Sixth generation jet fighter

A sixth generation jet fighter is a conceptual airplane expected to enter service in the United States Air Force and United States Navy in 2025–30 timeframe.^[1][2]

Design concept

The Boeing concept for Next Generation Air Dominance (formerly F/A-XX) is the only sixth generation jet fighter currently known to be proposed. (Concept image)

As the newly developed Chinese Chengdu J-20 and the Russian-Indian Sukhoi PAK FA are now providing more advanced fighters to compete with current American fifth generation jet fighters, development of a sixth generation jet fighter may be urgent for the US military.^[3]

Dubbed the "Next Generation Tactical Aircraft"/"Next Gen TACAIR",^[4] the USAF seeks a fighter with "enhanced capabilities in areas such as reach, persistence, survivability, net-centricity, situational awareness, human-system integration and weapons effects," a November 4, 2010 presolicitation notice states. “The future system will have to counter adversaries equipped with next generation advanced electronic attack, sophisticated integrated air defense systems, passive detection, integrated self-protection, directed energy weapons, and cyber attack capabilities. It must be able to operate in the anti-access/area-denial environment that will exist in the 2030–50 timeframe.”^[5][6]

The equivalent in the United States Navy is the Next Generation Air Dominance program.

See also

• Air superiority fighter

References

1. ^ Next Generation Tactical Aircraft (Next Gen TACAIR) CRFI posted, Lucky Bogey, 2010-11-12, http://luckybogey.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/next-generation-tactical-aircraft-next-gen-tacair-crfi-posted/ .
2. ^ The Sixth Generation Fighter, Airforce Magazine, 2009-10, http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2009/October%202009/1009fighter.aspx .
3. ^ Hecht, Jeff. "Has China's new jet launched a stealth arms race?" New Scientist, 21 January 2011.
4. ^ "USAF wants F-22 Replacement by 2030", IDRW, Reuters, http://idrw.org/?p=1201 .
5. ^ USAF: Next Generation Tactical Aircraft (Next Gen TACAIR) Materiel and Technology Concepts Search, USA: FBO, https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=782e30c9c983f85e7952c2adc426b189&tab=core&_cview=1 .
6. ^ Air Force Kicks Off Search for 6th-Gen Fighter, Defense Tech, 2010-11-05, http://defensetech.org/2010/11/05/air-force-kicks-off-search-for-6th-gen-fighter/ .