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74-722: F/A-XX is a development and acquisition program for a future sixth-generation air superiority fighter to replace the United States Navy 's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C beginning in the 2030s. A requirement was first identified in June 2008. The F/A-XX is expected to be the manned fighter component and centerpiece of the Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance ( NGAD ) family of systems. Although identically named and sharing some technology developments, this program

148-526: A carrier-based fighter. Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert speculated in February 2015 that the F/A-XX would not rely primarily on speed or stealth as much as previous-generation jet fighters due to better signature detection and proliferating high-speed anti-aircraft weapons. Instead, in addition to its protective features provided by its stealth features, technologies, maneuverability and speed,

222-688: A common airframe. Boeing , Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have all announced sixth-generation aircraft development projects. On September 14, 2020, the USAF announced that a prototype aircraft component of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program had flown for the first time. The details remained classified. There are significant differences between Navy and Air Force visions for their respective next-generation jet concepts, but both agree on some fundamental characteristics. These include artificial intelligence as

296-524: A decision aid to the pilot, similar in concept to current sensor fusion . They will also have Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), and communications that allow big data movement between both services' aircraft. The USAF regard stealth technology as extremely important for the F-X, while the US Navy emphasize the F/A-XX should not be so focused on survivability as to sacrifice speed and payload. Unlike

370-483: A family of systems are being explored. The total payload capacity, range and variety of weaponry and equipment of the F/A-XX will at least match or likely exceed the current platform i.e. Super Hornet's payload capacity and capabilities. In May 2015, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus stated that the F/A-XX should be a platform with the capability of optional unmanned autonomous operation. The effort may produce

444-631: A family of systems to replace the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G rather than a single airframe, and the Navy is now conducting an analysis of alternatives for their next-generation aircraft in partnership with the Air Force. Greenert favors an optionally manned aircraft for a modular section that can either hold a pilot or more sensors. The aircraft must be capable of operating from Navy Nimitz -class and Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carriers. In July 2009, Boeing first publicly unveiled

518-409: A full suite of sensors and rely on off-board data-linked information from other platforms to provide targeting information and guide weapons launched from the platform. The F/A-XX platforms will be made to carry missiles, have power and cooling systems for directed-energy weapons , and have sensors that can target small radar cross-section targets; cyber warfare platforms at a tactical level as part of

592-427: A greater weapon load than current fighters. In 2016, the USAF consolidated this change of course for its Air Superiority 2030 plan, to pursue "a network of integrated systems disaggregated across multiple platforms" rather than focusing on the sixth-generation fighter. The Air Force and Navy requirements had already been merged the year before and were now formally integrated, with the joint focus to be on AI systems and

666-530: A highly adaptive platform will be part of the new system. The F/A-XX is being pursued as F/A-18 Super Hornets will reach the end of their 9,000 hours of service life by the early 2030s. Aside from the option of buying more F-35Cs, the F/A-XX is seeking to create a new aircraft to replace the Super Hornet's capability and mission set. Just as the F-35C replaced aging F/A-18 Hornets and complements Super Hornets,

740-752: A move beyond the limitations inherent to the potential abilities of a single strike aircraft. 6-Gen combat awareness will require a theater-wide integration of diverse systems beginning with the primary airborne sensory suite and further including real-time data linking of ground-based detection and ranging technology with sensors aboard primary and support aircraft, advanced communication capabilities, unparalleled capacity for continuous onboard info-stream processing utilizing AI for real-time data translation and rendering geared toward optimizing pilot situational awareness while reducing workload, potential near-space capabilities, extension of existing strike/standoff ranges, seamless co-operation with ground-to air defense assets and

814-487: A narrowband jammer and can be used against engagement radars. Under NIFC-CA, F-35Cs will routinely be supported by Growlers and Super Hornets to jam and destroy enemy targets beyond the range of surface-to-air missiles. Data-links used to share information are high-bandwidth and jam-resistant to maintain contact. The Navy would also work with the United States Air Force in an attack, with the Navy using

