Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (2024)

Summary: The idea of a seventh generation remains speculative and undefined, with experts suggesting it could involve even more advanced technologies, possibly leading to fully autonomous, unmanned combat platforms.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (1)

-However, any move towards a seventh generation would require careful consideration of ethical, moral, and legal implications, alongside the technological challenges and the potential need for multinational collaboration due to high development costs.

Exploring the Future: What Could 7th-Generation Fighter Jets Look Like

The future is always around the corner, so we can always expect something new. Sometimes it will be small steps forward, while other times, it will be great leaps ahead. With military hardware, we've really reached a point where most of the advances are evolutionary, building on past successes and proven features rather than revolutionary – which could take designers in an entirely new direction.

Such is the case with the B-21 Raider, which isnow in development. It is mainly building on the successes of the B-2 Spirit, and both feature a flying wing design. Likewise, most sixth-generation fighter designs have focused on what worked with fifth-generation aircraft and have taken it much further.

The question then is what we can expect with the "next-generation" beyond what is already in the prototype stage? Yet, even aviation experts can only ponder what we could expect to see.

"To be honest, I've not really heard anyone even mention 7th generation," explained Gareth Jennings, aviation editor at Janes, told me months back.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (2)

"Most 'Tier 2' nations that are building aircraft – Turkey, South Korea, etc. – are building their own fifth-generation jets, while Tier 1 nations (US, UK [and partners], France [and partners]) are looking at sixth generation. 7th Generation isn't really 'a thing' as yet," added Jennings. "That said; it is possible to look at the progression of previous generations and extrapolate that forward to take an educated stab at what might be features in a 7th generation jet."

However, Jennings further continued that even our concept of the generations of suchwasn't set in stone.In fact, until the development of today's most modern fighters, there was no talk of aparticularaircraft falling into aparticulargeneration.

"It's important to first note that 'generations' don't really exist – they have only come into being as a way of classifying aircraft sinceLockheed Martin used the term 'fifth-generation'to describe its F-35, and all older aircraft were kind of backfilled into what previous generation they were determined to best fit – so the F-4 became a third-generation aircraft, and the Eurofighter a fourth generation aircraft, etc.," said Jennings. "Lockheed Martin will readily admit that it was a marketing gimmick to make their product stand out, but it has stuck and is now in widespread use."

The Road to 7th Generation: Generations Described

Even though the designations were actually only retroactively created, the U.S. Air Force has since broken down the respectivecapabilities of the generational designations:

*First-Generation: Jet propulsion

*Second-Generation: Swept wings, range-finding radar, and infrared-guided missiles

*Third-Generation: Supersonic flight, pulse radar, and missiles that can engage opponents from beyond visual range

*Fourth-Generation: High levels of agility, some degree of sensor fusion, pulse-doppler radar, reduced radar signature, fly-by-wire, look down/shoot down missiles, and more.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (3)

"So the thing about generations is that each new generation focuses on a number of key performance attributes while retaining the key performance attributes that defined the generations before it," Jennings suggested. "As an example, the third-generation F-4 Phantom retained the supersonic speed that largely defined the previous generation, but added to that advanced (for its day) mission computing and guided missiles."

In addition, thefourth-generation aircraftthen took all of this and added fly-by-wire and advanced avionics, whilst the fifth-generation took all of this and added stealth, sensor fusion, and supercruise, Jennings noted.

"The sixth-generation will take this and add capabilities that haven't yet been publicly defined, but which are understood to include flexible payloads; an adaptable airframe; long-range sensing; analytics and computing; laser directed-energy weapons; advanced materials; intelligent maintenance; dynamically reconfigurable architecture; cyber protection; manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T); trusted artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning; airspace integration; hypersonic-propulsion technologies; space technologies; and a future 'wearable' cockpit," he further explained. "Added to these technological attributes, the sixth-generation is designed to be affordable and to utilize futuristic manufacturing processes and methods."

Other Hardware Leaps Forward

It is also important to note that aircraft have been unique in that they have been so steadily upgraded over the past 80 years. By contrast, the United States military is still fielding its M1 Abrams, a "third-generation" main battle tank (MBT). Two factors need to be considered, however. First, it was indeed a revolutionary leap forward, rather than evolutionary – and thus it may have reached a level of armored perfection, at least until some new technology is developed.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (4)

Second, and more importantly, the M1 Abrams has been steadily improved in a way that fighter aircraft generally aren't. However, theCold War-era B-52 Stratofortressremains a capable bomber that will remain in service even as the aforementioned B-21 Raider comes into service. By the time the B-52 is finally retired, it could have served for nearly 100 years – and few military platforms have seen such longevity. This has been made possible due to the improvements it has received.

Jet fighters, which have increasingly become multirole aircraft, have continued to evolve – and will continue to do so. That explains why the 70-year-old B-52 and 50-year-old M1 Abrams tank remain in service, while efforts are already underway toreplace the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor, which only entered service in 2005!

About the 7th Generation Aircraft

All that said, it is likely that some in the aerospace sector are thinking well beyond the currently-in-development aircraft to what can come next. The question becomes what could the next generation actually look like. We need only look to other technological developments in our civilian world today to see what the next great leap forward could bring.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (5)

"With the advent of the Metaverse, 3D metal printing, and the increasing capabilities of realistic simulation, our ability to create new weapons, including fighters quickly, is advancing significantly," explained technology analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group.

