Page 69 - History of War - Issue 01-14

74
9
1 95 5 1 1 9 74 1989 STEALTH BOMBERS
1974
1955
GRUMMAN F-14
GRUMMAN F-14 TOMCAT AT
TOMC
LOCKHEED MARTIN
LOCKHEED MARTIN GRUMMAN F-14 TOMC AT Stealth aircraft have been in demand since the CIA
omcat
aceful yet deadly
omcat
the F-14
the F-14
aceful yet deadly
,
Graceful yet deadly, the F-14 Tomcat
is one of
,
,
Y)
U-2 (DRAGON LADY) Gr Gr Gr aceful yet deadly cr the F-14 T T T omcat y y is one of appealed for a replacement to the Lockheed U-2 spy
U-2 (DRAGON LAD
the most iconic air
the most iconic aircraft in military history. The plane
the most iconic air
cr

The plane

.
.
aft in militar
aft in militar
y histor
The plane
y histor
w
as built in response to the US Na
s need for an
vy’
When the Soviet Union launched its
When the Soviet Union launched its was built in response to the US Navy’s need for an plane during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The
ainst anti-ship
cr
riers ag
aft that could defend its car
air
the US
asishchev M-4 bomber in 1954,
My
Myasishchev M-4 bomber in 1954, the US aircraft that could defend its carriers against anti-ship most famous stealth bomber is the Northrop Grumman
y Soviet jets and submarines.
missiles launched b
had every reason to worry – Moscow now had
had ever y reason to wor r y – Moscow now had missiles launched by Soviet jets and submarines. B-2 Spirit (pictured below), which has a radar-
ith
W
American soil.
the potential to attack American soil. In response, With absorbent surface and a unique boomerang shape
In response,
the potential to attack
its powerful radar and ability to fire missiles
President Eisenhower ordered the production of its powerful r adar and ability to fi re missiles that allows electromagnetic energy to be absorbed,
President Eisenhower ordered the production of
from long range, the F-14 was more than up to the
y plane that could monitor
a new high-altitude sp
a new high-altitude spy plane that could monitor from long r ang e, the F-14 w as more than up to the thus making the plane disappear from enemy radar.

task.
F
yed b
irst deplo
vy in 1974 – replacing
y the Na
prog ress behind the Iron Cur tain and beyond. The U-2 task. First deployed by the Navy in 1974 – replacing Classified as a multi-role bomber, used for espionage
progress behind the Iron Curtain and beyond. The U-2
the F-4 Phantom II – it spent the ensuing 32 years
– nicknamed the “Dragon Lady” – came into service
– nicknamed the “Dr ag on Lady” – came into ser vice the F-4 Phantom II – it spent the ensuing 32 years missions and more traditional bombing campaigns,

eets in the theatre of w
,
as
ar
defending
American fl
in 1955 and soon proved its wor th, discovering Soviet defending American fleets in the theatre of war, as it is designed to carry conventional bombs as well
in 1955 and soon proved its worth, discovering Soviet

While
r
well as car
ying out reconnaissance missions.
nuclear missiles on mainland Cuba in 1962. The plane well as carrying out reconnaissance missions. While as nuclear munitions. With a top speed of 627mph,
nuclear missiles on mainland Cuba in 1962.

The plane
is able to reach an altitude of at least 70,000ft, the plane was retired from US service in 2006 – it is able to travel almost 7,000 miles in a single

enabling it to gather intelligence in any weather (the immediately after one had dropped a bomb over Iraq – flight, or almost 12,000 miles when refuelled mid-

pilot is required to wear a special space-like suit). And it is still used by the Iranian Armed Forces. It features flight. While the US Government has stated that it
during the Cold War, this high altitude brought another a two-seat cockpit and wings whose sweep varies will not be ordering any more B-2 Spirits, improvements

benefit: Russia’s best fighter jets were not capable automatically during flight, allowing for greater wind to its 21-strong fleet continue to be made – and

of shooting it out of the sky. The U-2 has since been resistance and therefore better performance a multi-billion-dollar replacement is in the pipeline.
used during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War (top speed is 1,544mph). Despite its
and, despite talk of retiring it from service, is still in speed, the F-14 is known for its agility
operation today. In 1998, it was awarded the Collier – something that was celebrated in

