Interceptor

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An interceptor is a fighter aircraft optimized for combat with other aircraft. The term is roughly synonymous with air superiority fighter.

Interceptors tend to be optimized either for short-range point defense#point defense (e.g., MiG-21) or for long-range intercept of bombers and other strategic aircraft (e.g., MiG-25, F-14 Tomcat, MiG-31). In the U.S. Navy, the latter role is called fleet defense.

In general, pure interceptors have been deemphasized, in the west, by multirole fighters. The Russians still seem interested in the long-range interceptor.