The 6th generation fighter will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) as well as advanced engines and stealth technology.
The world's most advanced fighter jets are known as "fifth generation." They represent technology developed in the first half of the 21st century. Examples of fifth-generation fighters include the US F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor, China's Chengdu J-20, and Russia's Sukhoi SU-57. Now, however, countries are moving toward developing sixth-generation fighters. In recent months, China has test-flown prototypes of its J36 and J50 jets. Meanwhile, the US has selected Boeing to build its new fighter, the F-47. Like previous generations, the sixth generation will incorporate significant advances in aircraft design, avionics, and weapons, according to Live Science. Future fighters probably won't see significant increases in top speed or flight performance. Instead, innovations will focus on how systems operate and how they gain an advantage in air combat. Like the 5th generation, stealth technology will continue to be a key element in the 6th generation, making fighters less visible to infrared and radar sensors, to the point where their signatures are picked up by the enemy before they can react.
This is achieved through specially shaped airframes (like the diamond shape) and coatings on the aircraft, called radar absorbent materials. The airframe is the basic structure of the aircraft, including the fuselage, wings, tail assembly, and landing gear. The diamond shape that was a hallmark of the 5th generation will likely continue in the next generation of fighters, but with improvements.
One common feature we may see is the reduction or complete elimination of the vertical tail at the rear of the aircraft and its control surfaces. In today's aircraft, this tail provides stability and directional control in flight, allowing the aircraft to maintain its trajectory and be easily steered. However, 6th-generation jets can achieve this control with the help of thrust vectoring, which adjusts the direction of the engine and thus the direction of thrust (the force that helps the aircraft move through the air).
The role of vertical wings can be partly replaced by devices called fluid actuators. They exert force on the wings by transmitting high-speed, pressurized air through different sections of the wing. Eliminating vertical wings would contribute to the stealth of the fighter. The new generation of fighters could also use new radar-absorbent materials with many advanced features.
Adaptive cycle engines could appear on 6th generation fighters. They are characterized by a three-airflow design. Current jets have two airflows: one passing through the engine core and one bypassing the core. The development of a third air stream provides additional air source to increase fuel efficiency and engine performance.
China and the US will build two types of fighter jets with different airframes, suitable for different geographical regions. One will have a larger airframe to operate in areas like the Pacific, where longer ranges and larger payloads are important. The other will have a smaller airframe to increase agility and flexibility in Europe.
The next generation of jets will have in-cockpit systems that collect a lot of information from other aircraft, ground stations, and satellites. The systems will then integrate the data to provide a big picture for the pilot, while also being able to actively jam enemy sensors. Another key piece of equipment to be deployed is the unmanned aerial combat vehicle (UCAV), a type of drone. Fighter jets can control a swarm of UAVs to support the mission.
This will be the responsibility of the advanced digital cockpit, a software system that uses virtual reality, allowing the pilot to effectively manage the battle. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be a key feature of the drone support system. The pilot will give the main task, such as "attack enemy aircraft in that area," and the system will carry out the task without needing to load additional instructions.
Another achievement is the weapon system, which is expected to use missiles that are not only capable of traveling at hypersonic speeds but also integrate stealth features. This will help reduce the reaction time of the enemy. Directed energy weapon systems, such as lasers, are also being studied and have the potential to appear in later stages.
Under the US 6th generation fighter program, the US Navy is developing a separate jet line called F/A-XX to complement the F-47. The UK, Italy, and Japan are also involved in the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP), to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in service with the UK and Italy and the Mitsubishi F-2 in service with Japan. Germany, Spain, and France are working on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) to replace the UK and Spain's Typhoons and the French Rafale.
Although the development path for a sixth-generation fighter has been mapped out, there is still uncertainty about the feasibility of some features, as well as the time and cost of development. A new generation of fighters is expected to serve for around 30 years, but it is unclear whether current design requirements will be relevant in the future.