Rethinking the fighter jet: how the world enters the most expensive aviation race in history

The history of combat aviation is a history of adaptation to new threats and technologies. From the first biplanes of World War I armed only with machine guns to supersonic machines with complex combat control systems, fighters have constantly changed, becoming a key tool for controlling the skies.

Each generation of aviation was a response to a new challenge. After World War II, jet engines appeared - this is how the first generation of fighters appeared. In the 1950s, military aviation reached supersonic speeds, received effective radars and heat-seeking missiles - the second generation was born. In the 60s and 70s, maneuverability and close air combat came to the fore - this is the third generation. Then came digital control systems, multifunctionality, stealth technologies (invisibility), which formed the fourth generation, represented by aircraft such as the F-15 or Su-27.

The fifth generation has already relied on information superiority: deep integration of systems, low visibility, the possibility of supercruise flight (the ability to fly for a long time at high speed) - all this has turned the fighter into an aviation command center. The F-22, F-35, and the Chinese J-20 are no longer just airplanes, but key links in entire combat networks. But war is changing its face again. The modern battlefield is filled with drones capable of operating autonomously. Radio-electronic warfare blocks communications, and artificial intelligence analyzes the situation faster than a person. Therefore, a logical question arose: will the pilot remain necessary at all?

The world's largest military and aviation powers — the United States, China, Great Britain, France, and Japan — are currently seeking an answer to this question. They are developing sixth-generation fighters — not just updated aircraft, but entire combat ecosystems that combine manned platforms, drones, AI, and electronic warfare capabilities into a single network.

This is no longer an evolution. This is a complete rethinking of the very concept of air superiority. And something that will emerge in the coming decade and change the balance of power in the global security architecture.

What distinguishes the sixth generation from the fifth?

Fighter development has always been about air superiority—seeing faster, attacking first, and evading. But while the fifth generation relied on stealth and networking, the sixth generation goes further: it changes the very essence of air combat.

The most revolutionary change is the introduction of artificial intelligence. Sixth-generation fighters are no longer imaginable without AI, and its role is not limited to the automation of individual processes. In such aircraft, AI becomes a full-fledged participant in combat operations: it is able to process data from sensors, radars, cameras, thermal imagers, instantly analyze the situation, make decisions, and even coordinate the actions of other aircraft. In unmanned versions, it is AI that actually performs the function of a pilot. This opens up opportunities for instant response to changing situations — where a person lacks neither the speed of thinking nor the time.

At the same time, the new architecture of combat platforms involves tight integration with unmanned aerial vehicles. Concepts such as the "loyal wingman" imply that a manned fighter no longer operates independently - instead, it controls a group of drones. These drones can strike, act as decoys, conduct reconnaissance or conduct electronic warfare. That is, the pilot becomes a kind of commander of the "pack", where each element performs its function. This increases the flexibility and effectiveness of the unit, reducing the risk of losses among the crew.

Another important direction is the evolution of stealth technologies. If earlier the main emphasis was on making the aircraft less visible on radar, now it is about multi-level invisibility. This is not only about reducing the reflection of radio waves, but also about muffling the thermal footprint - so that the aircraft is not picked up by infrared sensors, reducing engine noise - so that it is not heard by enemy microphones or speaker systems, as well as reducing visual visibility - for example, thanks to a special coating that absorbs glare. A real breakthrough is the ability to control your "radio profile" - that is, change your radar signature so that, for example, you can pretend to be another aircraft or completely disappear from sight.

Instead of creating universal fighters that can perform all tasks at once, developers are increasingly focusing on platform specialization. In other words, the aircraft is designed not as a "jack of all trades", but as an effective tool for a specific task - breaking through dense air defenses, conducting strategic reconnaissance at great depths, electronic "jamming" of enemy systems or pinpoint destruction of targets from a long distance.

This transformation is complemented by a new generation of weapons. In addition to traditional missiles and bombs, sixth-generation fighters will use completely new systems. These are combat lasers capable of hitting air targets at short distances or disabling the enemy's optical-electronic systems. Hypersonic missiles, flying several times faster than sound, will allow them to hit targets without giving them time to react. And new-generation electronic and electromagnetic warfare systems will allow them not only to "blind" the enemy, but also to literally turn off their equipment - from radars to guidance systems.