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888-682: A next generation fighter program to potentially replace the Eurofighter Typhoon post-2030; the Eurofighter Typhoon has since had its intended service life extended to around 2040. On 22 March 2016, Japan conducted the first flight of the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin testbed aircraft for this project. In July 2018, then British Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson unveiled the UK's Combat Air Strategy and announced

962-778: A press trip at the Embraer factory in the city of São José dos Campos , São Paulo, the Director of Industrial Cooperation of Saab in Brazil, Luiz Hernandez, stated that Brazil will develop a sixth-generation fighter based on technologies from the Saab JAS 39 Gripen , already in production in the country. The project would be a cooperation between Embraer and the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology . The Vice President of Embraer's defence division, Walter Pinto Junior, confirmed

1036-613: A result, the CSBA suggests building a fighter significantly larger relying on enhanced sensors, signature control, networked situational awareness, and very-long-range weapons to complete engagements before being detected or tracked. Larger planes would have greater range that would enable them to be stationed further from a combat zone, have greater radar and IR detection capabilities, and carry bigger and longer-range missiles ( Long-Range Engagement Weapon ). One airframe could be fitted with various attachments to fill several roles. The concept of

1110-483: A retreat from an industrial partnership with Lockheed Martin , Japan merged its F-X project with the BAE Tempest fighter development to form the three nation Global Combat Air Programme while opting to pursue separate drone development. Two weeks after the agreement was signed between the UK, Italy & Japan; Sweden signed a bi-lateral defence trade agreement with Japan allowing them to continue on as an observer in

1184-527: A single network to share data as a whole. This allows targets detected by one ship, as well as those seen by aircraft, to be identified by another ship and fired upon with long-range missiles like the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) without that vessel having to actually detect it themselves. Not needing to fire on targets only once a ship's own sensors see them allows for shorter time needed to shoot, increased standoff distance to begin firing, and enables

1258-444: A sixth-generation fighter concept for the F/A-XX program requirement officially revealing its project development. Its renderings and concepts showed a stealth twin-engined tailless jet with two-seat tandem cockpit and a blended wing fuselage. Boeing disclosed that it is intended to be manned or unmanned depending on the mission. The fighter concept is in the 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) weight class. The Northrop Grumman X-47B that

1332-600: A small number of large, intercontinental and heavily armed combat aircraft could link itself to the development of the Long Range Strike Bomber . In November 2016, the USAF Scientific Advisory Board announced studies for a Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) platform that would combine long range, supersonic speed, stealth and maneuverability and be fielded by 2030. PCA would have substantially longer range to fly long distances over

1406-655: A system prototype occurred in 1990. The CEC became a Navy acquisition program in 1992. In the future, CEC will form a key pillar of the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) capability, which will allow stealthy sensor platforms such as the F-35C Lightning II to act as forward observers with their observations channeled through the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to less stealthy platforms such as

1480-495: A turbojet at supersonic speeds, while performing like a high-bypass turbofan for efficient cruising at slower speeds; the ability to supercruise will likely be available to aircraft with this engine type. The technology is being developed by the Air Force under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) and by the Navy under its Variable Cycle Advanced Technology (VCAT) program. The Air Force

1554-627: A whole fleet to intercept threats, like high-speed cruise missiles, once only a single ship sees them. On September 12, 2016 Lockheed used a separate ground station to relay the F-35's Multi-Function Advanced Data Link (MADL) targeting data to an Aegis system for a SM-6 launch. There is serious concern among the U.S. Navy that key parts of the CEC can be countered by sophisticated electronics. Russian and Chinese advancements in low-frequency radars are increasingly able to detect stealth aircraft; fighters like

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1628-474: Is a conceptualized class of jet fighter aircraft design more advanced than the fifth-generation jet fighters that are currently in service and development. Several countries have announced the development of a national sixth-generation aircraft program, including the United States , Russia and China . Whilst other countries have joined collaborative multinational projects such as Japan , Italy and

