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{{short description|Military aircraft intended to perform multiple roles in combat}}
{{Use American English|date = July 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
[[File:F-35A flight.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|United States Air Force [[F-35A Lightning II]], fifth-generation multirole stealth fighters|alt=]]

A '''multirole combat aircraft''' ('''MRCA''') is a [[combat aircraft]] intended to perform different roles in combat.<ref>[http://www.military-dictionary.org/DOD-Military-Terms/A/6/multi-role "multirole"]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502141438/http://www.military-dictionary.org/DOD-Military-Terms/A/6/multi-role |date=2012-05-02 }}. Military-Dictionary.org. ''Cambridge Dictionary'' only list "multirole", and not "multi-role".</ref> These roles can include [[Dogfight|air to air combat]], [[Close air support|air support]],
[[Bomber|aerial bombing]], [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]], [[Electronic-warfare aircraft|electronic warfare]], and [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|suppression of air defenses]].

==Definition==
The term "multirole" was originally reserved for aircraft designed with the aim of using a common airframe for multiple tasks where the same basic airframe is adapted to a number of differing roles. The main motivation for developing multirole aircraft is cost reduction in using a common airframe.

More roles can be added, such as [[aerial reconnaissance]], [[forward air control]], and [[electronic-warfare aircraft]]. Attack missions include the subtypes [[air interdiction]], [[suppression of enemy air defense]] (SEAD), and [[close air support]] (CAS).
[[File:Mosquito 600pix.jpg|thumb|The [[de Havilland Mosquito]] was a [[Night fighter]] which performed [[Light bomber|light bombing]] and [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] during [[World War II]]]]

Multirole has also been applied to one aircraft with both major roles, a primary air-to-air combat role, and a secondary role like [[Ground-attack aircraft|air-to-surface attack]]. However, those designed with an emphasis on aerial combat are usually regarded as [[air superiority fighter]]s and usually deployed solely in that role, even though they are theoretically capable of ground attack. The [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] and [[Dassault Rafale]] are classified as multirole fighters; however the Typhoon is frequently considered an air superiority fighter due to its higher dogfighting prowess while its built-in strike capability has a lighter bomb load compared to contemporaries like the Rafale, which sacrifices air-to-air ability for a heavier payload.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/rafale-vs-f-a-18-super-hornet-which-one-between-rafale-and-rhino-is-the-better-multirole-fighter-aircraft/|title=Rafale Vs F/A-18 Super Hornet: Which one between Rafale and 'Rhino' is the better multirole fighter aircraft?|date=25 September 2020}}</ref>

===Swing-role===
Some aircraft, like the [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/fact-file-saab-jas39-cd-gripen/|title=Fact file: Saab JAS39 C/D Gripen|date=October 20, 2008|access-date=September 8, 2019}}</ref> are called ''swing-role'', to emphasize the ability of a quick role change, either at short notice, or even within the same mission. According to the Military Dictionary: "the ability to employ a multi-role aircraft for multiple purposes during the same mission."<ref>{{Citation|publisher=Military-dictionary.org |url=http://www.military-dictionary.org/DOD-Military-Terms/A/6/swing-role |title=swing-role}}.</ref>

According to BAE Systems, "an aircraft that can accomplish both air-to-air and air-to-surface roles on the same mission and swing between these roles instantly offers true flexibility. This reduces cost, increases effectiveness and enhances interoperability with allied air forces".<ref>{{Citation | year = 2001 | publisher = BAe | type = press release | url = http://baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2001/press_190620012.html | title = BAE Systems delivers Swing Role Radar capability to Eurofighter Typhoon}}.</ref>

"[Swing-role] capability also offers considerable cost-of-ownership benefits to operational commanders."<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.eurofighter.com/eurofighter-typhoon/swing-role/mission-configuration/swing-role0.html | publisher = Eurofighter | work = Typhoon | title = Mission configuration, Swing Role}}.</ref>

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|find=Multirole combat aircraft|date=May 2021}}
[[File:RAF Panavia Tornado GR4 (tone).jpg|thumb|An [[RAF]] [[Panavia Tornado|Panavia Tornado GR4]] flying through [[Mach Loop]]. ]]

Although the term "multirole aircraft" may be relatively novel, certain airframes in history have proven versatile to multiple roles. In particular, the [[Junkers Ju 88]] was renowned in Germany for being a "jack-of-all-trades", capable of performing as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, and so on, much as the British [[de Havilland Mosquito]] did as a fast bomber/strike aircraft, reconnaissance, and night fighter. The [[Hawker Hart]] was also quite 'multirole' in its numerous variants, being designed as a light bomber but serving as an army cooperation aircraft, a two-seat fighter, a fleet spotter, a fighter-bomber (in fact it was probably the first){{citation needed|date=November 2019}} and a trainer.

