Fifth-gen fighters like the F-35 are now the bare minimum needed to get the edge in a modern air war, Royal Air Force officer says

"Fifth-generation fighter jets are the most advanced in the skies, boasting low observability, or stealth, as well as advanced sensors and avionics. Some also feature advanced networking. The American F-22 Raptor entered service in the early 2000s. The newest US fifth-gen fighter is the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, another Lockheed Martin aircraft that is operated by both the US and its allies and partners. Russia is developing the Su-57, and China has the J-20 and J-35, the latter supporting new carrier advancements."

"Speaking to the UK's Royal United Services Institute on Monday, Beck said that fifth-generation is no longer a "futuristic" concept. "It's very much the here and now." The future fighter technology that can't get here fast enough is the sixth-gen fighter, he said. Sixth-gen jets are expected to incorporate artificial intelligence, integrate with autonomous combat drones, feature improved stealth and greater range, and deliver greater overall combat power."

"Fifth-generation jets like the F-35 are now the bare minimum for seizing even brief control of the skies in modern peer combat, a Royal Air Force officer said this week. " Fifth-generation combat air is not new," Air Vice-Marshal James Beck, the RAF's director of capabilities and programs, said. These jets are the "peer-level baseline and now the entry standard for any attempt" to take even temporarycontrol of the air "against the most basic threats.""

Fifth-generation fighter aircraft now constitute the baseline capability for engaging in peer-level air combat, providing stealth, advanced sensors, avionics, and networking. Examples include the F-22 and F-35, with Russia developing the Su-57 and China fielding the J-20 and J-35. Contemporary combat shows how difficult it is to penetrate contested airspace, increasing demand for more capable systems. Sixth-generation programs aim to add artificial intelligence, integration with autonomous drones, enhanced stealth, and longer range to restore and sustain air dominance. Boeing won the US Next Generation Air Dominance contract to build the F-47, and multinational partnerships are pursuing complementary next-gen efforts.

Read at Business Insider