1702-414: Is aiming for a Milestone A decision by 2018, with a production version to be ready possibly by 2021. Companies involved with next-generation engine development include General Electric and Pratt & Whitney . Risk reduction began in 2012 so that engine development can start around 2020. An engine is to be ready when fighters are introduced by the Navy in 2028 and the Air Force in 2032. The Air Force

1776-548: Is also sought, along with the ability to integrate with more numerous fleets of satellite drones and ground sensors in a high-traffic networked environment to deliver full "data-to-decision" (D2D) capability. Typical design characteristics anticipated to deliver these roles include: The feasibility of some of these characteristics remains uncertain. Development time and cost are likely to prove major factors in laying out practical roadmaps. Specific requirements are anticipated by some observers to crystallize around 2025. In 2010,

1850-1070: Is distinct from the U.S. Air Force 's NGAD sixth-generation fighter program. In April 2012, the Navy issued a formal request for information for the F/A-XX. It calls for an air superiority fighter with multi-role capabilities to initially complement and eventually supersede the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft in the 2030s, while complementing the F-35C Lightning II and UCLASS unmanned aircraft, that can operate in anti-access/area denial environments. Primary missions include air combat, air to air, 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 thereof. Manned, unmanned, and optionally-manned operations for

1924-416: Is identified as long as they are in range; work on weapons that are more survivable and longer-ranged is underway to increase their effectiveness in the data-link-centric battle strategy. This can allow forward-deployed Super Hornets or Lightning IIs to receive data and launch weapons without needing to even have their own radars active. E-2Ds act as the central node of NIFC-CA to connect the strike group with

1998-493: Is interested in lasers both for low-power illumination and as higher-powered weapons. In November 2013, the Air Force Research Laboratory released a request for information (RFI) for submissions with detailed descriptions in a militarily useful configuration, potential problems and solutions, and cost estimates. After successfully developing its 5th generation fighter J-20 , China is now working on

2072-437: Is likely to take shape depending on which style of new propulsion system is presented by the aircraft industry. The Navy is working with the U.S. Air Force on a next-generation tactical fighter with super cruise ability. There is significant disagreement over the Air Force's claims that adaptive-cycle jet engine technology, where the ratios of bypass and compression airflow can be made variable to improve efficiency, can benefit

2146-650: Is pursuing a similar program using the same name with the fighter component called the F/A-XX , likewise intended to complement the smaller Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II and replace its existing aircraft such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet . The U.S. Navy launched its sixth-generation F/A-XX program in 2008 and the USAF sought initial responses for a Next Generation Tactical Aircraft (Next Gen TACAIR), which would become

2220-661: Is significantly larger payload than current air superiority aircraft like the F-22. Adaptive cycle engine technology is an option under consideration for the PCA, given the fact that the alternative would be a very large aircraft. While current engines operate best at a single point in the flight envelope, sixth-generation engines are expected to have a variable cycle to give optimum efficiency at any speed or altitude, giving greater range, faster acceleration, and greater subsonic cruise efficiency. The engine would configure itself to act like

2294-519: The F-22 Raptor and F-35 are optimized to avoid detection from higher frequencies in the Ku, X, C, and parts of the S bands, but not from longer wavelengths like L, UHF, and VHF. Previously these bands might see stealth aircraft but not clearly enough to generate a missile lock, but with improved computing power, fire control radars could discern targets more precisely by the 2020s or 2030s. Warships like

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2368-722: The Indian Navy conducted the maiden cooperative engagement firing of the Barak 8 . The firing was undertaken on the Western Seaboard by 2 Kolkata-class destroyers , INS  Kochi and INS  Chennai wherein the missiles of both ships were controlled by one ship to intercept different aerial targets at extended ranges. The trial was carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. The capability would be rolled out on all future major warships of

