The high energy laser and integrated
optical dazzler and surveillance system
is at the core of Lockheed Martin's
electronic warfare work. The company expects to field a ship
based helio system aboard an arleigh
burke-class guided missile destroyer in
2021. However technological advances are
helping the company shrink the size of
helios from what is due for installation
aboard a ship to what can possibly fit
onto an airframe.
Said Tony Wilson a Lockheed Martin F-35 test pilot "being a tactical pilot in today's age is
really exciting, during my time, i've seen
the leap from 4th generation to 5th
generation with the integration of
stealth and sensor fusion wilson said. what i'm really looking forward to is
the next generation leap that's a 6th
gen fighter, where we not only take
stealth and sensor integration but we
start adding things like directed energy
weapons drone swarm control."
A laser has obvious advantages, it could
be more accurate than a gun is, a fighter
could fire many more laser shots than it
could carry missiles, potentially
boosting the plane's magazine depth. But
it could be a long while before a new
laser-armed fighter takes flight.
The air force in theory is developing a
new air superiority system, but the new system might not take the
form of a
sixth generation fighter.
The navy likewise is exploring
technologies that could contribute to
future air combat missions but the fleet
hasn't committed to developing a new
fighter. In terms of technologies the navy is
considering trades to balance capability, affordability and survivability across a
family of systems and not limiting the
analysis to a single aircraft to meet
future threats.
Navy Lieutenant Cauren
chatmus told Defense News, "some important areas of consideration
include derivative and developmental air
vehicle designs, advanced engines, propulsion, weapons, mission systems, electronic warfare systems and numerous
other emerging technologies and concepts. the services reluctance to commit
potentially billions of dollars to new
fighter develop makes sense."
In 2019 the us armed forces are
struggling to afford the roughly 2.300
new fifth generation F-35s they want to
buy while also maintaining hundreds of
older fourth generation fighters.
In 2016 the u.s air force unveiled its
air superiority 2030 study which posited
that although the service would need a
new air superiority fighter jet called
penetrating counter air as soon as the
2030s. It would be just as important that
the new plane fit into a family of
systems of space, cyber, electronic
warfare and other enabling technologies. The service then initiated an analysis
of alternatives in 2017 to further drill
down on penetrating counter-air concepts
and to refine its requirements, but the
services top uniformed officer sounds
interested in a disaggregated mission
approach.
The air force moreover in its 2020
budget request has proposed to scale
back F-35 production in favor of
acquiring upgraded 4th generation F-15
exes. In that sense the flying branch actually
is moving away from a 6th generation
fighter.
Lockheed could succeed in shrinking down
its helios laser in order to fit a
future fighter plane before any new
plane is ready to carry it. Alternatively the company could offer
the laser as an upgrade for existing
fighters, but directed energy weapons require more
electrical power than today's fighters
easily can generate.
