
The role of crewed point defense designs was reassigned to uncrewed interceptors—
510:
189:
506:
1490:
1485:
1458:
1084:
1066:
946:
909:
As the F-106 was retired, intercept missions were assigned to the contemporary
835:
831:
793:
748:
585:
409:
315:
311:
255:
156:
designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking
137:
874:
128:
1574:
1463:
1393:
986:
934:
891:
731:
628:
546:
501:
433:
381:
342:
260:
243:
235:
197:
181:
177:
16:
Fighter aircraft specializing in the defensive interception of enemy aircraft
246:
type, although initially they were rarely referred to as such. In the early
1388:
1383:
1048:
1026:
1018:
1014:
823:
455:
as it was the best means to defend against an unexpected nuclear attack by
392:
were possible but only at great cost. The conclusion at the time was that "
319:
272:
251:
1533:
1480:
1214:
942:
887:
819:
767:
744:
376:
building. The Pup proved to have too low performance to easily intercept
369:
353:
335:
208:
193:
388:
to climb to altitude before the bombers reached their targets. Standing
168:. Aircraft that are capable of being or are employed as both "standard"
706:
452:
429:
377:
1210:
580:
526:
995:
its own, highly adapted version of the McDonnell
Douglas F-4 Phantom
644:
579:, bombers were expected to attack flying higher and faster, even at
474:
A dedicated interceptor aircraft sacrifices the capabilities of the
196:. While the second type was exemplified historically by specialized
31:
800:
759:, assuring successful operations during night, rain, snow, or fog.
756:
711:
576:
487:
448:
361:
247:
1371:
1299:
1058:
served in numbers through 1950s. Its supersonic replacement, the
365:
989:. Efforts to replace the Javelin with a supersonic design under
1378:
1209:
In 1954 the first systems were deployed operationally, such as
938:
903:
812:
441:
357:
346:
161:
1033:
400:
157:
1282:
1128:( ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp.
914:
882:
From 1946 to 1980 the United States maintained a dedicated
556:
in its "C" subtype series, all nicknamed "home protector" (
436:
in favor of much larger and longer-ranged designs like the
267:. Examples of classic interceptors of this era include the
451:, a strong interceptor force was crucial for the opposing
412:
were built in the late 1930s to coordinate these efforts.
967:
211:, and are perhaps best known from major actions like the
997:
as its primary interceptor from the mid-1970s, with the
545:, the Germans developed even odder designs, such as the
1182:
1062:("Avro Arrow"), was controversially cancelled in 1959.
282:
Through the 1960s and 1970s, the rapid improvements in
937:
project. Later it launched the development of a large
180:, designed for high performance over short range; and
743:radars good enough to detect and track fast moving
352:The first interceptor squadrons were formed during
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1121:
1572:
999:air defence variant (ADV) of the Panavia Tornado
818:The Soviets' main interceptor was initially the
176:. There are two general classes of interceptor:
1268:
566:BMW 003R turbojet/rocket "mixed-power" engine
560:, in four differing formats) and the planned
493:
751:, and the capability to provide guidance to
482:(i.e., countering enemy fighter aircraft in
263:, and armament dedicated to attacking large
184:, which are intended to operate over longer
673:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
584:role. Such were the mixed jet/rocket power
172:and as interceptors are sometimes known as
1275:
1261:
778:
1235:. Widewing Publications. pp. 14–17.
1217:. The year 1957 marked the deployment of
693:Learn how and when to remove this message
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
1178:
1176:
1152:
957:
873:
788:
572:, but were never produced in quantity.
505:
364:and later against fixed-wing long-range
329:
127:
1124:Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering
977:operated a supersonic day fighter, the
898:effort, which eventually delivered the
863:these proposals were the single-engine
428:number of short-range designs like the
1573:
1256:
1230:
1173:
592:. The Soviet and Western trials with
423:The introduction of the first useful
1153:Mladenov, Alexander (20 June 2014).
1119:
671:adding citations to reliable sources
638:
524:At the end of Second World War, the
54:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
807:(PVO-S) differed from those of the
447:In the 1950s and 1960’s during the
304:intercontinental ballistic missiles
13:
1356:Airborne early warning and control
1183:Danny S. Parker; S Parker (2007).
1039:
394:the bomber will always get through
14:
1597:
1113:
953:
714:in times of heightened tensions,
564:E subtype, using one of the same
418:Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
136:, a principal interceptor of the
993:came to naught. The UK operated
844:
643:
30:
1189:. Da Capo Press, Incorporated.
