AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo
Taiwan’s indigenous defence fighter β built in the 1990s when U.S. arms embargoes blocked F-16 sales. Still the backbone of Taiwan’s air defence.
1980s-1990s: Stealth & Supercruise
Speed meets invisibility: the F-117 opens the stealth era, the B-2 flying wing follows, and the ATF program births the first fifth-generation fighter.
Boeing X-36 Tailless Agility Research Aircraft
A 28%-scale unmanned demonstrator that proved a fighter without vertical or horizontal tails could outperform a conventional design β paving the way for 6th-gen fighter concepts.
Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F
The thrust-vectoring Flanker prototype that wowed airshows with Pugachev’s Cobra and the “Kulbit” loop before its single airframe was lost in 2002.
Northrop Tacit Blue
The “whale” β Northrop’s 1980s curved-surface stealth demonstrator that proved low observability could come from smooth shapes, not just facets.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Overview π· Photo: U.S. Navy / Public Domain The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is an American twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter
Atlas Cheetah
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft designed and produced by Atlas Aircraft
Xian JH-7 Flying Leopard
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Xi’an JH-7, also known as the FBC-1 Flying Leopard (NATO reporting name: Flounder), is
Yakovlev Yak-141 Freestyle
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain The Yakovlev Yak-141 (NATO reporting name “Freestyle”), also known as the Yak-41,
Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (Golden Eagle) was a forward-swept wing experimental fighter that served as
Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D
Overview π· Photo: Russian Navy The Sukhoi Su-33 (NATO: Flanker-D) is a carrier-based air superiority fighter derived from the Su-27.