Countries Compete with Fifth Generation Fighter Aircrafts

U.S. to Develop Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV)-

The F-22, a fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft developed to replace the F-15 in 1991, was used for action at the end of 2005.

The F-22 is hardly detectable by radar as its radar cross section (RCS) is only as big as a small insect. It is called a “ghost fighter aircraft” since the enemy’s fighter aircraft cannot detect it until its missiles are launched.

The F-22 has a supercruise capability and other high-tech aeronautical equipments. The U.S. Air Force plans to buy about 300 F-22s ($300 million per aircraft) by mid 2010.

The U.S. Department of Defense is also developing a next generation stealth unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) to replace the F-22 with Boeing. Already tested for flying and bombing, the Boeing X-45 is known to be mass-produced within five years.

China to Develop Next Generation Fighter Aircraft-

China is developing the J-13 and J-14, next generation fighter aircrafts aimed to be used for action around 2015.

The two fighter aircrafts are being developed to compete with the F-22 as China’s main military sites can be destroyed by the latter in minutes if the F-22 planes are stationed at the U.S. bases in Guam or Japan.

Especially threatened by the F-22’s stealth, China is applying stealth by following Russia’s fifth generation fighter aircraft development plan.

Military experts analyze that the J-13 and J-14, superior to China’s previous fighter aircrafts and Russia’s SU-27, are likely to break the military balance in Northeast Asia.

Russia’s SU-47 Veiled–

Russia has been developing the SU-47 and MiG 1.42, fifth generation fighter aircrafts, since even under the Soviet regime.

The SU-47 has limited stealth with its body coated with a special paint and missiles are carried internally. With its forward-swept wings, it is known to have excellent cruising capability and maneuverability. However, Russia has produced only a test aircraft due to its financial troubles.

As China and Japan are armed with their fifth generation fighter aircrafts, however, Russia is likely to mass-produce and use SU-47s for action.

Korea’s Choice?-

Korea plans to purchase fifth generation fighter aircrafts after buying 20 F-15K’s from 2010 to 2012.

Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo said at a briefing last month, “The F-15K is an old model. (When Japan buys F-22s), we basically think we should have a similar level of fighter aircrafts.”

The F-15K, superior to the U.S. F-15C or Japan’s F-15J, is counted as the “most powerful fighter aircraft in East Asia.” However, the fourth generation fighter aircraft will be shadowed by the fifth generation fighter aircrafts owned by neighboring countries.

The problem is money. It is not possible for Korea to buy fifth generation fighter aircrafts such as the F-22, which costs three times the price of an F-15K. Some are arguing that Korea should buy F-35s, which are cheaper and with the same stealth capability as the F-22.

ysh1005@donga.com