defense

Do We Still Need Jet Fighters?

Jet Fighter Aircraft; Within an hour, with or without any help from below and/or above, it can drop and destroy approximately 10 tons of ammunition with an error of 5-10 m (i.e. F-16) on a target at a distance of 600 miles (approximately 1000 km).

Why do we have Jet Fighters? Do we still need them?

Developments in UAV and UCAV systems in recent years, especially Turkey's combat successes in its region by using UAVs and UCAVs very effectively, which have led to the updating of warfare tactics and strategies, and our becoming one of the world's leading countries in UAV and UCAV design and production, The export success of our UAVs and UCAVs, coupled with the policy and cost-oriented problems in the procurement and maintenance of jet fighter aircraft (our exclusion from the F-35 program partnership, the new F-16Vs to be purchased, for which we still have not been able to initiate a sales agreement, and modernization kits for our existing F-16s, etc.) have placed an extremely high importance and hope on UAVs and UCAVs. etc.) have placed an excessively high importance and hope on UAVs and UCAVs. In fact, it has even raised the question of whether we still need manned jet fighters like the F-16 when we have UAVs and UCAVs, and the necessity of jet fighters has started to be discussed.

In this study, I will try to question the existence and necessity of fighter jets with a similar approach.

UAVs and UCAVs are also aircrafts, and even jet-powered versions are being designed and manufactured (e.g. MIUS Red Aim). However, when I categorize jet fighter aircraft in my article, I will be referring to the classic jet fighter aircraft flown by a pilot (e.g. F-16).

Are UAVs and UCAVs Failing to Meet the Jet Fighter Requirement? Why not?

What Do Jet Fighters Do?

In our article; classical missions of jet fighter jets, their missions according to modern times, how do jet fighter jets perform their missions? What are the characteristics of jet fighter jets? Weapons and equipment? Stealth (Low Visibility to Radar) - Stealth - three types of survivability feature stealth, what is the cost of low visibility? Jet fighters as flying electronic platforms? By answering these questions, we will examine the necessity of jet fighters.

Jet Combat Aircraft;

A jet fighter aircraft (e.g. F-16) can drop and destroy approximately 10 tons of ammunition with an error of 5-10 m (5-10 m) on a target at a distance of 600 miles (approximately 1000 km) within an hour, with or without any help from below and/or above.

This mission

 UCAV cannot perform this task,

 Tank can't,

 Cannot build an Armed Helicopter.

 Cannot make Howitzer (Long Range Cannon),

 Long Range Tactical Missiles may be able to do some destruction at this range, at this power, at this time, but the accuracy of the hit cannot be at the level of the aircraft...

Which system other than jet fighter jets;

What system, other than a jet fighter jet, can reach a target a thousand kilometers away within an hour, confuse the air defense systems there, even destroy them with missile(s), and then, almost through the bedroom window of the president of that country, insert 10 tons of ammunition with this level of precision, while at the same time providing him with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance services?

This mission;

 Submarine cannot

 UCAV can't do it

What are the longest-serving weapon systems?

The USS Aegis cruisers were decommissioned after 18 years of service. It was not economical to modernize them.

Some of the B-52Hs built between 1952 and 1962 have been in service for more than 60-70 years.

Some F-4Es, including those in the Turkish Air Force, have been in service for nearly 50 years or +8000 hours.

Many of the F-16As procured through the EPAF (European Participating Air Forces - Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands) program have been in service since 1978 and have undergone modernization almost equivalent to the F-16V, meaning they are still in active service and will be replaced by the F-35.

Jet aircraft and jet aircraft systems (including jet engines) can be used effectively and efficiently for many years and long hours with rational structural, avionics, flight control systems, weapon systems, mission software, engines, etc. system modernizations performed at appropriate periods.

This is also true for other weapon systems, including tanks, but configuration upgrades are a very common and preferred practice for military aircraft.

Modernization is less preferred for civil aircraft, especially passenger aircraft. However, these aircraft can also be used for military purposes after being removed from civilian missions. For example, DC-10s are modified as aerial refueling aircraft (tanker aircraft) and used as KC-10s. The design and airframe of the KC-135 is based on the Boeing 707 civil transport aircraft.

The F-35 will not be a "Manned Jet Fighter" after the JSF.

For now, this is the widespread opinion in the aviation field.

Yes, UAVs/UAVs are very much on the world agenda. They can conduct reconnaissance and armed reconnaissance. They can launch Helfire missiles and drop LGB bombs. They are not yet successful in launching air-to-air missiles.

Intensive work is being carried out on UAVs. There are no UCAVs with the speed, range and payload capacity of jets yet.

