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They all have twin canted vertical tails (similar to a V-tail) also to minimize side RCS. In order to minimize their radar cross-section (RCS), most fifth-generation fighters use chines instead of standard leading edge extensions and lack canards, though the Sukhoi T-50 has engine intake extensions that seem to function somewhat like canards and the Chengdu J-20 designers have chosen the agility enhancements of canards in spite of their poor stealth characteristics.
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The defining characteristics of such a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all. The emerging generation of advanced fighter aircraft in the first decades of the 21st century have come to be known as the fifth generation. Other national and international projects are in various stages of development.
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Īs of January 2023, the combat-ready fifth-generation fighters are the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in December 2005 the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, which entered service with the USAF in July 2015 the Chengdu J-20, which entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in September 2017 and the Sukhoi Su-57, which entered service with the Russian Air Force (VVS) on 25 December 2020. The characteristics of a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed upon and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all however, they typically include stealth, low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR), agile airframes with supercruise performance, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battlespace for situation awareness and C 3 ( command, control and communications) capabilities. As of 2023, these are the most advanced fighters in operation.
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A fifth-generation fighter is a jet fighter aircraft classification which includes major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century.
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