Thus, the sixth generation is no longer just a modernization of individual functions, but the emergence of a new combat ecosystem. In this system, the key is not only the pilot, but also how he interacts with machines, information and other elements of air combat. And it is this interaction that may prove decisive in the wars of the future.

The pilot retreats into the shadows

In future air operations, the role of the pilot will undergo radical changes. While fifth-generation fighters are still based on the concept of the "ace pilot", the sixth generation involves moving the pilot from the center of events to the position of coordinator of a complex combat system. His main function will not be to directly control the aircraft, but to formulate tasks, determine tactical priorities, interact with autonomous systems and make strategic decisions in situations where automation is insufficient.

In various projects, the key element is the concept of combat "swarms", or the use of auxiliary means in the form of UAVs. A manned aircraft becomes only one component of an extensive air network, which includes autonomous strike UAVs, reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare equipment and even unmanned refueling aircraft. For example, within the framework of the sixth-generation fighter development program of the US Air Force, a scenario is being considered when one pilot controls a group of four to six unmanned aircraft, each of which performs its own highly specialized function.

To ensure effective interaction, cockpits are equipped with advanced interfaces, including touch panels and augmented reality systems in helmets. A significant part of the information load is taken on by artificial intelligence, which not only processes data from numerous sensors (for example, missile attack warning systems, radars, optoelectronic systems), but also offers the pilot optimal options for action. This real-time interaction actually leads to the emergence of a new profession - the operator of a combat ecosystem, where each aircraft is just a "node" in a large digital network.

However, increased autonomy also brings with it new threats. There are serious risks associated with possible errors of autonomous systems, for example, accidental fire on their own forces. In addition, it is necessary to develop reliable mechanisms to prevent situations where AI makes a decision to destroy a target based on incorrect data.

The race has begun

Several leading aviation powers are actively working on creating sixth-generation fighters, each with its own approach, technological priorities, and real capabilities.

In the United States, the main focus is on the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program, which is a key project to ensure air superiority for decades to come. The program involves the development of not one aircraft, but a whole complex of systems: a manned fighter, swarms of CCA-class unmanned aerial vehicles, high-speed reconnaissance platforms and electronic warfare equipment. According to official statements, the first full-fledged prototype was tested back in 2020, although no details about its characteristics are disclosed. The main emphasis is on the widespread use of artificial intelligence, maximum survivability in enemy air defense zones, and the ability to autonomously control a group of drones. The main problem with NGAD remains its high cost - according to RAND estimates, each aircraft can cost more than $300 million, excluding the associated infrastructure, which is several times the price of fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35.

In parallel, the US Navy is working on its own F/A-XX program to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. At the initial stage, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman presented their concepts, but Boeing is now considered the favorite. In 2023, the company showed renderings of its version - a stealth fighter without vertical keels, which received the preliminary designation F/A-XX or sometimes F-47. The main focus is on reducing visibility, high cruising speed and the possibility of long-term autonomous flight. It is also planned to create a new generation stealth tanker to increase the combat radius of these aircraft. Boeing proposed the most realistic project in terms of price and timing, which is especially important in conditions of tight control over the defense budget.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin, having lost the NGAD piloted fighter competition to Boeing, is actively looking for ways to integrate technologies developed for the sixth-generation project into its F-35. Lockheed Martin believes that existing or future fifth-generation F-35 fighters, having undergone significant modernization, can provide about 80% of the capabilities of a sixth-generation fighter, but at half the cost. This concept involves "upgrading" the F-35 through the use of new materials, geometries and countermeasures developed within the framework of the NGAD program. Thus, Lockheed Martin seeks to maintain the relevance of the F-35 for decades to come and offer additional capabilities to the existing fleet of aircraft in the future.