634:
41:needs additional citations for
1224:
1203:
1146:
1097:
773:
406:Ground controlled interception
1:
1159:. : Random House. p. 5.
1090:
991:Operational Requirement F.155
822:, which was followed by the
600:(initial A version) and the
461:mutually assured destruction
300:McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
21:Interceptor (disambiguation)
7:
1233:The Lockheed P-38 Lightning
1073:
849:In 1937, USAAC lieutenants
259:maneuverability for speed,
10:
1602:
979:English Electric Lightning
782:
602:English Electric Lightning
514:English Electric Lightning
499:
494:Point-defense interceptors
380:bombers, and the superior
325:
277:English Electric Lightning
226:Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
140:in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s
18:
1499:
1348:
1341:
1292:
1231:Bodie, Warren M. (1991).
1070:the final version J 35J.
1056:Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
884:Aerospace Defense Command
805:Soviet Air Defence Forces
785:Soviet Air Defence Forces
723:area defense interceptors
543:Emergency Fighter Program
516:point defense interceptor
488:fighter-to-fighter combat
194:meteorological conditions
1120:Shaw, Robert L. (1985).
1008:
830:"Foxbat". The auxiliary
575:In the initial stage of
269:Convair F-106 Delta Dart
242:are interceptors of the
170:air superiority fighters
134:Convair F-106 Delta Dart
1156:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
869:Lockheed P-38 Lightning
858:later that he used the
779:Soviet Union and Russia
609:surface-to-air missiles
476:air superiority fighter
465:air superiority fighter
425:surface to air missiles
341:intercepting a Russian
339:air superiority fighter
250:era the combination of
230:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
166:reconnaissance aircraft
160:aircraft, particularly
1054:The Canadian subsonic
987:night/all-weather role
970:
879:
796:
764:fleet defense fighters
517:
484:air combat manoeuvring
349:
141:
65:"Interceptor aircraft"
1581:Anti-aircraft weapons
1186:To Win The Winter Sky
1080:Anti-aircraft warfare
961:
877:
792:
783:Further information:
727:area defense fighters
509:
500:Further information:
333:
254:-powered bombers and
131:
1025:fighter-bombers and
933:led an unsuccessful
867:and the twin-engine
741:look-down/shoot-down
716:quick reaction alert
667:improve this section
536:Messerschmitt Me 163
438:North American F-108
404:engage the bombers.
217:Supermarine Spitfire
174:fighter-interceptors
146:interceptor aircraft
50:improve this article
19:For other uses, see
1426:Electronic warfare
1003:Eurofighter Typhoon
964:Eurofighter Typhoon
865:Bell P-39 Airacobra
753:air-to-air missiles
736:Panavia Tornado ADV
360:against attacks by
308:Panavia Tornado ADV
296:Grumman F-14 Tomcat
202:beyond visual range
1367:Counter-insurgency
1023:F-105 Thunderchief
971:
931:United States Navy
929:In the 1950s, the
880:
855:Benjamin S. Kelsey
797:
594:zero-length launch
590:Saunders Roe SR.53
568:as the Me 262C-2b
518:
390:combat air patrols
350:
292:multirole fighters
190:contested airspace
142:
1568:
1567:
1564:
1563:
1421:Close air support
1285:military aircraft
1242:978-0-9629359-5-4
1196:978-0-306-81689-5
1104:The Gloster S.S.8
1034:PL-12/SD-10 MRAAM
851:Gordon P. Saville
809:Soviet Air Forces
703:
702:
695:
598:F-104 Starfighter
570:HeimatschĂĽtzer II
480:multirole fighter
457:strategic bombers
399:The invention of
384:supplanted them.
