The first fighter jets began to appear in the 1940s during World War II. These aircraft featured straight wings, wooden frames, manual controls, rudimentary armaments and travelled no faster than 400 km/h at full speed. Notable BAE Systems aircraft of this generation included — the first fighter jet the UK produced — the Gloster Meteor, as well as the De Havilland Vampire.
In the 1950s, second generation jet planes improved upon the first generation with streamlined designs, afterburners and could break the sound barrier (1,200 km/h) while in flight. They were equipped with the first rockets and radar systems. Now a staple of BAE Systems’s heritage, the Hawker Hunter was a popular post-WWII aircraft in widespread use. The Royal Air Force, alone, purchased more than 1,000 Hunters throughout their lifetime.
Third generation fighter jets of the 1960s and 1970s saw the introduction of multi-role designs, meaning aircraft were capable of both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. A leap forward in avionics, weapons systems and missile technologies meant these jets could confidently engage hostiles outside of a pilot’s visual range. Known colloquially as the “Jump Jet”, BAE Systems’s Harrier was the world’s first fixed-wing aircraft capable of short take off and vertical landing (STOVL). The Harrier’s unique vector-thrust turbofan and rotatable engine exhaust ports system meant it could direct engine thrust at different angles. In essence, the aircraft could take off, hover and land all on the same spot.
Between the 1980s and 1990s, fourth generation (and later 4.5 generation) fighters began to make their way onto the military scene. They featured new heads up displays, fly-by-wire control systems (electronic flight systems that replaced the manual controls of earlier planes) and improved manoeuvrability. An aircraft of this era was the F/A-18 “Classic” Hornet. Retired in 2021, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had a fleet of 75 Hornets and BAE Systems Australia maintained and refurbished them for nearly 20 years.
With advancements in computer systems and reductions in military budgets, there was a more cost-effective approach to 4.5 generation warplanes, focusing on augmenting proven designs than creating something brand new from the ground up. An example of this is the development of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from the “Classic” Hornet. BAE Systems in the UK is a key member of an international manufacturing and sustainment consortium for the 4.5 generation Eurofighter Typhoon, which is the backbone of many air forces across Europe and the Middle East.
Fifth generation fighters are the current frontline air defence for many nations around the world. Along with others of this generation, the F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation warplane that utilises stealth capabilities, as well as the latest state-of-the-art systems and technologies. BAE Systems is a F-35 Global Program partner and manufactures parts of the aircraft’s rear fuselage and vertical and horizontal stabilises in facilities in the UK and Australia. The Australian business also sustains the RAAF’s fleet of F-35s.
Future designs for sixth generation warplanes are presently on the drawing board. One of these concepts is Tempest under development in the Global Combat Air Programme, a partnership between the UK, Italy and Japan. BAE Systems is the UK industry lead for the collaboration. This is part of the business’s commitment to innovate, while continuing to add to the legacy of fighter jets.