Can We Expect a Seventh-Generation Fighter?
Much talk is made of the current “fifth-generation” jet aircraft, notably the Lockheed Martin
F-35 Lightning II.
It is actually the second fifth-generation fighter, after the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor,
which was developed as part of the United States Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter
(ATF) program that began in the 1980s.
The F-22 first entered service in 2005 – sixty years after the end of the Second World War.
In fact, the “generation” designation of our modern aircraft is based on the warbirds
built after that conflict.
Though the designations were actually only retroactively created, the U.S. Air Force
broke down the respective capabilities of the generational designations:
First-Generation: Jet propulsion Second-Generation: Swept wings, range-finding
radar, and infrared-guided missiles Third-Generation: Supersonic flight, pulse
radar, and missiles that can engage opponents from beyond visual range.
Fourth Generation: High levels of agility, some degree of sensor fusion, pulse-doppler
radar, reduced radar signature, fly-by-wire, look down/shoot down missiles, and more.
Where the issue is further complicated is in how fourth-generation aircraft continue
to be enhanced.
These have been broken down into sub-generations that include four, four plus, and even four
plus plus, while some of the most advanced fourth-generation aircraft even include some
fifth-generation capabilities.
Taking the Fifth As noted, the development of the fifth generation
has been a long-time coming – dating back to the ATF program of the 1980s.
However, many of the capabilities have been greatly enhanced since.
Thus, a fifth-generation aircraft is best defined as one that features stealth, low-probability-of-intercept
radar (LPIR), agile airframes with supercruise performance, advanced avionics features, and
highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the
battlespace for situation awareness and C3 (command, control, and communications) capabilities.
The current F-35 best exemplifies a fifth-generation aircraft, and it can also be described as
a flying computer as it has more software than any other air combat aircraft, with seven
million lines of code in the aircraft and a further seven million lines of code in the
supporting ground systems.
The F-35 is expected to remain in service through the 2070s.
The Sixth-Generation Efforts are currently underway to develop
the next-generation of combat aircraft, with the United States, Japan, Russia, the United
Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, China, and India all currently involved in
producing a sixth-generation fighter that could enter service by the middle to late
2030s.
There is no definitive agreement on what exactly defines a sixth-generation fighter because
these efforts are still in their early stages, but it generally includes enhanced human-systems
integration, which could include a helmet-mounted display with 360-degree vision, artificial
intelligence (AI) enhanced battlefield awareness, advanced stealth airframes and avionics, increased-range
stand-off and beyond visual range (BVR) weapons, and advanced digital capabilities.
A key facet of the sixth-generation would be that the aircraft could be optionally manned
and supported by autonomous drones, the so-called “loyal wingman.”
Moreover, the aircraft could be equipped with directed energy weapons, including high-powered
microwaves and lasers, that could be used to counter incoming weapons but could also
be employed offensively.
The Seventh-Generation Fighter: On to the Next
Even as the first sixth-generation aircraft are shaping up – including the United States
Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) systems and the UK-led Future Air Combat
System (FACS), also known as the Tempest – there is early speculation on what can be expected
following it.
Military planners must think beyond what is currently in development, which is why even
back in 2016, it was reported that Russia was working on a sixth-generation and even
a seventh-generation fighter.
The question is exactly what can be expected from a seventh-generation.
As noted by past efforts, each of the generations was a major leap forward.
The first generation of jet fighters were little more than traditional turboprop aircraft
fitted with jet engines, while the second-generation saw a leap forward with swept wings, radar,
and missiles.
The third-generation enabled supersonic flight and the ability to engage opponents from beyond
visual range.
The fourth-generation further advanced the capabilities considerably, yet it was the
fifth-generation that has been seen as a significant game changer with its ability to incorporate
stealth capabilities yet be able to operate in the so-called “beast mode” after an
adversary's air defense capabilities were neutralized.
The sixth-generation could be the one that provides AI-powered drones to support a manned
aircraft, increasing the survivability of the pilot.
The seventh generation could further change the dynamic.
The aircraft will likely be autonomously controlled and perhaps directed by a human controller/operator
on the ground far from the battlespace.
It is also possible that it could be capable of hypersonic flight and be made of materials
that further enhance its stealth characteristics.
Yet, it is just as likely that air defense technologies and improved missiles could ground
future fighter development.
Instead, we could see drone swarms that are launched to take out air defenses to allow
a bomber with standoff capabilities to strike enemy targets.