Air Defense Systems

Exploring fighter aircraft, bombers, military drones, and helicopters that dominate the skies.

Fighter Aircraft

F-35 Lightning II

F-35 Lightning II

The F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighters developed by Lockheed Martin.

  • Max Speed: Mach 1.6
  • Range: 1,200 miles
  • Ceiling: 50,000 ft
  • Armament: Internal weapons bay, external hardpoints
  • Stealth: Yes (Very Low Observable)
  • Variants: F-35A (CTOL), F-35B (STOVL), F-35C (CV)
F-22 Raptor

F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force.

  • Max Speed: Mach 2.25
  • Range: 1,840 miles
  • Ceiling: 65,000 ft
  • Armament: Internal weapons bay, air-to-air missiles
  • Stealth: Yes (Very Low Observable)
  • Features: Supercruise, thrust vectoring
Su-57

Su-57

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian single-seat, twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi for the Russian Aerospace Forces.

  • Max Speed: Mach 2
  • Range: 2,175 miles
  • Ceiling: 65,000 ft
  • Armament: Internal weapons bay, air-to-air missiles
  • Stealth: Yes (reduced radar cross-section)
  • Features: Thrust vectoring, supercruise capability

Bombers

B-2 Spirit

B-2 Spirit

The B-2 Spirit is an American heavy strategic bomber featuring low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses.

  • Range: 6,900 miles
  • Ceiling: 50,000 ft
  • Payload: 40,000 lbs
  • Stealth: Yes (Very Low Observable)
  • Crew: 2
  • Features: Flying wing design, all-aspect stealth
B-21 Raider concept

B-21 Raider

The B-21 Raider is an American heavy bomber under development by Northrop Grumman, designed to be the next-generation stealth bomber for the United States Air Force.

  • Range: Intercontinental (exact specifications classified)
  • Payload: Conventional and nuclear weapons
  • Stealth: Yes (Advanced Low Observable)
  • Crew: 2 (with optional unmanned operation)
  • Features: Flying wing design, advanced sensors
Tu-160

Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.

  • Max Speed: Mach 2.05
  • Range: 7,600 miles
  • Ceiling: 49,200 ft
  • Payload: 88,000 lbs
  • Crew: 4
  • Features: Variable-sweep wing, supersonic capability

Military Drones/UAVs

MQ-9 Reaper

MQ-9 Reaper

The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

  • Endurance: 27+ hours
  • Range: 1,150 miles
  • Ceiling: 50,000 ft
  • Payload: 3,800 lbs
  • Armament: AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II bombs
RQ-4 Global Hawk

RQ-4 Global Hawk

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

  • Endurance: 34+ hours
  • Range: 14,000 miles
  • Ceiling: 60,000 ft
  • Sensors: Synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors
  • Features: Autonomous operation, all-weather capability
S-70 Okhotnik

S-70 Okhotnik

The Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik is a Russian stealth heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle being developed by Sukhoi as a sixth-generation aircraft project.

  • Max Speed: Subsonic (exact specifications classified)
  • Range: 3,500+ miles (estimated)
  • Stealth: Yes (flying wing design)
  • Armament: Internal weapons bay
  • Features: Autonomous operation, potential "loyal wingman" capability

Military Helicopters

AH-64 Apache

AH-64 Apache

The AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two.

  • Max Speed: 182 mph
  • Range: 300 miles
  • Ceiling: 21,000 ft
  • Armament: 30mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 rockets
  • Features: Target acquisition and designation system, night vision systems
CH-53K King Stallion

CH-53K King Stallion

The CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps.

  • Max Speed: 200 mph
  • Range: 530 miles
  • Payload: 36,000 lbs
  • Crew: 5 (2 pilots, 3 crew chiefs)
  • Features: Triple-hook external cargo system, fly-by-wire controls
Ka-52 Alligator

Ka-52 Alligator

The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator is a Russian all-weather attack helicopter with a distinctive coaxial rotor system, side-by-side cockpit, and unique ejection system.

  • Max Speed: 186 mph
  • Range: 460 miles
  • Ceiling: 18,000 ft
  • Armament: 30mm cannon, anti-tank missiles, rockets
  • Features: Coaxial rotor system, ejection seats, all-weather capability

Future Air Combat Systems

Next-Generation Air Dominance

The future of air combat is being shaped by sixth-generation fighter programs, loyal wingman concepts, and increasingly autonomous systems that will redefine aerial warfare.

Key Developments:

  • Sixth-Generation Fighters: Programs like the U.S. Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), UK's Tempest, and Europe's FCAS aim to develop fighters with unprecedented stealth, speed, and AI integration.
  • Loyal Wingman Concept: Unmanned combat aerial vehicles designed to accompany manned fighters, extending capabilities while reducing risk to pilots.
  • Directed Energy Weapons: Laser and microwave weapons that could revolutionize air defense and offensive capabilities.
  • Hypersonic Platforms: Aircraft and missiles capable of sustained flight at Mach 5+ speeds, potentially rendering current air defense systems obsolete.

Expected Capabilities:

  • Advanced AI for autonomous operation and decision support
  • Optionally manned configurations
  • Adaptive cycle engines with unprecedented performance
  • Integrated sensor fusion across multiple platforms
  • Quantum radar and communications systems
  • Self-healing materials and structures
Concept art of future fighter aircraft

Air Systems Comparison

Select systems to compare

Air Systems Gallery

Fighter jet in flight
Fifth-generation fighter in flight
Bomber aircraft
Strategic bomber on mission
Military drone
Reconnaissance drone in operation
Attack helicopter
Attack helicopter firing missiles
Air refueling
Aerial refueling operation
Fighter formation
Fighter aircraft in formation