"At the same time, autonomous technology is becoming more viable, and the concept of human digital twins is creating the opportunity for a next-generation fighter not limited by human frailties," Enderle told this reporter. "While it often takes a war to force a legacy process, like aircraft creation, to adjust to the speed of current technology, there is no reason why the next generation of high-performance fighters couldn't be created in months rather than years, and be configured to be flown by a digital twin of a top gun pilot."

The 7th generation fighter thus may not be decades in development and could be a response, even a reaction, to what the sixth-generation may offer.

"It can reasonably be supposed that the 7th generation will again take all of these facets, and add some as yet undefined/unknown technological capabilities that will define it as being different and more advanced than all that have gone before it," said Jennings. "What these will be is hard to say, as anything we can now imagine as being a viable and desirable technology and capability is already being addressed in the sixth-generation, and it's hard to imagine what hasn't yet been conceptualized or invented. My personal feeling, however, is that by the time we start to get to thinking about the 7th generation, the technology will be there to remove the pilot altogether and for the platform to be fully unmanned (not just remotely piloted, but autonomous in its own right). The issues, however, won't be technological, but will be more ethical, moral, and/or even legal as to the extent society is comfortable with the idea of such capabilities being developed and deployed."

However, what is also likely is thatmultinational efforts may be required to design, develop and, most importantly, produce the next generation.

"In terms of programmatics, as with the fourth, fifth and sixth generation, it is likely that any 7th generation program will be an effort in multinational collaboration (in the West at least), due largely to the costs involved in such an undertaking, as well as the need for common requirements, and to maximize the exports that will help pay for it," Jennings added.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (6)

While Enderle suggested the time gaps could come down, Jennings isn't as confident. It is true that technology is rapidly increasing, which can allow for materials to be printed – advancing prototyping and even production – while computer-aided design (CAD) can also speed the development; yet, the cost will remain a factor.

"For timelines, the gap between each generation has progressively lengthened as technologies have become more complex (at the same time as becoming more stable – the big jumps we saw in aviation technology and innovation at the dawn of the jet age are now much more incremental), while development, manufacturing, procurement, operating, and sustainment costs have risen to the extent that most nations would prefer to continue to use older aircraft which they can upgrade at a quicker pace and lower cost to keep pace with (most of) their peers and near-peers," he noted.

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like (2024)

FAQs

Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like? ›

Forget NGAD or F/A-XX: What a 7th Generation Fighter

Generation Fighter
Jet fighter generations classify the major technology leaps in the historical development of the jet fighter. Different authorities have identified different technology jumps as the key ones, dividing fighter development into different numbers of generations.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Jet_fighter_generations
Could Be Like (In 2070) While the seventh generation isn't yet defined, it may feature autonomous capabilities, advanced materials, and multinational collaboration. However, such advancements could be decades away, possibly emerging in the 2070s or later.

Will NGAD replace F22? ›

According to recently released budget documents, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program will cost around $28.5 billion for fiscal 2025-2029. While the price tag is staggering, NGAD is expected to replace the service's F-22 Raptors and will be the most advanced component of the Air Force's fleet.

Could future NGAD fighter jets cost hundreds of millions apiece? ›

The Air Force requested $2.7 billion for the NGAD platform in its FY '25 budget request, indicating that it planned to spend $19.6 billion on the aircraft over the next five years. Officials have previously estimated that jet would cost around $300 million per unit.

Will the NGAD be manned? ›

Notably, Kendall emphasized that while the Air Force is still prioritizing NGAD as a manned aircraft, the service is actively considering whether it could have an unmanned option as well, saying today, “There's a chance it might be uncrewed … but I think we're not quite ready for that yet.

Is F-15 a 4th generation fighter? ›

The F/A-18 inverted above an F-14 shown here is an example of fly-by-wire control. Fly-by-wire is a term used to describe the computerized automation of flight control surfaces. Early fourth-generation fighters like the F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat retained electromechanical flight hydraulics.

Is the F-35 a 5th or 6th generation fighter? ›

The F-35A is the U.S. Air Force's latest fifth-generation fighter.

Is there a 6th generation fighter jet? ›

The US Air Force's NGAD sixth-generation fighter jet is expected to enter service in 2030. Credit: Mike Mareen via Shutterstock. The F-22 Raptor will be replaced by the NGAD fighter.

What is the highest generation of fighter jet? ›

A fifth-generation fighter is a jet fighter aircraft classification which includes major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century. As of 2024, these are the most advanced fighters in operation.

Which generation is F 18 fighter jets? ›

Fourth generation jet fighters (1970 to late 1980s)

Through the 1970s and 80s the trend of improvement in avionics such as head-up displays and optimised aerodynamic design continued with the development of 'fly by wire' fighters such as the MiG-29, Su-27, F/A-18, F-15, F-16, and Mirage-2000.

Is the F-22 a 4th or 5th generation fighter? ›

The 5th Generation F-22's unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, and situational awareness, combined with lethal long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, makes it the best air dominance fighter in the world.

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