Recently, General Kelly, Commander of the US Air Force Combat Command, talked about the latest developments in the next-generation fighter NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) in Defense News.

NGAD is not only a fighter jet, but also a culmination of drones, spacecraft, and network platforms. On the one hand, NGAD is a bottomless pit that is about to invest huge budget funds; On the other hand, Kelly confirmed that the development plan is continuing and the NGAD full-size validation aircraft has completed its maiden flight.

The United States is researching "systems of systems". To be precise, this is a combat system consisting of several families connected by a common mission, integrated under a unified command, including fighter jets, drones, satellites in space, and network platforms. The specific meaning of online platforms remains to be further observed, while the rest is relatively clear.

Fighter jets, with the support of drones, are able to penetrate "exclusion zones" and high-risk areas. When NATO forces break through air defense systems, annihilate enemy aviation and important targets, even if they have a military advantage, they have to pay an unbearable price.

To be frank, there are currently two major countries in the world that have strong "exclusion zones": China and Russia. Despite sufficient reasons, there will not be a direct military conflict between the United States and Russia in the near future.

The United States has publicly referred to China as its main rival, but there are a large number of American companies concentrated on Chinese territory, such as "Apple", "Boeing", "Qualcomm", and "General Electronics" - these companies find it difficult to give up China's industrial platforms.

Does the US Air Force have the capability to penetrate Chinese airspace today? In April of this year, Defense News reported that the F-35A Lightning II fifth generation fighter jet is clearly difficult to achieve this due to various factors. NGAD may, at least 'should', complete this arduous task in the future. The F-35A is primarily responsible for countering Chinese aircraft, cruise missiles, and defending American targets from attack.

The US military believes that today's latest F-35 is no longer suitable for confronting developed countries with advanced air defense capabilities. Moreover, the F-35 is difficult to be called a true fifth generation aircraft and cannot efficiently carry out combat missions within the exclusion zone.

What about the sixth generation machine?

In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, France, and Russia are also intensifying the development of the next generation of fighter jets. It can even be said that some countries have not fully understood the fifth generation aircraft. Today, countries with fifth generation aircraft cannot say that they have already solved all the problems with the aircraft.

The question is: What exactly do the next and sixth generation fighter jets look like? What is the difference from the fifth generation?

Nowadays, fifth generation aircraft have reached their maximum flight state. Although pilots in the cockpit can use computers, they have to personally process a large amount of information, control dozens of parameters during flight, and complete all of this in a very short time.

Artificial intelligence is very popular now, but it is far from reaching the level of the human brain. It is not meaningful to talk about overload reaching 10g or 20g at this time. The mobile overload of the missile has reached 20g. The Germans claim that their latest IRIS-T missile can reach 60g.

In principle, the main difference between the sixth generation aircraft and the fifth generation aircraft is "higher, farther, and faster" - there is no pilot in the cockpit, or people are selectively present on the aircraft.

Manufacturing drones is relatively simple, and there is no longer a need for life support or rescue systems in the structure.

Reaching hypersonic speed seems to be a prominent feature of the sixth generation aircraft. As is well known, it is impossible to achieve absolute invisibility. However, it is theoretically possible for pilots to fly aircraft at speeds of 5-6 Mach.

The NGAD concept seems simple and clear. Especially when it comes to the "system of systems", which refers to the formation of a "swarm" of drones with different purposes working within a unified whole. There are several manned planes at a certain distance from them. If artificial intelligence cannot control missiles, someone has the opportunity to use backup command channels to achieve guidance.

Advanced anti-ship or cruise missiles operate in clusters, and if the "leader" is shot down, other missiles can quickly replace them, guiding the remaining missiles to continue attacking the target.

But this is a missile. Airplanes are not as fast, nor can they be as stealthy as missiles. Airplanes should indeed improve their technological level.

Today, if we take a look at the F-X/PCA (Penetrating Air Control) program: the new fighter jet will engage in combat with enemy aircraft, seize air control, escort bombers, annihilate various targets on the ground, fly at long distances, refuel in the air, carry various missiles and bombs, and have excellent radar stealth capabilities.

But what is the difference between this and previous generation fighter jets such as F-35 and Su-57?

Some other studies are also difficult to be considered revolutionary. The performance of the sixth generation fighter jet should be even better, but which ones are revolutionary and brand new? Has it never been mentioned by others? Yes, the "Flying Wings" layout seems to have some novelty. But this cannot be called a completely new idea, it was proposed as early as World War II.

In fact, they are playing a numbers game: called the 6th generation, or "5+" or "5++" generation, just trying to sell fighter jets more expensive. Just like the UK is developing the so-called sixth generation 'Tempest', in fact, the UK's own fifth generation aircraft has not yet achieved maiden flight.

In short, the sixth generation seems to have only unmanned and hypersonic capabilities as new features, which is a small step forward compared to the fifth generation. However, this is only an increase in the size and capabilities of existing drones, nothing else. Obviously, the US sixth generation fighter jet has completed its maiden flight - this is indeed a 'small step'. In order to truly achieve the leap forward of the Air Force, a huge investment is still needed.

Source: Frontiers of Maritime Defense