With air combat one of the fastest-changing fields in modern warfare, it seems there is a departure now from the old traditional style of dogfighting.
Stealth and missile technology dominate advanced development in the forms of 5th- and 6th-generation fighter jets, prioritizing stealth,
long-range missiles, and beyond-visual-range detection over the old traditional maneuverability.
Modern air-to-air missiles, like the MBDA Meteor, have changed the rules of engagement.
With Mach 4 speeds, these “no-escape” zones are so excellent that air activity cannot escape once targeted, thus signaling the end of the classic dogfight scenario in the style of “Top Gun.”.
Notable examples of Western jets include the F-22 Raptor, which claims “first look, first shoot, and first kill” to neutralize threats without being detected.
Other participating nations include France, Germany, and Spain, which are developing the Future Combat Air System, and the United States’ ambitious Next Generation Air Dominance and F/A-XX programs.
Russia Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom are also vying with their projects.
Even though these attributes were still there, and still are, the characteristics that Russian jets were traditionally known for,
like the Cobra Maneuver by the aerobatic shows, are less of a priority in modern combat.
It’s more of a launch platform for hypersonic missiles with the MiG-31 than a dog-fighting champion.
As the MiG-23’s successor, the MiG-29 was indeed designed for mid and long-range combat, even though it had issues regarding the quality of electronic equipment and a limited range.
Its development therefore forms a more general phenomenon whereby aircraft design takes up Western ideas but then takes on some special feature.
Air forces around the world are innovating their methods to stay one step ahead in terms of integrated advanced avionics and stealth technologies, gaining continued air superiority.
Maneuverability has stopped being the lone boss in the air combat game and ushered in an age of technology and precision.