Fighter aircraft

A military aircraft designed primarily to gain and maintain control of the air by attacking enemy aircraft. Modern fighters may also strike ground targets, conduct reconnaissance, or support other aircraft.

Air combat manoeuvring: The tactics and aircraft maneuvers used to gain an advantage in close-range aerial combat. Positioning and energy management determine which fighter can bring weapons to bear.
First World War aviation: The use and development of aircraft for reconnaissance, combat, and support during the First World War. The war created the first sustained need to intercept enemy aircraft.
Air superiority: A degree of control over the air that permits operations without prohibitive interference from opposing air forces. It is the operational goal fighters are principally designed to achieve.
Interceptor aircraft: A fighter aircraft optimized to rapidly reach and destroy approaching enemy aircraft, especially bombers. Interceptors prioritize rapid response and interception over broader fighter missions.
Beyond-visual-range missile: An air-to-air missile designed to engage targets beyond the launching pilot’s visual range. Long-range missiles let fighters attack before opponents can see them.
Fokker Eindecker: A German First World War monoplane fighter equipped with a synchronized machine gun that fired through its propeller arc. Its synchronized gun gave one early fighter a major advantage in aerial combat.
Air-to-air missile: A guided missile launched from an aircraft to destroy another aircraft. Missiles are central weapons in modern fighter engagements.
Ground-attack aircraft: A military aircraft designed primarily to attack targets on land or at sea. Its main mission differs from the fighter’s focus on defeating enemy aircraft.
Radar: A system that detects objects by transmitting radio waves and analyzing their reflections. Airborne radar helps fighters find, track, and target aircraft at a distance.
Fighter aircraft of the First World War: Military aircraft developed during the First World War to attack opposing aircraft and protect friendly forces. These aircraft established the fighter’s specialized role in air warfare.

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