Sixth Generation Fighter Development

Always interesting to hear about new innovations, but I think its fair to say that nobody even has the 5th Generation formula right yet. Especially in terms of operational costs and serviceability.

And so we see many of the big militaries going back to the mass production of revised 4th generation multi-role planes.

The SU75 will remain vaporware unless Russia can convince India to fund it in full IMHO. It's a paper fighter that has still yet to progress beyond a mockup. I honestly think barring a license agreement with India that has full ToT and 3rd party sales rights, that Checkmate won't enter service.

There are also some rumours flying around that despite the debacle of FGFA, that the above type of deal including full engine tech transfer is precisely what Russia are offering India for the SU57.

KAAN and Boramae Block 2 will be 5th gen rather than 6th. They do demonstrate that both Turkey and Korea see a need for the ability to have domestic production and technology for fighters. That speaks to a loss of trust in the USA.

The Tempest and the growth of the basic design over the past couple of years speak to a growing RAF & JASDF realisation that long range strike and penetrating counter air air going to important for their needs. Large ocean environment offshore and contested airspace likely over adjacent mainlands. Similarly Italy will see those capabilities as key for control of the Med.

https://x.com/nicholadrummond/status/1815335992187834591

The Chinese have long been rumoured to be working on a strike platform to fill the tactical & sub strategic roles that don't require a Xian H20.

I think the Chinese 6th Gen "fighter" will be the J50 with the J36 as a strike platform or perhaps even a stealth stand off launch platform to allow China penetrate within 400km of AWACS & A2A tankers to take them out with long range AAMs. I think the J50 will be the Chinese fighter they see pitted against the F47 & F-XX

Also important to note that aswell as approx 200+ Chengdu J20 already built.(Conservative est. iMO)

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-and-national-security-analysis/post/special-report-china-inducts-additional-j-20-stealth-fighters

That China is very rapidly inducting the J35 as a deck based 5th Gen aswell as already agreeing an export deal with Pakistan. That puts India in the precarious position of facing 5th Gen fighters operated by both it's primary Regional competition whilst operating none of its own.

The Franco-German FCAS will be worth keeping an eye on too. Dassault are already trying to control the development & design and Airbus may well decide that they don't want to be steamrolled into accepting whatever France decides.

Also worth keeping an eye what comes out of the USN 6th Gen effort the FA-XX. Rumours are that it will be a Northrop Grumman airframe. A long heritage in naval aircraft and even now, 30yrs after the TFX competition, the YF23 is still quite an airframe and it should IMO have been the winner in that particular competition.

All these races for airframes are rounded out by India and it's efforts to develop 1 5th gen and 1 new 4.5gen aircraft concurrently in their AMCA and TEDBF.

All that work ongoing whilst still trying to induction the Tejas in 3 almost simultaneous variants mk1, mk1A and MK2. This is all happening while India is desperately short of fighters aswell as facing severe Regional completion.

India is having issues with GE providing engines on time and what with America now courting them? F35s may be needed as a shortcut to counteract Chinese mass in 5th gen along with Pak acquiring Chinese J35.

At the time of the initial 737 Max issues I posted over on the Boeing thread on my opinion of where they would end up. One of the outcomes I posted was them either being split into 2 or 3 units, Military, Civil and Space. Or their gaining some new contracts, the F15EX and now the F47 appear to point to the 2nd option being the outcome alright.

That said, they are still in absolute quality meltdown and if that carries into their Mil airframes & F47? Or should I say continues, given KC46, Poseidon and T7 programmes are all quality nightmares.