2442-649: The Next Generation Jammer to provide stand-off jamming or at least degradation of early warning radars. When targets are detected by the F-35C, they would transmit weapons-quality track to the E-2D and pass that information on to Super Hornets or other F-35Cs. The F/A-18E/F fighters would penetrate as far as they could into heavily contested airspace, which is still further than an ordinary fourth-generation jet fighter , then launch stand-off weapons. The UCLASS would use aerial refueling capabilities to extend

2516-661: The Sukhoi Su-57 . Mikoyan PAK DP is a Russian program to develop a next generation interceptor aircraft to replace the Mikoyan MiG-31 . According to the Russian defense analyst Vasily Kashin, the aircraft would be considered as a 5++ or 6th generation fighter project. In January 2021, Rostec Corporation , the owner of Mikoyan , announced that the PAK DP had now entered the development phase, saying "Development of

2590-471: The UCLASS or Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet . In a combat situation where the United States Navy would need to penetrate an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environment, a carrier air wing would launch all of its aircraft. The F-35C would use its stealth to fly deep into enemy airspace and use its sensors to gather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data. The EA-18G Growler would use

2664-533: The United Kingdom with Global Combat Air Programme , and France , Germany and Spain with FCAS ; in order to spread development and procurement costs. The first sixth-generation fighters are expected to enter service in the 2030s. While still at an early stage of development, several distinct characteristics common to many sixth-generation fighter concepts have evolved. The fifth-generation capability for air-to-air combat, battlefield survivability in

2738-699: The 88th anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Bhadauria was asked about plans for sixth-generation technologies and he responded that they have a clear roadmap for sixth-generation combat systems like directed energy weapons , smart wingman concept, optionally manned combat platforms, swarm drones, hypersonic weapons , and other equipment. India is currently working on its fifth-generation AMCA which will have some sixth-generation technologies. IAF's new chief, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari reaffirms this in an interview given on 22 October 2021. On 6 May 2024, during

2812-579: The Chinese Type 52C Luyang II and Type 52D Luyang III have both high and low-frequency radars to find aircraft detectable by both wavelength ranges. This would make it difficult for the Navy F-35C to survive in a low-frequency radar environment. The entire NIFC-CA concept is also vulnerable to cyber warfare and electronic attacks , which would be used to disrupt the system reliant on data-links. Long-range anti-radiation missiles can threaten

2886-546: The EA-18G as a dedicated EW platform in contested airspace, and the Air Force contributing other stealth platforms including the B-2 Spirit , B-21 Raider , and future stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs); those platforms have, or are planned to have, wideband stealth using geometrical features such as large size and a tailless configuration to enable them to stay undetected when confronted by VHF radars. Even with

2960-427: The F-35. The manned version seems to have restricted rearward visibility without the aid of a sensor. In 2011, the Department of Defense (DOD) planned to replace older F/A-18C/D Hornets with 220 F-35s. In March of that year, a Navy analysis of alternatives showed that it might buy more F-35C aircraft, develop a new platform, or do both for its NGAD fighter program. In a May 2011 report to Congress, DOD revealed that it

3034-485: The F-X program, in 2010. In April 2013, DARPA initiated a study to try to bring together existing USAF and USN concepts. Next-generation fighter efforts would initially be led by DARPA under the "Air Dominance Initiative" to develop prototype X-planes . The U.S. Navy and Air Force would each have variants focused on their mission requirements. However, also in 2013, the RAND Corporation recommended that

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3108-534: The F/A-XX will replace aging Super Hornets in the 2030s and complement the F-35C. Although the F/A-XX platform will be a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, the Navy is reluctant to talk about a new aircraft because the project is still in development, and for national security concerns. A range of next-generation technologies may be explored including maximum sensor connectivity, and electronically configured "smart skins". Maximum connectivity refers to massively increased communications and sensor technology, such as having

