What Will a Sixth Generation Fighter Look Like? No One Knows, Says ACC Comm

[IND151]

We aren't quite finished developing and producing our fifth generation aircraft, the F-22 and F-35, but their time is already running out, the head of Air Combat Command said today. And work has not really begun on a sixth generation aircraft.

Gen. Mike Hostage, the ACC commander, told an audience of more than 300 at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, that America’s fifth generation aircraft were projected to maintain their superiority through 2030. Since the Marines’ version of the F-35 won’t achieve Initial Operating Capability until 2015, and the contract for the plane was awarded in 2001, this would seem to raise the question: can we build a sixth generation in time to deploy it roughly around the time fifth generation fighters’ superiority wanes.

Hostage said there shouldn't be a worry at the current rate at which the U.S. is buying F-35s although it takes “so dang long” to buy advanced fighter aircraft.

Fifth generation fighters are generally agreed to be stealthy, supersonic, to possess advanced radar and use highly integrated avionics. So far, Hostage told reporters after his talk, no one really knows what capability or mix of same will mark a sixth generation plane. “We are looking at technologies that hold promise that could define sixth gen but we don’t know what it is yet,” he told us.

For reasons that shouldn't be hard to understand Hostage was reluctant to discuss specific technologies – notwithstanding good-natured prodding by my colleague Army Butler — but he did outline the general ideas guiding the Air Force: “I don’t think it will one big radical thing. I think it will be a combination of really interesting combination of technologies that produce a game-changing capability.” He did say that Long Range Strike, the family of weapons that will include the country’s Next Generation Bomber, “may well have sixth generation capabilities” but would not be a sixth generation system.

The Navy has bruited the concept of the F/A-XX, an advanced aircraft to replace the F/A-18. As we’ve previously reported Lockheed Martin has submitted an all-new, advanced, “sixth-generation” design. Given Hostage’s comments, perhaps it’s not really a sixth-gen aircraft. Or perhaps, as often happens with such efforts, smoke is being blown to obfuscate our true intentions and thus keep potential enemies and rivals off guard.

What Will a Sixth Generation Fighter Look Like? No One Knows, Says ACC Commander | idrw.org

 

[qasimali]

May be GOD knows.

 

[Zabaniyah]

It will be able to transform into a robot. Sweeps in, then flies away.

Macross style

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Already there was a thread on a drone with artificial intelligence tested by US Navy.
6th gen have arrived
http://www.defence.pk/forums/milita...oted-artificial-intelligence.html#post3654603

 

[Nova2]

perhaps they may luk like these 2 jooda bhai's

 

[Superboy]

F-35B won't be operational till 2017, IMO, and there won't be sixth generation fighters. They be moving to UCAV after manned. UCAV can be powered by scramjet, Mach 10, too much for human body to handle, even with G suit on.

 

[Counter-Errorist]

No one knows because they will be invisible!

 

[Strigon]

6th....meh idk...maybe 12th Gen fighter...

 

[madmusti]

But the Concept from Boeing with Pilot & UAV is too not bad !

 

[Nova2]

But the Concept from Boeing with Pilot & UAV is too not bad !

The concept of Lockheed Martin is unmaned ,bt nt sure abt da later pic of boieng concept plane,most probably unmanned .

 

[madmusti]

 

[Basel]

We may see 6th gen planes in manned and unmanned version both as there are reservations in US that unmanned versions may not be good for all missions and at some point manned planes will do job better as many will not like to give decision making power to machines.

here are some link on 6th gen planes:

Yes, There Will Be a New Jet Fighter After the F-22 and F-35 — War is Boring — Medium
.
The Sixth Generation Fighter
.
PLAAF's 6th Gen Fighter?

 

[gambit]

May be GOD knows.

Then I am God.

But seriously...It is not just what the '6th gen' fighter will look like, but also the technology needed to accomplish its customer's demands.

Since everyone is so interested in 'stealth', then the best shape for the lowest possible radar cross section (RCS) -- FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES -- is the sphere. The next best shape is the ogive, aka 'flying saucer'.

 

[Informant]

Then I am God.

But seriously...It is not just what the '6th gen' fighter will look like, but also the technology needed to accomplish its customer's demands.

Since everyone is so interested in 'stealth', then the best shape for the lowest possible radar cross section (RCS) -- FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES -- is the sphere. The next best shape is the ogive, aka 'flying saucer'.

Flying Saucer it is.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Then I am God.

But seriously...It is not just what the '6th gen' fighter will look like, but also the technology needed to accomplish its customer's demands.

Since everyone is so interested in 'stealth', then the best shape for the lowest possible radar cross section (RCS) -- FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES -- is the sphere. The next best shape is the ogive, aka 'flying saucer'.

I think long range radar will play important role in 6th gen fighter. Imagine the radar capable of 1000s kilometres, and with long range A2A missiles, this devil multi role 6th gen fighter will destroy the dozens of fighter from hundreds kilometer away.