However given how little is known about
sixth generation aircraft. The services
plans for it likely have yet to take
shape, while there is little available data
regarding any configuration or mission
scope for the new six generation
aircraft. Recent comments from senior air
force leaders and developments over the
last several years seem to inculcate
that they are most likely not intended
to be a one-for-one replacement.
Meaning
that a sixth-generation aircraft would
not be a next-generation F-35 jet in any
capacity. Rather the opposite appears more likely. Meaning both a 6th generation stealth
fighter and a 5th generation multirole F35 jet will each respectively possess
attributes and characteristics the other
does not have.
It seems much more likely, given that the F-22 jet was at least in the minds of
many people, prematurely truncated at 187
aircraft. A sixth generation aircraft
might introduce a breakthrough level of F-22 like air dominance. Perhaps a sixth generation fighter would
vector and maneuver in a manner far
superior to even an F-22 jet? Perhaps it will bring new levels of
super cruise speed wherein it can thrust, accelerate, maneuver and outrun attacking
enemy aircraft in unprecedented ways?
At the same time there will likely still
be attributes unique to the F-35 jet
which given the pace of technological
progress and continued rapid
implementation of weapons upgrades
through software, may remain the case for
many years.
An interesting essay from cnn site
sources saying that some senior air
force officials during the trump
administration suggested cutting the air
force's 1763
planned F-35 jets to 800 to save money
on sustainment costs and more fully
leverage the fast emerging promise of
the sixth generation aircraft. This idea which may have emerged earlier
on in the development of the sixth
generation platform. Does not seem to
represent the air force position at the
time and certainly does not reflect what
the service is thinking now?
Air force chief of staff general Charles Brown has said the service's
commitment to its planned fleet of F-35
jets remains fully intact, yet there are
of course still some ongoing
deliberations. As things progress all indications seem
to point to the possibility that a
sixth-generation aircraft will operate
more as an F-22 replacement intended to
complement and fly alongside the F-35
jet.
It may be next to impossible to engineer
a single platform that is superior and
optimal in every conceivable category. A reality which further fortifies the
argument that a continuously upgraded F-35 jet and new sixth generation
aircraft can each bring certain superior
attributes to war that the other does
not have, creating an optimal combination for
aerial dominance. Both fifth and sixth generation stealth
aircraft of course extend the much
sought after or even needed quality of
stealth fifth and sixth generation
fighters will likely bring equal if not
greater advantages to warfare by
building upon current networking
progress.
Meaning they will likely be
engineered to quickly network, share
information and operate in tandem with
one another. both will likely operate nearby drones
and even unmanned ground assets or
robots. Current breakthroughs are enabling more
secure two-way connectivity between F-22
jets and F-35 jets. A massive
intelligence sharing and targeting
paradigm shift breaking new ground in
the area of coordinated air attack. this introduces great promise for fifth
to sixth generation coordination which
will likely build upon this progress.
For instance, an F-35 jet with
intelligence surveillance and
reconnaissance capabilities in addition
to ultra long range, high fidelity sensor
image resolution could draw upon its
electro optical targeting system to
locate an approaching fleet of enemy
fifth generation aircraft and then use
its computerized mission data files and
artificial intelligence enabled sensor
fusion to make rapid target
identification.
Bouncing incoming threat data off of a
vast database to perform rapid analysis
and then quickly organize a host of
otherwise disparate pools of data in
relation to one another for pilots. An F-35 jet could find targets and transmit
relevant data to a nearby sixth
generation aircraft positioned to engage
and destroy the enemy fifth generation
fighters.
