Consider the following aircraft :
- Rafael
- MiG-29
- Tejas MK-1
How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft ?
Only one
Only two
All three
None
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2024
Let’s examine the listed aircraft:
– Rafael: The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft. It is widely considered a 4.5 generation fighter, incorporating advanced technologies and capabilities that bridge the gap between 4th and 5th generation aircraft, but it lacks the full-spectrum stealth required for true 5th generation status.
– MiG-29: The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a Soviet/Russian twin-engine jet fighter aircraft developed in the 1970s. It is widely considered a 4th generation fighter.
– Tejas MK-1: The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter. The Tejas MK-1 is considered a 4th generation fighter aircraft. Subsequent planned variants (like Tejas MK-2 or the AMCA) are expected to incorporate more advanced features.
None of the aircraft listed (Rafael, MiG-29, Tejas MK-1) are classified as true fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Examples of fifth-generation fighters include the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Sukhoi Su-57, Chengdu J-20, and Shenyang FC-31/J-31.
Therefore, none of the aircraft listed are fifth-generation fighter aircraft.