The first fighters were developed during World War I in response to the emergence of airships and aircraft reconnaissance enemy, performing reconnaissance and bombing missions. Initially, this type of aircraft were dwupłatowcami, usually constructed of wood, armed with light machine guns installed on the stands, turntable or on the hull. With time, Sky-skirmish in order to have control over their own territory by air has become an increasingly important field of battle. During World War II, fighters were predominantly metal jednopłatami installed in the armed wing plot. . In the final phase of the war instead of piston engines have begun to enter turbojet, and became the main armament cannon and missiles, supplementing or replacing the arms. For classification purposes the concept of historical generations of fighters, the years in which aircraft are designed and constructed, play a secondary role. For the first time the word generation in relation to fighters appeared in military jargon as Russian (as поколение - Russian generation to generation) for the latest fifth generation multipurpose fighter, the F-35 Lightning II. Modern fighter aircraft are usually powered by one or two engines turbowentylatorowymi and armed with missiles of various types.Lightweight fighter for the day activities are usually two missiles, and air superiority fighters such as F-15 Eagle and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from eight to ten rounds and, as additional weapons, supporting gun caliber from 20 to 30 mm as well as radar used for guidance on target.
Fighter aircraft are the primary means of acquisition by the forces of air superiority. Since World War II air supremacy has become one of the key elements of the winning campaigns in modern warfare, which is reflected in the financial outlay for the development and maintenance of the Air Force, and especially of modern fighters.