265:strategic bombers
240:bomber destroyers
213:Battle of Britain
126:
125:
118:
100:
1593:
1586:Fighter aircraft
1429:
1346:
1345:
1328:
1277:
1270:
1263:
1254:
1253:
1247:
1246:
1228:
1222:
1207:
1201:
1200:
1180:
1171:
1170:
1150:
1144:
1143:
1127:
1117:
1111:
1101:
985:in the subsonic
981:, alongside the
920:air interdiction
900:F-106 Delta Dart
896:1954 interceptor
698:
691:
687:
684:
678:
647:
639:
625:nap-of-the-earth
532:
221:Hawker Hurricane
154:fighter aircraft
121:
114:
110:
107:
101:
99:
58:
34:
26:
1601:
1600:
1596:
1595:
1594:
1592:
1591:
1590:
1571:
1570:
1569:
1560:
1495:
1471:Maritime patrol
1444:Air superiority
1427:
1337:
1326:
1288:
1287:types and roles
1281:
1251:
1250:
1243:
1229:
1225:
1208:
1204:
1197:
1181:
1174:
1167:
1151:
1147:
1140:
1118:
1114:
1102:
1098:
1093:
1076:
1042:
1040:Other countries
1011:
983:Gloster Javelin
975:Royal Air Force
956:
847:
787:
781:
776:
699:
688:
682:
679:
664:
648:
637:
621:terrain masking
617:cruise missiles
530:
504:
496:
328:
288:air-superiority
256:nuclear weapons
152:, is a type of
122:
111:
105:
102:
59:
57:
47:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1599:
1589:
1588:
1583:
1566:
1565:
1562:
1561:
1559:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1543:
1538:
1537:
1536:
1526:
1525:
1524:
1517:Reconnaissance
1514:
1509:
1503:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1493:
1491:Strike fighter
1488:
1486:Fighter-bomber
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1436:
1431:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1412:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1376:
1375:
1374:
1369:
1359:
1352:
1350:
1343:
1339:
1338:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1296:
1294:
1290:
1289:
1280:
1279:
1272:
1265:
1257:
1249:
1248:
1241:
1223:
1202:
1195:
1172:
1166:978-1782003748
1165:
1145:
1138:
1112:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1088:
1087:
1085:Escort fighter
1082:
1075:
1072:
1067:Saab 35 Draken
1047:The Argentine
1041:
1038:
1030:reconnaissance
1010:
1007:
955:
954:United Kingdom
952:
947:AIM-54 Phoenix
846:
843:
794:Mikoyan MiG-31
780:
777:
775:
772:
766:, such as the
749:ground clutter
701:
700:
651:
649:
642:
636:
633:
586:Republic XF-91
558:HeimatschĂĽtzer
495:
492:
410:Dowding system
382:Sopwith Camels
327:
324:
316:Mikoyan MiG-31
312:Mikoyan MiG-25
294:, such as the
236:Night fighters
182:heavy fighters
178:light fighters
138:U.S. Air Force
124:
123:
38:
36:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1598:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1578:
1576:
1557:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1535:
1532:
1531:
1530:
1527:
1523:
1520:
1519:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1504:
1502:
1498:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1441:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1394:Medium bomber
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1381:
1380:
1377:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1364:
1363:
1360:
1357:
1354:
1353:
1351:
1347:
1344:
1340:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1286:
1278:
1273:
1271:
1266:
1264:
1259:
1258:
1255:
1244:
1238:
1234:
1227:
1220:
1216:
1212:
1206:
1198:
1192:
1188:
1187:
1179:
1177:
1168:
1162:
1158:
1157:
1149:
1141:
1139:0-87021-059-9
1135:
1131:
1126:
1125:
1116:
1109:
1105:
1100:
1096:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1071:
1068:
1063:
1061:
1057:
1052:
1050:
1045:
1037:
1035:
1031:
1028:
1024:
1020:
1016:
1006:
1004:
1000:
996:
992:
988:
984:
980:
976:
969:
965:
960:
951:
948:
944:
940:
936:
935:F6D Missileer
932:
927:
925:
921:
916:
912:
907:
905:
901:
897:
893:
892:F-89 Scorpion
889:
885:
876:
872:
870:
866:
861:
856:
852:
845:United States
842:
839:
837:
833:
829:
825:
821:
816:
814:
810:
806:
802:
795:
791:
786:
771:
769:
765:
760:
758:
754:
750:
746:
742:
737:
733:
732:Tupolev Tu-28
728:
724:
719:
717:
713:
708:
697:
