WASHINGTON – The American development and deployment fifth-generation stealth jet fighters like the F-35 Lightning is one of the central stories of today’s security zeitgeist. But behind the scenes, several countries already are looking ahead to the design of a sixth-generation jet. The National Interest reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
7 Jan. 2022 -- Driving the relentless pace of research into avionics and other enabling technologies is less combat experience -- of which there is little -- and more a sober assessment that developing a successor will take several decades and is better started sooner rather than later.
The sixth-generation fighter developers divide into two categories: the U.S., which has developed and deployed two stealth fighter types, and countries that have skipped or given up on their attempt to build Fifth Generations jets.
Currently, the U.S. has two projects: the Air Force's ‘Penetrating Counter-Air' -- a long-range stealth fighter to escort stealth bombers -- and the Navy's FA-XX. So far, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and Northrop-Grumman have unveiled sixth-generation concepts.
Related: 6th-generation jet fighters may involve hypersonic technology, artificial intelligence (AI)
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
