Interceptor Aircraft - Interceptors in The United States Air Force

Interceptors in The United States Air Force

See also: List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons

From 1946 to 1980 the United States maintained a dedicated Aerospace Defense Command, consisting primarily of dedicated interceptors. Many post-war designs were of limited performance, including designs like the F-86D and F-89 Scorpion. In the late 1940s ADC started a project to build a much more advanced interceptor under the 1954 interceptor effort, which eventually delivered the F-106 Delta Dart after a lengthy development process. Further replacements were studied during the 1960s, but came to nothing as the USSR strengthened their strategic force with ICBMs. Hence, the F-106 ended up serving as the primary USAF interceptor into the 1980s. As it was retired, intercept missions were assigned to the contemporary F-15 and F-16 fighters, among their other roles. Presently, the F-22 is the USA's latest combat aircraft that serves in part as an interceptor.

Read more about this topic:  Interceptor Aircraft

Famous quotes containing the words united, states, air and/or force:

    “... the yearly expenses of the existing religious system ... exceed in these United States twenty millions of dollars. Twenty millions! For teaching what? Things unseen and causes unknown!... Twenty millions would more than suffice to make us wise; and alas! do they not more than suffice to make us foolish?”
    —Frances Wright (1795–1852)

    “If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth,
    When time is old and hath forgot itself,
    When waterdrops have worn the stones of Troy,
    And blind oblivion swallowed cities up,
    And mighty states characterless are grated
    To dusty nothing, yet let memory
    From false to false among false maids in love
    Upbraid my falsehood.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    “Make me a willow cabin at your gate,
    And call upon my soul within the house;
    Write loyal cantons of contemned love,
    And sing them loud even in the dead of night;
    Halloo your name to the reverberate hills,
    And make the babbling gossip of the air
    Cry out “Olivia!” O, you should not rest
    Between the elements of air and earth
    But you should pity me.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    “We do not wish to injure you.... But if you again plunge your knives into the breasts of our people, I shall send a force which will severely punish you for your cruelties.”
    —Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)