F-47: What makes a fighter airplane next generation?
What's the story
The future of aerial combat is bound to be revolutionized by the next generation of fighter jets, offering unmatched speed, range, and penetration capabilities.
But even as US President Donald Trump awarded the contract for the sixth generation of fighter aircraft to Boeing, the question begs—what exactly makes an aircraft next generation?
So far, the aviation industry has seen five generations of fighter planes, from the subsonic F-86 Sabre post World War II to today's stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Technological advancements
Sixth-generation jets: A leap in aviation technology
While the term 'sixth-generation aircraft' is not universally defined yet, experts agree on some common features.
The US Air Force's initiative to develop a sixth-gen fighter jet family is called Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).
"You want it to be fast, you want it to fly high," retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote told Defense News. "You want it to fly a long way."
Essential attributes
Speed, stealth, and range: Key features for 6th-gen jets
Hinote stressed speed, stealth, and range are key components of a sixth-generation fighter. This is especially critical for long-distance operations in the Pacific.
"Range and the ability to penetrate will be absolutely critical for sixth-generation aircraft," Heather Penney, a retired F-16 pilot, said.
She also noted the importance of keeping the stealth capabilities intact without damaging the aircraft's coating.
Future tech
Advanced sensors and AI integration in 6th-gen jets
The next generation of aircraft should be capable of processing massive amounts of detailed data, Hinote and Penney said.
They proposed that a sixth-gen aircraft "should be able to not only have those advanced sensors, not just forward looking, but side and aft, looking across [multiple] phenomena" like radar, infrared, and other frequencies.
The Air Force envisions NGAD working with AI-operated drone wingmen called collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).
Engine evolution
Adaptive engines: The future of fighter jet propulsion
The Air Force has planned for NGAD to include a new kind of propulsion system called an adaptive engine. This engine can switch to different, more efficient configurations based on the flying situation.
However, these advanced engines could be expensive, prompting the Air Force to rethink its plans and designs for NGAD due to budget constraints.
Aircraft classification
The B-21 Raider: A 6th-gen aircraft?
Northrop Grumman has touted its B-21 Raider bomber as the first sixth-gen aircraft. However, Hinote views Northrop's claims with skepticism and believes it's more of a marketing angle.
"If they want to call it sixth-generation, sure," Hinote said. "I don't necessarily believe that the stealth characteristics and the open architecture of the B-21 automatically makes it a generational change in what we've got."
Sixth generation
Prototype, F-47, more
On September 14, 2020, The US Air Force confirmed that it has designed, built, and flown at least one prototype of its next-generation fighter jet.
On March 21, the winner of the NGAD program was revealed to be the Boeing F-47.
The new aircraft is slated to replace the old F-22 stealth warplane that has been around for almost two decades.
Initial estimates indicate production for the Air Force could go up to $20 billion.