3182-412: The Indian Navy. The test employed the full Joint Taskforce Coordination (JTC) mode which implements the Barak 8 ‘Cooperative Engagement’ operating mode. The trial comprised two complex scenarios involving multiple platforms and several simultaneous targets. The destroyers detected multiple targets using their EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radars and launched several missiles at those targets. What was different

3256-460: The Japanese government revealed a concept sixth-generation jet fighter, the i3 FIGHTER . i3 is short for i nformed, i ntelligent and i nstantaneous. In July 2014, Jane's Information Group reported that a House of Commons Defence Select Committee had published a report about the UK's "post-2030 combat aviation force structure". The report highlighted a possibility of the UK committing to

3330-708: The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, stated that the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for the F/A-XX was to be completed in the spring of 2019, with a final report due in the summer of 2019. After the F/A-XX AoA was completed in June 2019, the Navy began the concept development phase of the development process. However, concerns were raised about funding, with Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute predicting that

3404-562: The Pacific, especially in a situation where airbases in the vicinity of China are not available or if aerial tankers are destroyed. It would also escort bombers deep into Russia or China, where the anticipated threat includes advanced networked air defense radars. It would include stealth against low or very high frequency radars (like those of the S-400 missile system ), which requires an airframe with no vertical stabilizers. Another requirement

3478-481: The Russian ground-based 3D Nebo SVU and Chinese ship-borne Type 517M, offering detection at greater ranges, faster and more accurate cueing of engagement radars, enhanced resistance to jamming, and improved mobility contribute to the perceived vulnerability of small stealth fighters. Several important factors made the intercept in 1999 possible, including engagement radars being active for no more than 20 seconds to avoid location by NATO electronic warfare aircraft, and

3552-498: The U.S. military services avoid joint programs for the development of the design of a sixth-generation fighter. They found that in previous joint programs, different service-specific requirements for complex programs had led to design compromises which raised costs far more than normal single-service programs. In 2014, a broader approach to offensive technologies was proposed, with USAF aircraft anticipated to operate alongside ground-based and non-kinetic anti-aircraft solutions, and with

3626-594: The ability to connect with satellites, other aircraft, and anything providing real-time battlefield information. Smart skins would have sensors and electronics integrated into the fuselage of the aircraft itself to increase sensor performance while reducing drag and increasing speed and maneuverability. An open architecture design is desired, allowing for different sensors, payloads, and weapons to be used to meet specific mission requirements and be able to be moved around for multiple different missions on different days or different sorties. The resulting open architecture design

3700-409: The ability to deploy aircraft in manned, optionally manned, unmanned and stand-in options. In March 2015, the Navy revealed they were working with the Air Force to potentially release joint analysis of alternatives (AoA) in 2016 for their next-generation fighters; they are allowed to take a joint AoA, then define a service solution that would be good for each service. The Navy is focusing on replacing

3774-485: The absence of standoff electronic warfare support aircraft to be properly aligned with enemy radars to support a stealth intrusion. The F-35C was designed for network-centric warfare , and gives the pilot enhanced situational awareness from its ability to communicate and process data obtained from onboard sensors and from other platforms. While the F-117 had no radar, the F-35C uses an AN/APG-81 AESA radar that can act as

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3848-507: The anticipated anti-access/area denial environment and ground support/attack will need to be enhanced and adapted to the future threat environment. An initial focus on air superiority roles has moved away from close-in dogfighting, which is becoming less common, and instead broadened to embrace ground support, cyber warfare and even space warfare capabilities, with beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile capability remaining important. The flexibility to undertake manned and unmanned missions

3922-485: The capabilities of the fighter with a wide range of options for the Super Hornet, as well as the EA-18G Growler . The AoA will run parallel to several other design and technology efforts including engine technology, airframe molds, broadband and IR stealth, and new ways to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. Part of the Navy's calculus will be based on how the F-35C performs as a critical forward sensor node for

