In this short animated video we look at the very best fighter planes from the cold war. These fourth generation fighter jets have been recreated through animation, allowing us to dive deeper into the history and specification of the pinnacle of Cold War fighter planes such as the F-15 Eagle, Su-27 Flanker, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) and the Dassault Rafale.

The concept of the F-15 first came to light when McDonnell Aircraft entered the second phase of the U.S Airforce’s FX competition in 1967. McDonnell faced competition from Fairchild Hiller and North American Rockwell in the competition, however McDonnell were able to apply the lessons learnt from the Vietnam war which saw their F-4 Phantoms prove to be very successful. Be sure to have a watch of the previous video to learn more about that. On the 23rd December 1969, McDonnell Douglas officially won the Advanced Tactical Fighter contract, and so work began on the creation of one of history’s most successful fighter planes.

The F-15 established itself as a proven killer during the Gulf War. It recorded 36 out of the 39 recorded American Air-force’s kills on Iraqi forces, which themselves were armed with some impressive fighter planes. The F-15’s notably killed 5 Mig-29’s, which too were fourth generation fighters, whilst also downing two MiG 25’s which as we discussed in the previous episode were the reason the F-15 program was accelerated. To date, the F-15 has recorded a sensational air-to-air combat record of 104 kills to 0 losses.

The soviet scientists and engineers were commissioned to create two aircraft. The result of which lead to the MiG-29, and the other programme the Su-27. These aircraft were designed to compliment eachother, however it was the Su-27 that was the new jewel in the Soviet Airforce’s arsenal. The Su-27 proved to be an incredibly difficult project, with multiple set backs and accidents occurring with the fighter. However, in 1985 the Su-27 finally entered service.

The Su-27 in hindsight was the last major fighter to enter service for the Soviet Union before their eventual collapse, the aircraft’s purpose was to match the capabilities of both the f-14 and f-15 whilst also acting as an interceptor for the American strategic air command bombers the B-52 and the B-1. The Su-27 could also offer bomber escort for the Soviets own heavy bombers such as the Tu-95, Tu-22M and the Tu-160.

The Eurofighter Typhoon has often been compared to it’s French counterpart the Rafale and the American fifth generation F-22 and F-35. It’s important to stress that the Typhoon is a born and bred air-superiority fighter, meaning it specialises in being the very definition of ‘fighter plane’. The typhoon is hailed for its incredible manoeuvrability and ability to sustain high g-forces. The United States Air Forces chief of staff John P. Jumper who at the time was the only person to have flown both the Typhoon and the F-22 Raptor stated that it is “difficult to compare to the F22 Raptor” adding it’s like comparing a NASCAR Car with a Formula One car. He concluded that the F22 performs in a much the same way as the Eurofighter. But it has additional capabilities that allow it to perform the Air Force’s unique missions”. The fourth generation typhoons ability to keep up with what many perceive the current pinnacle of fighter plane technology in the form of the fifth generation f-22 raptor emphasises the true capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The F-16 was officially codenamed the Fighting Falcon but predominantly referred to as the Viper by it’s pilots and operators is often referred to as the backbone of the Unites States Airforce. The F-16 is hailed for it’s exceptional manoeuvrability and combat radius, with a total of over 4600 of the aircraft being built and distributed to a number of nations. The F-16 is combat proven, with an air-to-air kill ratio of 76 kills to 1 loss. The F-16 has continued to be upgraded since its introduction in 1978, with multiple models and variations being produced.

The Rafale is the jet produced by France instead of continuing with the Eurofighter Typhoon. Their creation of the Rafale saw an airframe that was remarkable jack of all trades that has proven successful at air-supremacy, reconnaissance and air-to-ground missions. The French air force and navy respectively operate the Rafale, with a model of the fighter designed to operate from an air force carrier. The rafale has seen combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria.

Music by www.bensound.com

A huge thank you to all video sources who make these videos possible.

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