For now, there are only subsonic (subsonic speed) drones capable of reconnaissance and light air attack. However, there are not yet any that can provide close air support, perform air-to-air missions, reach supersonic speeds, or carry the ammunition carried by jet fighter jets. However, there are intensive efforts to design and manufacture UCAVs that can do these things.

Realistically, for now, UCAVs can only be compared to subsonic attack aircraft.

Which Missions Do Jet Fighter Aircraft Perform?

Classic combat missions;

 Air combat

 Airspace defense

 Counter air and escort (protection) missions

 Air-to-ground assault

 Coup, deep coup and isolation

 Close air support

 Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD)

 Coup over the sea

Emerging next generation missions;

 Air-to-ground, non-traditional intelligence surveillance reconnaissance

 Forward air control, armed reconnaissance

 Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (DEAD)

How Do Jet Fighter Aircraft Perform These Missions?

Features of Jet Fighters;

 They are mobile

 With support, they can be quickly deployed to other bases/regions

 Aerial Refueling Tanker Aircraft extend their range

 Has Life-Sustaining Properties

 Self-escort or mutual escort

 Need for limited air defense protection

 They are durable

 Their durability can be upgraded

 They are modular

 Most jet fighters in service are over 25 years old

 Long-term investment

What Kind of Jet Fighter?

 Self-substituting

 Ability to complete its mission in the face of potential threats

 Surviving even in adverse situations

 Economic

 Losing a jet fighter should not be losing a national asset

 Even very small countries still demand more than 20 jet fighters in a single purchase

 Sufficient number of aircraft should be available for simultaneous deployment and sustainment

 Cost-effective aerial refueling aircraft should be able to be supported by Airborne Early Warning (AEW)

 They should receive a reasonable share of national defense resources

 Costs of procurement, operational and sustainable upgrades must be economical

 A jet fighter that is unaffordable, a heavy burden on the budget, is not effective

 Jet fighter aircraft must be adaptable between versatile missions and adaptable throughout life

Versatility is the key to

 Long-term operational relevance

 Long-term production, hence long-term development and support

What are the requirements for combat aircraft (jet fighters, UAVs, UCAVs)? Why do air forces want jet fighters?

 Speed and agility (maneuverability)

 Driven by threat and survival

 Engagement control is a classic value

 Range

 Expected/foreseen/planned area of operations

 Transferability, elasticity

 Cost analysis against tanker requirements

 Task Load

 Quantity, characteristics and effectiveness of weapons and equipment carried

 Goal sets and tasks

 Persistent Air Ground Support (with a large number of weapons and ammunition)

 Dual-mission (with air-to-air, air-to-ground ammunition in the same sortie)

 Survivability

 Because if it cannot survive without an escort, it is not a jet fighter.

 Ability to defend itself

 The inherent quality of air-to-ground attack aircraft against fighter (interceptor, air combat) aircraft

 Situational awareness and its weapons

 Ability to carry stand-off weapons (weapons that can be released at a distance)

 Prevent/delay detection, tracking or targeting

 Electronic mixing

 Reducing detectability

 Stealth (low radar visibility) or low observables (LO-Low observability) is a critical and valuable way to reduce detectability

There are three types of LO;

Reduced RCS (Radar Cross Section)

Example: Eurofighter Typhoon

LO (Low Observability)

Example: F-35 Lightning II

VLO (Very Low Observability)

Example: Northrop Grumman X-47B

Jet fighter's lethal capability?

New features;

 Information platform

 Target pods & AESA radar

 On-board data storage and datalinks

 Being an effective weapon platform

 Weapon diversity is increasing

 Long-range remote stand off to ultra-precise ammunition carrying capability

Conclusion:

Jet fighters will not cede their throne to any system. They will continue to survive and be the main striking element of air power. Jet fighter jets' air combat capability, ammunition carrying capacity and capability, range, speed, maneuverability and lethality, effectiveness and usability across the combat spectrum, longevity, affordability, supportability, stealth features, and being the most effective and efficient flying platform for many old and new technologies will continue to make them essential in the inventories of air forces. It does not seem possible for UAVs and UCAVs to sit on this throne before the 6th generation. As for the 6th generation and beyond, we will call jet fighters jet fighters without people on board.

While this is the situation and reality in sky combat, it would be a strategic mistake to attribute more importance and duties to today's UAVs and UCAVs than they really are, to overconfidence, overconfidence and overconfidence, and to neglect our jet fighter fleets. UAVs and UCAVs will certainly support our jet fighter aircraft in some missions, even lighten their load, but they will never be their substitute.

When human pilots start to fly all aircrafts from the ground and/or computers start to fly aircrafts, the terms UAV and UCAV will cease to have meaning, and all flying carrier weapon platforms will be referred to as subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic combat aircraft.