3996-466: The carrier air wing. How the fifth-generation F-35C integrates with the rest of the air wing to give greater capabilities than what the platform itself can do may lend itself to the sixth-generation F/A-XX. The Navy aircraft is to have greatly increased speed and range compared to the Super Hornet. In April 2015, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) released a report concluding that

4070-547: The carrier, but every aircraft is connected to all others through their own links. Two Advanced Hawkeyes would move data using the tactical targeting network technology (TTNT) waveform to share vast amounts of data over long distances with very low latency. Other aircraft would be connected to the E-2D through Link 16 or concurrent multi-netting-4 (CMN-4), a variant of four Link 16 radio receivers "stacked up" on top of each other. Growlers would coordinate with each other using data-links to locate hostile radar emitters on land or on

4144-763: The development of a next generation aircraft. Dr. Wang Haifeng, chief designer of the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation announced that China had begun pre-research on sixth-generation aircraft in January 2019, predicting that the program would come to fruition by 2035. In February 2023, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) shared its six-generation fighter aircraft concept on social media. The featured concept included diamond-shaped wings and tailless design, which correlated to earlier image released by various AVIC presentation. In 2018, Chengdu Aerospace Corp reportedly submitted eight proposals for

4218-650: The development of a sixth-generation fighter concept named the Tempest for the Royal Air Force at Farnborough Airshow 2018. In 2019, Sweden and Italy joined the Tempest project. During the same year, India and Japan were also invited to join the project. On 1 April 2020, the Japanese F-X program was announced. In 2022, after a year of ever closer collaboration with the Tempest project and

4292-420: The fighter is to carry a wide array of new spectrum of advanced weaponry to overwhelm or suppress enemy air defenses and ensure survivability and superiority. One approach could create a minimum cost F/A-XX that uses high-cost, high-performance weapons to defeat threats; according to the Navy's Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) battle network concept, an individual platform would not need to have

4366-507: The idealization of the project, and commented that "for Embraer, fighter aviation is a possibility of taking higher flights", but highlighted that the company still needs a "business plan, to make a viable long-term project". Cooperative Engagement Capability The CEC concept was conceived by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the early 1970s. The concept was originally called Battle Group Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) Coordination. The first critical at-sea experiment with

4440-601: The next generation of interceptor fighters has already begun." The United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Navy (USN) are anticipated to field their first sixth-generation fighters in the 2030 timeframe. The USAF is pursuing development and acquisition of a sixth-generation air superiority fighter through the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program that succeeds the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor . The USN

4514-523: The next-generation U.S. Air Force fighter should be larger and more resembling a bomber than a small, maneuverable traditional fighter. It analyzed over 1,450 air-to-air engagements since 1965 and found that long-range weapons and sensors have dramatically decreased instances of dogfighting. With the increase of air defense systems using electronic and infrared sensors and high-speed weapons, traditional designs relying on small size, high speed, and maneuverability may be less relevant and easier to intercept. As

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4588-592: The ocean surface. Having several sensors widely dispersed also hardens the system to electronic warfare ; all cannot be jammed, so the parts that are not can home in on the jamming energy and target it for destruction. The network is built with redundancy to make it difficult to jam over a broad geographic area. If an enemy tries to disrupt it by targeting space-based communications, a line-of-sight network can be created. Cooperative engagement also applies to ship-based protective features where Aegis radars of guided missile cruisers and destroyers are linked together into

4662-603: The possibility of cyber and electronic attack to hack or jam data-links, passive detection systems to locate aircraft based on their electronic emissions, and long-range anti-radiation missiles, the flexibility of "network-centric" cooperative engagement concepts allows additional systems and platforms to be "plugged or unplugged" as required, offering increased survivability and growth potential for new methods of countering countermeasures to be integrated into new or existing concepts. France has developed its own CEC system tenue de situation multi plateformes (TSMPF) On 15 May 2019,