The US joint forces [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4 Phantom II]] built by [[McDonnell-Douglas]] also fits the definition of a multi-role aircraft in its various configurations of the basic airframe design. The various [[F-4 Phantom II]] configurations were used in air-to-air, fighter bomber, reconnaissance, and suppression of enemy air defenses ([[SEAD]]) mission roles to name a few.

The first use of the term was by the multinational European project named '''Multi-Role Combat Aircraft''', which was formed in 1968 to produce an aircraft capable of [[tactical bomber|tactical strike]], [[aerial reconnaissance]], [[interceptor aircraft|air defense]], and maritime roles.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} The design was aimed to replace a multitude of different types in the cooperating air forces. The project produced the [[Panavia Tornado]], which used the same basic design to undertake a variety of roles, the Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) variant and later the [[Panavia Tornado ADV]] (Air Defence Variant). By contrast, the F-15 Eagle which was another fighter aircraft of that era was designed for air superiority and interception, with the mantra "not a pound, air to ground", although the F-15C did have a rarely used secondary ground attack capability. That program eventually evolved into the F-15E Strike Eagle interdictor/strike derivative which retained the air-to-air combat lethality of earlier F-15s.

The newest fighter jet that fits the definition of 'multi-role' is the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]]/[[Joint Strike Fighter program|Joint Strike Fighter]], designed to perform stealth-based ground/naval strike, fighter, reconnaissance and electronic warfare roles. Like a modern-day F-4, 3 variants of this aircraft fulfill the various strike and air defense roles among its joint service requirements: the standard variant is intended to eventually replace the F-16 and A-10 in the USAF and other Western air forces, a [[STOVL]] version intended to replace the [[Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier]] in US Marine Corps, British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy service, and a carrier variant intended to eventually replace the older F/A-18C/D for the US Navy and other F/A-18 operators. The F-35's design goal can be compared to its larger and more air superiority-focused cousin, the [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor]].

==Aircraft==
Below is a list of some current examples.
[[File:US Navy 071203-N-8923M-074 An F-A-18F Super Hornet, from the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, makes a sharp turn above the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.jpg|thumb|A [[US Navy]] [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!Manufacturer
!Aircraft
! Introduced
|-
|[[United States]]
|[[Lockheed Martin]]
|[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]]
|1978
|-
|United States
|[[Boeing]]
|[[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15E]]
| 1988
|-
|[[Russia]]
|[[Sukhoi]]
|[[Su-30]]
|1996
|-
|[[Sweden]]
|[[Saab AB|Saab]]
|[[Saab JAS 39 Gripen|JAS 39]]
|1997
|-
|United States
|[[Boeing]]
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F]]
| 1999
|-
|[[Japan]]
|[[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi]]
|[[Mitsubishi F-2]]
|2000
|-
| France
|[[Dassault]]
|[[Dassault Rafale|Rafale]]
|2001
|-
|Germany / Italy / Spain/ U.K.
|[[Eurofighter GmbH|Eurofighter]]
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon]]
|2003
|-
|-
|[[China]]
|[[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group|Chengdu Aerospace]]
|[[Chengdu J-10|J-10]]
|2005
|-
|[[Pakistan]] / China
|[[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group|CAC]] / [[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex|PAC]]
|[[CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder|JF-17]]
|2007
|-
|China
|[[Shenyang Aircraft Corporation|Shenyang Aerospace]]
|[[Shenyang J-15|J-15]]
|2013
|-
|China
|[[Shenyang Aircraft Corporation|Shenyang Aerospace]]
|[[Shenyang J-16|J-16]]
|2015
|-
|United States
|[[Lockheed Martin]]
|[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II]]
|2015
|-
|[[India]]
|[[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|HAL]]
|[[HAL Tejas]]
|2015
|}

==See also==
* [[Air superiority fighter]]
* [[Attack aircraft]]
* [[Fighter-bomber]]
* [[Interceptor aircraft]]
* [[Interdictor]]
* [[Lead-in fighter trainer]]
* [[Light combat aircraft]]
* [[Strike fighter]]
* [[Tactical bomber]]

==References==

{{reflist}}


{{Military aircraft types (roles)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Multirole Combat Aircraft}}
[[Category:Attack aircraft]]
[[Category:Fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Multi-role aircraft]]

Multirole combat aircraft - Revision history

ImportMaster at 09:53, 20 May 2022