This seems to be a very good time to be a fighter jet pilot in one of the world's air forces if you're looking to fly quality aircraft. With advances in stealth and the availability of generation 4, 4.5 and 5 fighters on the marketplace, pilots have a bevy of new toys to choose from.
Just as a basic primer on fighter plane generations, generation 4 fighters generally offered improvements over previous generations in agility, weapons, range, communications, navigation, radar and defensive systems. Gen 4.5 offered further improvements in radar (PESA/AESA), mission computers, navigation and communication, radar cross section reduction measures, and in some cases super cruise capability and thrust vectoring engines. Gen 5 jets include even more advancements with the most significant being stealth.
The U.S. air force flies generation 4, 4.5 and 5 aircraft in the f-16 and its various block models, f-15's up through the E model, and the brand new air dominator, the generation 5 F-22 Raptor. Plus the 5th generation F-35 Lightning II  is coming into service soon. The U.S. Navy and Marines fly gen 4 F/A-18's and gen 4.5 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets; and both will also fly the F-35 when it comes into service. The F-22 is not for export, but the rest are there for the air forces and naval air arms of allied nations to pick from. Additionally, the stealthy  F-15SE was recently unveiled for potential export.
Other nations around the world are also offering new flying chariots for knights of the air. The French are offering the 4.5 generation Rafale (although no one has bought it yet), Germany/Britain/Italy/Spain are offering the gen 4.5 Eurofighter Typhoon, Sweden has the gen 4.5 JAS-39 Gripen NG in development, India has the 4.5 gen HAL Tejas in the final stages, while the Russians have the gen 4.5 Mig-35 and  SU-35; and soon will have the PAK FA (SU-50) 5th generation fighter.Â
Even China is in the game with the 4.5 gen J-10B in the works for Pakistan. due for delivery around 2014-2015. Today also marks the start of final stage assembly for the 4th generation Sino-Pakistani JF-17/FC-1. These two reasonably priced models may hit it big in developing countries. In the JF-17 an African country can upgrade from old generation 2 Mig-21's to a capable medium tech 4th generation jet for less than $20 million.
Pilots of today and the future will have many potential threats to deal with. In aircraft like these they will be better able to do so.
For explanations on the capabilities of the various generations and aircraft click these links:
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