694:
686:
676:
672:
668:
662:
661:
657:
652:This section
650:
646:
641:
640:
632:
630:
629:radar horizon
626:
623:low-altitude
622:
618:
614:
610:
605:
603:
599:
595:
591:
587:
582:
578:
573:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
548:
547:Bachem Ba 349
544:
540:
537:
529:
528:
522:
515:
512:
508:
503:
502:Point-defence
498:
491:
489:
485:
481:
477:
472:
468:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
445:
443:
439:
435:
434:Convair F-102
431:
426:
421:
419:
413:
411:
407:
402:
397:
395:
391:
385:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
348:
344:
340:
337:
332:
323:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
261:rate of climb
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
231:
227:
222:
218:
214:
210:
205:
203:
199:
198:night fighter
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
139:
135:
130:
120:
117:
109:
98:
95:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67: –
66:
62:
61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
44:
39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
1529:Surveillance
1507:Experimental
1448:
1389:Light bomber
1384:Heavy bomber
1232:
1226:
1205:
1185:
1155:
1148:
1123:
1115:
1107:
1099:
1065:The Swedish
1064:
1060:CF-105 Arrow
1053:
1049:FMA I.Ae. 37
1046:
1043:
1027:Lockheed U-2
1019:B-58 Hustler
1015:Shenyang J-8
1012:
973:The British
972:
928:
908:
881:
878:A USAF F-15C
859:
848:
840:
817:
798:
763:
761:
745:interdictors
734:. The later
726:
722:
720:
704:
689:
683:January 2018
680:
665:Please help
653:
635:Area defense
606:
574:
569:
557:
549:
538:
525:
523:
519:
497:
473:
469:
446:
422:
414:
398:
386:
374:Horse Guards
351:
320:Shenyang J-8
286:led to most
281:
273:Sukhoi Su-15
234:
206:
192:and adverse
173:
149:
148:, or simply
145:
143:
112:
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
1481:Interdictor
1449:Interceptor
1358:(AEW&C)
1219:SA-75 Dvina
1215:S-25 Berkut
945:, carrying
943:F-14 Tomcat
860:interceptor
799:During the
774:Development
768:F-14 Tomcat
615:(and later
613:penetrators
453:superpowers
370:Sopwith Pup
354:World War I
336:F-22 Raptor
215:, when the
209:World War I
150:interceptor
1575:Categories
1500:Non-combat
1476:Multi-role
1409:Pathfinder
1404:Penetrator
1320:Helicopter
1310:Fixed-wing
1091:References
707:jet engine
430:Avro Arrow
378:Gotha G.IV
356:to defend
318:, and the
76:newspapers
1556:Transport
1454:Emergency
1399:Strategic
1325:Unmanned
1211:Nike Ajax
1021:bombers,
966:with the
654:does not
581:transonic
527:Luftwaffe
362:Zeppelins
106:June 2020
1434:Intruder
1074:See also
826:and the
801:Cold War
757:avionics
747:against
712:Cold War
577:Cold War
449:Cold War
248:Cold War
1551:Trainer
1546:Testbed
1512:Liaison
1439:Fighter
1416:Carrier
1372:Gunship
1333:Stealth
1305:Balloon
1300:Airship
1283:Modern
675:removed
660:sources
366:bombers
334:A USAF
326:History
162:bombers
90:scholar
1541:Tanker
1459:Escort
1379:Bomber
1362:Attack
1349:Combat
1315:Glider
1239:
1193:
1163:
1136:
1132:–347.
1108:Flight
939:F-111B
904:NR-349
836:MiG-31
832:Tu-128
828:MiG-25
813:boxcar
562:He 162
554:Me 262
550:Natter
442:MiG-25
358:London
347:Alaska
284:design
275:, and
186:ranges
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
1534:Scout
1522:Scout
1464:Night
1342:Roles
1327:(UAV)
1293:Types
1009:China
888:F-86D
824:Su-15
539:Komet
531:'
401:radar
345:near
343:Tu-95
244:heavy
188:, in
158:enemy
97:JSTOR
83:books
1428:(EW)
1237:ISBN
1191:ISBN
1161:ISBN
1134:ISBN
1013:The
924:F-22
915:F-16
913:and
911:F-15
890:and
853:and
820:Su-9
658:any
656:cite
478:and
440:and
432:and
298:and
290:and
238:and
219:and
164:and
132:The
69:news
1213:or
1130:346
968:RAF
725:or
669:by
588:or
511:RAF
444:.
396:".
252:jet
144:An
52:by
1577::
1175:^
1106:,
1005:.
962:A
770:.
604:.
467:.
322:.
314:,
310:,
279:.
271:,
1276:e
1269:t
1262:v
1245:.
1221:.
1199:.
1169:.
1142:.
696:)
690:(
685:)
681:(
677:.
663:.
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.jpg)