Cutting Edge: A Half Century of U. S. Fighter Aircraft R and D Book

Contents
Chapter One:Introduction
Background and Overview
Research Approach and Methodology
Conclusions
Chapter Two: The 1920s to the 1950s: The Long Road Toward U.S. Leadership in Fighter R&D
Introduction
U.S. Fighters and Their Developers Before the Jet Age (1917-1945)
Building the Experience Base: First-Generation Subsonic Jet Fighters
Chapter Three: The Supersonic Revolution
Ever Faster and Higher: Jet-Fighter R&D Trends in the 1950s
Development of Air Force Supersonic Fighters
Development of Navy Supersonic Fighters
Overall Trends for Period 1, 1945-1961
Chapter Four: The 1960s and 1970s: Acquisition Reform, Doctrinal Ferment
Introduction
McNamara and the TFX: One Size Fits All
Chapter Five: Revival of the Air-Superiority Fighter
Introduction
Of Eagles and Tomcats
The F-16 and F/A-18: Lighter, Lower-Cost Additions
Overall Trends in the 1960s and 1970s
Chapter Six: The 1970s to the 1990s: The Stealth Revolution
New Technology, New Industry Leaders
Development of the F-117 Nighthawk
Emergence of the Advanced Technology Bomber Program
The F-22: Developing the First Stealthy Air-Superiority Fighter
The Role of Experience in the Stealth Era
Chapter Seven: Concluding Observations
The Interplay of Experience and Innovation
The Importance of System-Specific Experience
The Effect of New Technology Paradigms
The Relationship of Fighter R&D to Other Types of System Development
The Importance of Government Military Technology Research
Competition and Capabilities
Appendix
A. DATABASEDESCRIPTION
B. DATABASE
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors