Interceptor plane
A plane interceptor (or interceptor ) is a type of Fighter plan designed specifically to stop and destroy enemy planes before they achieve their goal. It is mainly a question of preventing the unfavourable bombers from attacking the national territory.
This type of plane appeared at the end of the Second world war following the arrival of strategic bombers and of the atomic bomb. It became less important starting from the end of the year 1960, following the appearance of the ballistic missiles intercontinental impossible to intercept.
Characteristics
Speed
An interceptor must be fastest possible, in order to be likely to stop the enemy planes before they arrive at the top of the national territory. Similarly, this type of plane must have the climbing speed highest possible in order to reach in a minimum of time the operational ceiling of the planes to intercept. To obtain a high climbing speed, the interceptors present an important thrust/weight ratio (the ideal being a thrust/weight ratio of 1 or more).
Electronics component
The electronics component of an interceptor is variable. It depends much on the aeronautical military policy of the country which conceives it and/or employs it knowing that this type of plane is generally guided by control on the ground
Armament
An interceptor must be able to cut down heavy bombers, which claims a made up powerful armament:- of rockets until the years 1950/1960
- of air-to-air missiles since
In general a certain number of interceptors are placed in alarm, i.e. ready to take off as soon as the radars of monitoring announce the approach of a hostile plane. The full of one fuel is made, the plane is really armed, the systems of startup are connected and, according to the type of alarm, the pilot can be either already installed on board or to wait in a room right beside the plane.
Example of interceptors
(by order of appearance)
-
F-94 Starfire
- English Electric Lightning
- F-102 Delta Dagger
- F-106 Delta Dart
- Mirage F-1
- Known-15 Flagon
- Mig-25 Foxbat
- Mig-31 Foxhund