The United States Navy is aggressively pursuing a future where air superiority is defined by a new breed of aircraft, the 6th generation stealth fighter known as the F/A-XX. The F/A-XX is a program to develop and acquire a sixth-generation air superiority fighter to replace the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. While details remain shrouded in secrecy, the F/A-XX has now entered the design maturation phase, signaling a significant advancement in its development trajectory.
The F/A-XX initiative, part of the broader Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) system. The program includes the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), which act as “loyal wingmen” to the F/A-XX, thus extending the manned fighter’s operational reach and capabilities. “The Navy is prioritizing operational reach on top of operational capacity for the program,” explained Cmdr. Mark Cochran during a Tailhook Symposium panel discussion, as reported by Aviation Week.
“We can expect artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to be incorporated into the NGAD, acting as a co-pilot for the manned aircraft and allowing the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to act independently,” Suciu reported. “In other words, the drones won’t require constant directions from the manned aircraft – they’ll follow orders, of course, but still show initiative.
The Air Force’s parallel NGAD program also foresees the incorporation of AI, further blurring the lines between man and machine in aerial warfare. The NGAD program, part of a system of systems, will feature a sixth-generation fighter and autonomous support aircraft. Originating in a 2014 DARPA Air Dominance Initiative study, its aim is air superiority, yet it is not merely a standalone aircraft.
The NGAD is similar to the F-22 in that it will be expensive and will leverage the achievements of the F-22. In the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget request, the Air Force designated $1.66 billion for the NGAD program.
The F/A-XX is anticipated to encompass a wide array of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack, surface warfare, and close air support.Platform requirements include supercruise capabilities as well as advanced next-generation stealth features, sensors, and radars with networking adaptability. Additional missions and capabilities include air-to-air refueling, reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA), and electronic warfare and countermeasures.
Internationally, the race to the 6th generation fighter jet is intensifying. European counterparts are working diligently on projects like the British-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with European partners. Simultaneously, other global powers, including Russia and Turkey, are believed to be pursuing similar advancements, each aiming to field the first operational 6th generation combat aircraft.
While it’s uncertain which nation will achieve this milestone first, the US will strive to be the first to produce a sixth-generation fighter.
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