IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTER JET IN A WAR

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                                                  FIGHTER JET

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              Fighter jets are designed for high-speed performance and combat agility, but their payload (weapons, fuel, sensors) significantly impacts their speed and maneuverability. Here's a concise summary:

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Key Factors Affecting Speed with Payload

1. **Drag and Weight:**  

   - External stores (missiles, bombs, fuel tanks) increase aerodynamic drag and weight, reducing top speed and acceleration.  

   - Example: An F-16 Fighting Falcon’s top speed drops from **Mach 2+** (clean configuration) to **~Mach 1.6** with external payloads.

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2. **Stealth vs. External Loads:**  

   - Stealth jets (e.g., F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II) use internal weapon bays to minimize drag, maintaining **supersonic speeds** (up to Mach 1.8 for F-35) even when armed.  

   - Non-stealth jets (e.g., F-15E Strike Eagle, Su-35) face greater speed penalties when fully loaded.

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3. **Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (TWR):**  

   - Higher TWR (e.g., F-22: ~1.08) allows better performance under heavy loads.  

   - Lower TWR jets struggle to compensate for added weight/drag.

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4. **Fuel Efficiency and Range:**  

   - External fuel tanks extend range but add drag.  

   - Example: The F/A-18 Super Hornet’s range increases with external tanks but sacrifices speed.

### **Speed Classifications:**

- **Supersonic:** Mach 1–2.5 (most modern fighters, e.g., F-15: Mach 2.5).  

- **Hypersonic:** Mach 5+ (experimental/next-gen tech, not yet standard).

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     Examples of Payload vs. Speed Trade-offs

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- **F-15 Eagle:** Can carry **16,000 lbs** of payload but max speed drops from Mach 2.5 to ~Mach 2.2 when loaded.  

- **Su-35 Flanker:** Carries **17,600 lbs** of ordnance but likely reduces speed from Mach 2.25 to sub-Mach 2.  

- **Eurofighter Typhoon:** **Mach 2+** clean, but ~Mach 1.8 with external weapons.

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                Mitigation Strategies

- **Internal Weapon Bays** (stealth jets).  

- **Conformal Fuel Tanks** (reduce drag vs. external tanks).  

- **Advanced Engines** (e.g., F-135 in F-35) to offset weight.

         Takeaway

Payload capacity is critical for mission flexibility, but speed and agility are inversely proportional to load. Modern designs prioritize balancing these factors through advanced aerodynamics, propulsion, and stealth tech.

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