History of Soviet and Russian Fighter Jets

History of Soviet and Russian Fighter Jets 

First we get over Generations. 

Gen 1 = jet engine fighter with gyroscopic sights. 

Gen 2 = 1st gen and rangefinding radar with supersonic engines with use of early missiles

Gen 3 = Flight management computer, autopilot, navigation system, data link, 2nd gen radar, radar and IR missiles with 1st gen RWR 

Gen 4 = fly by wire AFCS, digitisation of systems with 3rd Gen radar and better RWR with improved missiles and chaff and flares 

Gen 4+ = digital fly by wire, early glass cockpit, improved microprocessors with enhanced RWR 

Gen 4++ = fully digital systems, gen 4 radar and RWR, full glass cockpit with LCD MFDs with use of fox 3s 

Gen 5 = full stealth Airframe, Gen 5 radar, sensor fusion with powerful C2 systems

The first Soviet Fighter jet was the MiG-9 in early 1946 that used RD-20 turbojet engines reversed engineered from German ones. 

It's true that engine wise the Soviets struggled a lot early, although to be fair they did not have the luxury of german scientists working for them as the USA did. 

In 1947 the soviets purchased Derwent V engines that used centrifugal flow compressor turbojets which allowed them to make the RD-500 for use on the Yak-23 and La-15, there was also the Yak-15 and Yak-17. 

In the same year they used this foundation to build their own RD-45s which would be used to power their first swept wing MiG-15, which would be followed by the MiG-17 

In 1952 the soviets created their first 2nd Generation fighter with the MiG-19 which utilised the indigenous RD-9 turbojets, this beat the USAs F-100 which was made in 1953, this was followed with the Yak-25, Yak-27K, MiG-21F, Su-7A and Su-9 throughout the 50s. 

Their first 2+ Aircraft was the La-250 in 1956, followed by the Su-11 and Ye-150 in 1959, Tu-28P in 1961, Ye-8, Su-15 and MiG-21PF in 1962 and finally Yak-28P in 1964. 

The Soviets first 3rd Generation Fighter would be the MiG-25 in 1964 with it entering service in 1970, this was followed by the Su-15T and MiG-21S in 1965 with them entering service in 1968, followed by the MiG-23 in 1968 although little were made with MiG-23M and Su-15TM first flight in 1971 and lastly the Tu-28M in 1974. 

Su-15T

MiG-21S

MiG-23M

MiG-25P

Their first 3+ aircraft was meant to be the MiG-23M in 1971 however many of the digital electronics (like the digital INS, FMC with a digital microprocessor and MTI radar wasn't ready) and it wasn't until the MiG-23ML in 1974 with it entering service in 1976 that the Soviets had a true 3+ aircraft. 

Other 3+ aircraft were utilised throughout the 70s with the Tu-28M, MiG-23P, MiG-23MLA and MiG-25PD. 

The soviets first 4th Generation Fighter was the MiG-31 in 1975 with it approved for production in 1979 and service in 1981, followed by the MiG-29A in 1977 then Su-27 in 1977 with them being approved for production in 1980 and 1984 and entering service in 1982 and 1985 and there was the MiG-23MLD in 1979 with it entering production in 1981 and service in 1983, finally there was the Yak-141 in 1987. 

MiG-31 

MiG-29A

Su-27S

MiG-23MLD 

Yak-141

By 1983 with MiG-31, MiG-29A and Su-27 being approved for production, the soviets knew they were lagging behind USA so underwent a rapid modernization campaign to catch up to current and future US fighters. 

The Soviets first 4+ aircraft was the MiG-31M designed in 1983 with its first flight in 1985 equal to F-14D, this was followed by the MiG-29M in 1986, by the Su-27M and MiG-29K in 1988, equal to F-15C MSIP II, F/A-18A and F-16C, Su-30 in 1989. 

All these fighters brought Soviet fighters up to standard however the political issues of mid 80s and economic issues of late 80s made their mass adoption impossible. 

Lastly was the Russian MiG-31BM in 2004. 

MiG-31M

Su-27M

Su-30

Su-32

MiG-29KVP

MiG-29M 

MiG-31BM 

There was the soviet MFI 5th generation fighter that evolved into a 1.44 prototype made by russia. 

Russia's first 4++ aircraft was the Su-32 in 1990 equal to F-15E. Then there was the Su-37 in 1996, this was followed by the Yak-130 in 1997, then Su-30MKI and MiG-29SMT in 1998, then the Su-27SM in 1999, the MiG-29M2 in 2000, MiG-29K in 2001, Su-34 and Su-35 being their first 4.5 in 2008 then the MiG-35 in 2016 with the last one being the MiG-31I in 2021. 

Their first 5th Generation Aircraft was the MiG 1.44 prototype in 2000 with a low visibility airframe, high end phased array radar with LPI, sensor fusion with C2 software, this was followed by the Su-57 in 2010 with it entering service in 2022 and the Su-75 in 2024. 

The MiG-41 is Russia's current 6th Generation program expected to be fielded in the 2030-2040s. 

Now for the USA 

The US first fighter jet was the P-80 in 1945, this was followed by the swept wing F-86 in 1948, their first 2nd Generation Fighter was the F-100 in 1953 followed by their 2+ F-4A in 1955 which entered production in 1958. 

Their first 3rd Generation Fighter was the F-4C made in 1963, entering service in 1965, whilst their first 3+ Aircraft was the F-4J in 1966 with it entering service in 1970. 

Their first 4th Generation Fighter was the F-14A in 1970 entering service in 1972, followed with the F-15A in 1972 and entering service in 1976 and this was followed with the F-16A in 1974 with it entering service in 1978. 

In 1978 their first 4+ flew with the F/A-18A with it entering service in 1982, this was followed by the F-16C in 1983 with it entering service in 1985, then F-14D in 1990 with them entering service in late 80s and early 90s. 

In 1986 the USA created their first 4++ fighter with the F-15E, followed by F/A-18C and F/A-18E in 1989 and 1994, this was followed with the F-16C-CCIP in 1998 with it entering service in 2002, first 4.5 aircraft was F-16V in 2010 with their F-15EX flying in 2021 with it entering service in 2024. 

In 1997 the USA created their first 5th Generation Fighter with the F-22 with it entering service in 2005, this would be followed with the F-35 in 2005 with it entering service in 2015. 

In 2024 the USA created their first 6th Generation Fighter with the F-47. 

The 70s had the USSR really lagging behind in fighters however by the late 80s with the MiG-29S, MiG-31M and Su-27M the USSR had fully caught up to the USA, however the collapse of the USSR prevented their mass adoption.