Who needs a generation race in aviation?
Why this is needed is understandable without equivocation. The steeper the plane (this applies not only to fighters), the easier and more profitable it can be sold.
After all, it’s not without reason that our many media outlets from time to time flourish with headlines like “****** considers the issue of buying Su-57”, “**** is thinking of acquiring Su-57” and so on. Further thought, the matter does not go on yet, but this is still the main administrative resource not involved. Let's see in general how it will come out in the end.
Therefore, the “generationometer” is an important tool in this process.
The whole problem is that we have different devices. And their scales are not graduated in the same way as we would like. Therefore, strange things arise.
For example, the Americans classify their F-15, F-16 and carrier-based F / A-18 aircraft as third-generation fighters. Initially, they were created as part of one strategy, so everything is fine here. It is clear that during such a long service the same F-16 has undergone upgrades so many times since the 1979 of the year that today it is, to put it mildly, a different aircraft.
These modernizations in the USA are referred to the intermediate generation. A sort of "3,5 generation."
Well, the sweet couple F-22 and F-35 - this is the fourth generation.
In general, everything is pretty clear. This is how all NATO countries classify their planes; there, except the USA, there is someone to let them out.
And the same way went, by the way, and China. His J-10 in the PRC belongs to the third generation, and the modifications of the J-10B, which played a lot with visibility plus put radars with AFAR, and the J-10C, which greatly reduced radar visibility and put an optical-radar viewing station, - to the very generation of 3,5.
In principle, it is logical. To make it easier to figure out and compare your planes and those against which you may have to work.
China's policy is such that anything can happen. At least, the Celestial Empire defends its interests in full and quite dignified.
But their inconspicuous multi-role fighter J-20 in China belong to the fourth generation. Following on all indicators.
Why is everything wrong in Russia, it’s hard to say.
But we always had our own path of development, often there, beyond the borders of the incomprehensible. So, according to Russian Feng Shui, all of the aforementioned third and a half generation fighters belong to the fourth, and the fourth to the fifth.
And so our Su-30 is the fourth generation, and the Su-57 becomes the fifth generation fighter.
How many keyboards have already been broken on the topic of the superiority of the Su-57 over the F-35 or vice versa, it is scary to imagine. In fact, the aircraft are of the same class, but, according to this confusing and slurred rating system, Russia is ahead of the United States by a whole generation. By pulling the ears of “their” fourth generation to “our” fifth.
Well, what to do with the Chinese J-16?
J-16 - a new multi-role fighter, recently entered service and little known to the general public. Until. Now, if you take and disassemble it "in the cogs", then it is neither there nor here. That is, it’s definitely not 3,5 according to “their” terminology and not 4 +, if according to ours.
And why not?
And because the Chinese have returned to the old principle of multi-purpose. You must admit that recently the planes were very clearly divided: attack aircraft, fighter-bombers, bombers, fighters for gaining air superiority, interceptors, and so on.
However, the J-16, which is just outrageously similar to the Su-30 (and they are similar, was presented by the Ukrainians), is modernized and fairly modernized.
That's essentially J-16 - a multi-role fighter of a wide range of applications. The Chinese themselves say that yes, the Su-16MKK was taken as the basis for J-30, but the avionics in China were altered so much that J-16 is ahead of the Russian counterpart by a whole generation.
Yes, there is a radar with AFAR there, it is a fact that saddens the Indian military, who have Su-30MKI, who have no AFAR. But the Indian Air Force due to the number of anyone can confuse. As for quality, this is a difficult question, but ...
Nevertheless: where are the J-16 going to be?
And most importantly - is it necessary?
All these generations are not just from the evil one, but nothing more than a marketing move, if you think carefully. Well, what's the difference, how to call Su-30 with letters, 4 + or 4 ++, is it better to fly from this?
No, he’d better not fly. And it will not be worse if you transfer to the category 3 or 3,5. Just because it's Su-30. MKI, MKK, MK2 ...
Professionals know this very well, and they simply do not need these digit classes.
There are some good aircraft such as Su-57 and F-35.
These are really advanced cars with great potential. They can be called the fourth generation, can be called the fifth, can be the sixth. This is not the point.
The essence of the combined performance characteristics of these aircraft, their combat and (especially) operational capabilities and (important!) Prices.
The fact that a supposedly “fifth” generation of Su-57 aircraft did not line up is clear. The plane, as it were, is not produced in such quantities, it is not used (well, except for the demonstration flight in Syria and with Putin), it is not in a hurry to enter the Russian army either.
Conclusion?
The conclusion is simple. So-so airplane, call it the fifth generation, do not call it ... And the people take not the fifth in our opinion, not the fourth in the western, but the reliable and well-known Su-30 and Su-35.
And everything is pretty logical.
The fact that the Americans arranged a magnificent PR campaign for their F-35 and have already released them for more than four hundred is understandable. Need to sell. But they are selling! It is clear that someone (like the Danes) may refuse, but pre-orders and intentions on more than 3 thousands of cars!
And why? But because the plane really flies.
And here, in place of the Yankees, I would simply pour gold on Israel, whose F-35 really fly and carry out combat missions to settle accounts with Hezbollah and Iraq.
What is the difference with whom, most importantly - they fly and perform. And the whole world sees it and votes with a wallet.
But for the Su-57 and J-20 no one is in a hurry. No matter how much they are praised by ours, that by the Chinese, planes do not fly and do not fight.
And as much as you can talk about the fact that "they don’t understand their happiness", still the best advertisement arms - the battle.
And you can say a lot of things.
To summarize, I want to say the following: all these divisions into generations, attempts to give the aircraft some sort of classification 4, 4 +, 4 ++, 5 - it's all just marketing and nothing more.
There are good airplanes, there are medium ones and there is so-so. The first ones are produced in thousands and for many years serve the countries they are armed with (we take the entire line of MiG-29, Su-27, F-15, F-16, Mirages, some were very much so on), and there are some that will be forgotten after a very short amount of time.
And one does not have to go far for an example. Here it is - F-22. In ten years, experts and Wikipedia will remember him.
Actually, all this puzzling division of airplanes into generations is nothing more than an attempt to fill them with a price. So far, only the Americans are getting it. But on the flight and combat characteristics, the digital generation is not reflected in any way.
We do not need digits. We need good airplanes. Modern and high quality. Which will operate with modern weapons and combat systems. Let marketers and couchs fight with numbers.
Based on materials: [leech =] https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2019-10-03/doc-iicezueu9805037.shtml [/ leech].
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