Is it all in computer hardware and software, or have we learned more about aerodynamics, material science, and engine construction between say, the F16 and the F35 Lightning II.
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There’s a number of factors that change aircraft design over the decades
**Mission profile** – The mission profile (the job) of jets changes.
An F-35 is meant for a different type of combat than an F-16 or an A-4. War changes over time.
Modern jets prioritize Stealth vs Top speed and dogfighting, and that affects everything about how a jet is designed from materials to shape. In a lot of ways the performance of jets like the F-35 and F-22 are compromised to make them stealthier, but the technology has improved so much that the jet ends up being net-positive in terms of performance over older jets regardless. Better missiles, tighter turns, better engines, etc.
**Material science** – Newer materials and manufacturing techniques allow for better aircraft.
Early jet engines were mail from cast parts which made them prone to balancing issues, bubbles, catastrophic failures, etc
Modern jet engines are made with milled parts that are X-ray tested, and the latest stuff can even be 3D printed.
Parts today are stronger, use less materials, can be in crazier shapes, and are lighter.
Composites are another big advancement. Crazy wing shapes and stealth aircraft are only possible because of composite materials.
**Design** – Development of 3D CAD and CFD simulation software (Computation Fluid Dynamics) has also changed the game. Most of a plane can be tested in a computer today before they even make a wind tunnel model.
**Aerodyanmics science** – Today we just understand aerodynamics better. Back in the 40s and 50s designers would be much more likely to try random ideas because we just didn’t understand aero that well.
The reason that airplanes (and cars) today all kinda look the same is because of converging design. They are that shape because we have nearly a century of science and experimentation that tells us that’s the best shape to make an airplane.
**Cost** – Don’t forget about cost considerations. The US military operates as if it has no budget, which is part of why it’s able to make such crazy jets.
While more budget conscious countries have to come up with different innovative ideas to keep costs down. Tell engineers they need to achieve certain performance figures on a budget and they can sometimes work miracles.
There’s a number of factors that change aircraft design over the decades
**Mission profile** – The mission profile (the job) of jets changes.
An F-35 is meant for a different type of combat than an F-16 or an A-4. War changes over time.
Modern jets prioritize Stealth vs Top speed and dogfighting, and that affects everything about how a jet is designed from materials to shape. In a lot of ways the performance of jets like the F-35 and F-22 are compromised to make them stealthier, but the technology has improved so much that the jet ends up being net-positive in terms of performance over older jets regardless. Better missiles, tighter turns, better engines, etc.
**Material science** – Newer materials and manufacturing techniques allow for better aircraft.
Early jet engines were mail from cast parts which made them prone to balancing issues, bubbles, catastrophic failures, etc
Modern jet engines are made with milled parts that are X-ray tested, and the latest stuff can even be 3D printed.
Parts today are stronger, use less materials, can be in crazier shapes, and are lighter.
Composites are another big advancement. Crazy wing shapes and stealth aircraft are only possible because of composite materials.
**Design** – Development of 3D CAD and CFD simulation software (Computation Fluid Dynamics) has also changed the game. Most of a plane can be tested in a computer today before they even make a wind tunnel model.
**Aerodyanmics science** – Today we just understand aerodynamics better. Back in the 40s and 50s designers would be much more likely to try random ideas because we just didn’t understand aero that well.
The reason that airplanes (and cars) today all kinda look the same is because of converging design. They are that shape because we have nearly a century of science and experimentation that tells us that’s the best shape to make an airplane.
**Cost** – Don’t forget about cost considerations. The US military operates as if it has no budget, which is part of why it’s able to make such crazy jets.
While more budget conscious countries have to come up with different innovative ideas to keep costs down. Tell engineers they need to achieve certain performance figures on a budget and they can sometimes work miracles.
Part of it is due to advances in technology, but there are also changes to warfare itself than drive technological change. Countries that are facing armed threats will evolve their militaries to emphasize their advantages and negate disadvantages, but other nations will do the same. In aggregate, this dynamic would drive technological change even with the advent of new technologies. New technological developments both drive and are driven by changes in warfare. In addition, part of a country’s preparations for possible war can involve maintaining an industrial base that can be ramped up to produce more material in the event of war. For modern complex weapons like military aircraft, maintaining the entire supply chain required for all the parts is necessary if one has any hope of replenishing stocks in wartime. So some level of new military purchasing may not be strictly necessary in peacetime, but will help keep industry prepared in the event of war. If such purchases are going to be done anyway, it makes sense to keep a military modernized along the way.
Part of it is due to advances in technology, but there are also changes to warfare itself than drive technological change. Countries that are facing armed threats will evolve their militaries to emphasize their advantages and negate disadvantages, but other nations will do the same. In aggregate, this dynamic would drive technological change even with the advent of new technologies. New technological developments both drive and are driven by changes in warfare. In addition, part of a country’s preparations for possible war can involve maintaining an industrial base that can be ramped up to produce more material in the event of war. For modern complex weapons like military aircraft, maintaining the entire supply chain required for all the parts is necessary if one has any hope of replenishing stocks in wartime. So some level of new military purchasing may not be strictly necessary in peacetime, but will help keep industry prepared in the event of war. If such purchases are going to be done anyway, it makes sense to keep a military modernized along the way.
Part of it is due to advances in technology, but there are also changes to warfare itself than drive technological change. Countries that are facing armed threats will evolve their militaries to emphasize their advantages and negate disadvantages, but other nations will do the same. In aggregate, this dynamic would drive technological change even with the advent of new technologies. New technological developments both drive and are driven by changes in warfare. In addition, part of a country’s preparations for possible war can involve maintaining an industrial base that can be ramped up to produce more material in the event of war. For modern complex weapons like military aircraft, maintaining the entire supply chain required for all the parts is necessary if one has any hope of replenishing stocks in wartime. So some level of new military purchasing may not be strictly necessary in peacetime, but will help keep industry prepared in the event of war. If such purchases are going to be done anyway, it makes sense to keep a military modernized along the way.
While the physical structure of say… F-16s and F-35s are definitely step ups from previous generation, the real game changers are the on board avionics on these aircraft, specifically the F-35. The F-35’s computers, in-flight displays and most importantly, its datalink and networking capabilities are what sets it apart from the rest. A squadron of F-35s can link their networking capabilities(and link up with other USAF assets like AWACS aircraft) to achieve far greater combat effectiveness(especially considering in modern combat situations, most air to air engagements will be beyond visual range and not Top Gun style dogfights). Yea, those movies would be pretty boring if you just had pilots launching missiles from possibly hundreds of miles out and then calling it a day, but that’s what makes these fighters especially deadly.
While the physical structure of say… F-16s and F-35s are definitely step ups from previous generation, the real game changers are the on board avionics on these aircraft, specifically the F-35. The F-35’s computers, in-flight displays and most importantly, its datalink and networking capabilities are what sets it apart from the rest. A squadron of F-35s can link their networking capabilities(and link up with other USAF assets like AWACS aircraft) to achieve far greater combat effectiveness(especially considering in modern combat situations, most air to air engagements will be beyond visual range and not Top Gun style dogfights). Yea, those movies would be pretty boring if you just had pilots launching missiles from possibly hundreds of miles out and then calling it a day, but that’s what makes these fighters especially deadly.
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