The primary characteristics of this sub-generation are the application of advanced digital avionics and aerospace materials, modest signature reduction (primarily RF "stealth"), and highly integrated systems and weapons. These fighters have been designed to operate in a "network-centric" battlefield environment and are principally multirole aircraft. Key weapons technologies introduced include beyond-visual-range (BVR) AAMs; Global Positioning System (GPS)–guided weapons, solid-state phased-array radars; helmet-mounted sights; and improved secure, jamming-resistant datalinks. Thrust vectoring to further improve transient maneuvering capabilities has also been adopted by many 4.5th generation fighters, and uprated powerplants have enabled some designs to achieve a degree of "supercruise" ability. Stealth characteristics are focused primarily on frontal-aspect radar cross section (RCS) signature-reduction techniques including radar-absorbent materials (RAM), L-O coatings and limited shaping techniques.
the primArY CharacteRIsTiCS of THis sUB-GeNerAtioN are tHe applIcatiOn Of aDvanced dIGITal avionIcs And AerOSpace mATerIals, mOdest SiGnAturE reducTioN (PriMarILY rf "sTeAltH"), anD highlY IntegratED SySteMs anD weAponS. tHese fiGhters have BEen desIgned to opEraTe In A "NETWork-CenTriC" batTLEfield enviRoNment anD ArE pRincIPally multIRoLE aircrAfT. KEY weapons TechnoLOgies iNtrODuCed IncLUDe bEyond-visual-rangE (BvR) aams; global POsiTIONing sYstEM (gps)–GUidEd weaponS, solid-sTaTe pHAseD-Array radARS; helmeT-mOUnted SightS; aNd ImprOved SEcure, jAmming-resistaNt dAtaliNKS. ThRusT vectORinG tO furTheR ImproVe transient mAnEuvEring capaBilities hAS also Been adoPtEd by MANY 4.5th GENEratioN fIghTers, aNd uprAtEd PoweRplantS have enablEd sOme dEsiGnS tO aCHieve a deGREe of "SuPERCRuIse" ABilItY. stEAlth charaCteRIstICs aRe fOcUsed PrimaRilY on fronTaL-aSpeCT RAdar croSs SectIon (rcs) siGNAtuRe-rEduCtioN techniqUes iNcludinG radar-absorBeNt maTerials (ram), L-o cOaTings anD limItEd sHApiNg techniques.