4736-402: The previous F-22 and F-35 development programs that depended on new technologies that drove up cost and delayed introduction, the Air Force is intending to follow a methodical path of risk reduction to include as much prototyping, technology demonstration, and systems engineering work as possible before creation of an aircraft actually starts. Sixth-generation strike capability is envisioned as

4810-508: The program would evolve into a modification of the F-35 or F/A-18 Super Hornet. Until FY 2024, much of the F/A-XX funding were hidden under a classified special access program called Link Plumeria, among the DOD's largest research and development programs. Due to budget constraints, the Navy proposed delaying F/A-XX in its FY 2025 budget request in order to focus on near-term investments. Sixth-generation fighter A sixth-generation fighter

4884-680: The programme and the option to participate as a development partner in the future if desired. Within the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, France, Germany and Spain are jointly working on a sixth-generation fighter known as the Next-Generation Fighter (NGF). On 26 August 2013, Russia revealed it would proceed with development of a sixth-generation jet fighter. They say the aircraft will most likely be pilotless. However, they would not skip completing development of fifth-generation fighter projects, like

4958-594: The radar-equipped E-2D, the central node of the NIFC-CA network. These threats may give impetus to calls for building the UCLASS as an all-aspect broadband stealth aircraft. It is feared that the stealth F-35C could be targeted by low-frequency radar-guided missiles, like during the 1999 downing of an F-117 Nighthawk . In that incident, the F-117 Nighthawk became the first stealth plane to be shot down when it

5032-413: The range of the strike force and use its own ISR sensors. NIFC-CA relies on the use of data-links to provide every aircraft and ship with a picture of the entire battlespace. Aircraft deploying weapons may not need to control missiles after releasing them, as an E-2D would guide them by a data-stream to the target. Other aircraft are also capable of guiding missiles from other aircraft to any target that

5106-628: The sixth-generation fighter design, and four designs were tested in low altitude wind tunnels. In November 2024, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) released footage of a mockup of the Baidi B-Type (White Emperor) “integrated space-air fighter”, which it claims will be capable of dropping "munitions from space." Critics have noted that such claims of space operations capability lack evidence and are "dubious". In an interview on 8 October 2020 to celebrate

5180-448: The use of decoys and frequent movement of the missile battery to make it difficult for NATO suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) aircraft to locate and target it. Poor operational discipline on the US's part also contributed, including the F-117 flying the same flight path on different missions, communicating on unencrypted channels that could be (and were) monitored by hostile forces, and

5254-567: Was chosen for the UCAS-D program has also been proposed for the F/A-XX effort. Boeing unveiled an updated F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter concept in April 2013. The concept is a tailless twin-engine stealth fighter available in manned and unmanned configurations. It has canards , which usually compromises the frontal radar cross-section, but the lack of a tail shows an emphasis on all-aspect stealth. It also has diverterless supersonic inlets similar to

5328-486: Was considering buying more F-35C fighters to replace 556 Super Hornets. On 9 September 2014, the Navy announced that an Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) for the F/A-XX aircraft would begin in 2015. Meetings with industry would be held focusing on building new aircraft to meet the requirement, developing a "family of systems" approach, and discussing mission systems, avionics, and new next-generation weapons systems. On 4 April 2019, RADM Scott D. Conn, director of Air Warfare in

5402-495: Was hit by an SA-3 Goa . The low-frequency VHF acquisition radar detected it some 30–37 mi (48–60 km) away, then cued the higher-frequency S-band engagement radar, which small stealth planes are optimized to avoid detection, although at 8 mi (13 km) away sufficient lock was achieved to fire several missiles until the third one struck the Nighthawk. The creation of digital AESA VHF acquisition radars, including

5476-399: Was that only one of the ships controlled the engagement, intercepting different aerial targets at extended ranges by the missiles fired from both ships using the systems’ JTC mode. The test demonstrated the ability of MRSAM to operate wide area air defense, distributing assets and control over different platforms and locations. Previous MRSAM firing trials were conducted on a single platform, in

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