New Wave Of Fighter Jets Transforming Aerial Combat

2025-04-01 06:18:35

(MENAFN- Asia Times) The most advanced fighter jets in the world are known as“fifth generation.” They contain technologies developed in the first part of the 21st century. Examples of fifth-generation fighter jets include America's F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor , China's Chengdu J-20 and Russia's Sukhoi SU-57.

Now, however, nations are moving ahead with the sixth generation of combat jets. In the past few months, China has flown its J-36 and J-50 prototype jets . Meanwhile, the US has selected Boeing to build a new fighter aircraft called the F-47.

As with previous generations, the sixth will incorporate major advances in aircraft design, onboard electronics (avionics) and weapon systems.

But how will the new generation of jets stand out from the previous one? Future combat jets will not see dramatic increases in maximum speed nor in flight performance. Instead, the true innovations will be in how these systems operate and achieve dominance in aerial combat.

Like the fifth generation, the sixth will be dominated by stealth technology . This helps fighter jets to reduce their chances of being detected by infrared and radar sensors, to the point that when their signatures are eventually picked up, the opponent has no time to act.

Stealth is achieved through particular shapes of airframe (such as diamond shapes) and coatings on the aircraft – called radar absorbing materials. The airframe is the fundamental structural framework of an aircraft, encompassing the fuselage, wings, tail assembly and landing gear.

The diamond-like shapes that already characterize fifth-generation jets are likely to remain in the upcoming generation of fighter, but they will evolve.

A common feature we're likely to see is the reduction or complete removal of vertical tails at the back of the aircraft and their control surfaces. In current aircraft, these tails provide directional stability and control in flight, allowing the aircraft to maintain its course and maneuver.

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