From concept to reality, the fighter has traversed a developmental journey with huge successes and notable failures. In a little over a century, this aviation technology has grown from rudimentary designs to sophisticated machines like the F-35 and F-22 of the United States, the French Mirage, and the Eurofighter Typhoon. These aero-planes represent feats of modern engineering—pushing the envelope on the laws of physics while ensuring the security of our skies. This journey has not been without missteps.
In the early days of aircraft development, progress was driven by trial and error. Engineers and designers relied on experiments most in perfecting their creations. Ingenious as this method was, it all too often had the result that a plethora of flawed designs were produced. Fortunately, the advent of computer-aided design has irreversibly changed the field for the better, now allowing for the remediation of potential issues long before a single bolt is fastened.
The era of trial and error and the modern age of computer-driven design was a significant period during which fighter jets were developed and tested. It has been an era that has given some of the finest flying machines but equally seen the creation of many expensive failures. Both sides of the Iron Curtain spent billions on aircraft that failed to live up to expectations, yet some of these jets lingered on for years before being phased out.
While it is fascinating to look at the best fighter jets that ever flew across our skies, looking at the failures coming out of the hangar is equally interesting. These planes are indicative of how difficult and convoluted development in the realm of aviation can get. Here are the 11 worst fighter jets of all time, a list setting forth missteps and lessons learned along the way.
The history of fighter aircraft can become divided into generations, each massive technological step demarcated. The first generation of jet fighters was from 1944 to 1953, and most of the aircraft became forerunners of further development in this field. Then came the second generation from 1953 to 1960 and the third from 1960 to 1970, each new model boostable with enhanced speed, maneuverability, and firepower over its predecessors.
The fourth generation, from 1970 to 1990, was geared more towards developing better avionics and weapon systems. During the tail-end of this era, spanning from 1990-2000, what is called “Generation 4.5” fighters appeared, fielding advanced radar and first-generation stealth. From 2000 onward, the fifth generation of fighter jets is among the latest—just some of the most advanced aircraft ever built, fielding the best technology and performance.
In the future, we can even have a sixth generation of fighter jets. These aircraft can be laden with more advanced technologies than one can imagine and give way to much-enhanced combat performances. Though filled with failures and coupled with successes along the way, every step on this journey has been a step closer to near perfection in fighter jet design.