European countries are also not standing aside. Great Britain, Japan and Italy have joined forces within the framework of the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme), which arose on the basis of the British Tempest project and the Japanese FX. The goal is to create not a separate fighter, but a full-fledged combat ecosystem with integrated drones, autonomous systems and communication networks. One of the features of the future aircraft will be a virtual cockpit based on augmented reality, which should replace traditional physical panels. Much attention is paid to the development of new engines with instant transition between flight modes, which should provide both supersonic cruising speed and high maneuverability. The first flight of the prototype is expected at the end of the decade, although some tests of individual components are already underway.

France, Germany and Spain are moving in their own directions within the framework of the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) project. The idea of creating a single European sixth-generation fighter seemed a logical response to American initiatives, but in practice the project has encountered political disagreements. In particular, in 2023, Germany temporarily blocked funding due to disputes with the French Dassault Aviation over access to stealth technologies. In response, France reacted negatively to Berlin's decision to purchase the American F-35. At the technical level, the FCAS is focused on creating the so-called "digital battlefield" - a single integrated network for manned and unmanned systems that should act as a single organism in real time. However, delays due to disputes between Dassault and Airbus over the division of roles and rights to technology increase the risks for the program, and the first demonstrator is not expected before 2028-2029.

China is also actively developing a sixth-generation fighter as part of its so-called "Plan 2035," which has unofficially been designated J-XX. Details of the program are classified, but available sources suggest that the concept will include deep integration of drones, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, and new types of stealth coatings. The main problem for China remains the lag in the field of aircraft engines: its own WS-15 developments have not yet reached the required level of reliability. Although China is making significant strides in the development of artificial intelligence, the real combat effectiveness of these solutions is still in doubt.

Russia is trying to maintain its position in military aviation thanks to the MFI-6 or PAK-DP project, which is sometimes associated with a promising interceptor based on the ideas of the Su-57. According to official statements, the new aircraft should be able to operate at hypersonic speeds, fight in near space and intercept promising hypersonic targets. However, in practice, the program remains at the stage of conceptual research. There is no confirmed data on the creation of even a prototype. The experience of developing the Su-57, which turned out to be extremely long and problematic, only reinforces doubts about the ability to bring more complex systems to serial production.

In addition to the leading programs, a number of other countries, including Turkey, India, Korea, and others, also declare their intentions to develop their own sixth-generation fighters. However, these projects are currently at a very early stage, and almost nothing is known about their actual characteristics or implementation timelines. Therefore, it is quite likely that over time, some of these countries will prefer to participate in existing international programs or focus on deep modernization of 5+ generation aircraft rather than creating completely new platforms.

Technological and political constraints

The development of these fighters critically depends on access to advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, autonomous control, low-observability materials, new types of radars and modern electronics. Most of the key engineering solutions in these areas are protected by international patents or belong to private companies in the United States, Europe, Israel and Japan. Restrictions on access to these technologies, for example due to political conflicts, sanctions or trade barriers, could significantly slow down or even make it impossible to create sixth-generation aircraft.

An example is the situation with Turkey, which was excluded from the development and production program of the American fifth-generation fighter F-35 after purchasing Russian S-400 systems. This led to the loss not only of ordered aircraft, but also of access to critical technologies for the production of fifth-generation aircraft and participation in the corresponding production contracts.

Despite ambitious statements, most sixth-generation fighter development programs (the American NGAD, the European FCAS, the British Tempest, Chinese experiments, and the Japanese-British-Italian GCAP) are still at the prototype, technology demonstrator, or preliminary design stage. The year 2025 is characterized by early testing and limited achievements.

Developers face numerous challenges, including huge costs, the complexity of integrating artificial intelligence, problems with controlling swarms of drones, the high power consumption of new types of weapons, and ensuring cybersecurity. Even the United States, with its largest military budget, expects the appearance of a full-fledged NGAD model no earlier than the mid-2030s, with the subsequent gradual replacement of the F-22 in combat units.

The sixth generation of fighters will not become a reality in the near future. The world is not yet ready for this technological revolution – neither technologically nor politically. However, the vector of development has already been clearly defined. And the country that will be the first to combine all these innovations into an effective combat platform will gain a decisive advantage not only in the air, but also in the broader geopolitical context.