Trophy for outstanding aeronautical achievement. the 1986 Tom Cruise film, Top Gun.
1995
1995
1990
1985
2000
2000
1985
1975
1980
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014
2007 GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9 REAPER
1969 HAWKER-SIDDELEY HARRIER 2 0 07 GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9 REAPER
Released into US militar
the MQ-9
Also known as the Har rier Jump J et, this British plane Released into US military service in 2007, the MQ-9
vice in 2007,
y ser
Also known as the Harrier Jump Jet, this British plane
Reaper is a U
V (unmanned aerial
became the wor ld’ s fi rst pr actical ver tical-tak e-off Reaper is a UAV (unmanned aerial
A
became the world’s first practical vertical-take-off
and landing (VTOL) aircraft after the perfection vehicle) – or drone – designed for
vehicle) – or drone – designed for
long-endur
of its vectored-thr ust turbofan engine in the late long-endurance, medium-altitude
of its vectored-thrust turbofan engine in the late
ance,
medium-altitude
veillance,
sur
1960s. It had the ability to take off from the spot
1960s. It had the ability to tak e off from the spot surveillance, as well as precision missile
as well as precision missile
in which it was standing – much like a helicopter – attacks. Controlled remotely from bases on
attacks.
in which it w
e a helicopter –
as standing – much lik
Controlled remotely from bases on

the g
round,
it can reach heights of up to 50,000ft
and was also able to stop mid-flight and change the ground, it can reach heights of up to 50,000ft
e-off ability eliminated the need for
direction. Its take-off ability eliminated the need for 1 97 8 and remain airbor ne for up to 42 hours (or 14
direction.
Its tak
and remain airborne for up to 42 hours (or 14
a long runway, making it one of the most practical 1978 hours when fully loaded with munitions). Initially
actical
a long r
Initially
unw
a
making it one of the most pr
,
hours when fully loaded with munitions).
y
ar on
s w
y a major role in the
W
est’
designed to pla
planes of its g ener ation. The Har rier w as, however , MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 HORNET MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 HORNET designed to play a major role in the West’s war on
planes of its generation. The Harrier was, however,
re
erous air
arded as one of the more dang
cr
terrorism, it can observe combat terrain using a
y
g

aft to fl
regarded as one of the more dangerous aircraft to fly, , ter rorism, it can obser ve combat ter r ain using a
It also car
ries
due to the unique nature of its control system and The Hor net w as the fi rst tactical plane initially series of imaging sensors and radars. It also carries
adars.
due to the unique nature of its control system and
series of imaging sensors and r
The Hornet was the first tactical plane initially

the level of training required by the pilot. The first- designed to engage in both air-to-air and air-to-ground a variety of weapons, including laser-guided bombs
generation Harrier went on to see successful combat combat, and could carry a wide range of bombs and air-to-ground missiles – which boast incredible
action during the Falklands War in 1982, where it and missiles to meet those requirements. Although accuracy, even when fired from 50,000ft up. Remote-

carried out more than 2,000 sorties and destroyed it embarked on its maiden flight in 1978, it was controlled aircraft have been pivotal in both the Iraq

32 enemy aircraft, 23 of them during air-to-air combat. another five years before the plane entered military and Afghanistan theatres, as well as in operations by

It was retired shortly after but its successor, the service, with both the US Marine Corps and Navy. This US Customs and Border Protection, leading the US
Harrier II, took part in both Gulf Wars and the Balkan supersonic jet (top speed 1,190mph) first saw combat (and other nations) to make huge investments in the

continued development of such planes.

While there
conflicts, before itself being retired from service in action in 1986, when it engaged Libyan air defences continued development of such planes. While there

aerial w
vice,
arfare
rently in ser
2011. With a top speed of 730mph, this hovering during Operation Prairie Fire. During the first Gulf are only nine currently in service, aerial warfare
are only nine cur

plane was one of the world’s most recognisable War, the US Navy deployed 106 of the planes, and using drone cr aft is ver y much a thing of the future.
using drone craft is very much a thing of the future.
aircraft, and remains a credit to British aviation. the Marine Corps 84. In this conflict, the Hornet’s

dogged durability was demonstrated when one took

hits in both engines but still managed to fly 125 miles
back to base. It was repaired and flying again within

a few days. An advanced, more powerful version of the
Hornet, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, was launched in
1995 and is still in service today (although McDonnell
Douglas now goes under the banner of Boeing).
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