U.S. 6th generation fighter will be equipped with directed energy weapons, which combat targets against China and Russian

Data Figure: U.S. Navy the next F / A-XX aircraft carrier

In today's world only one fifth-generation fighter - F-22 "Raptor"  has been in service later, do the U.S. need to develop the next generation of fighter aircraft? Why do not mass production of the U.S. F-22 fighter jets, which will air supremacy firmly in control in their own hands? The U.S. military did not give any answers on these questions.


However, recently the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to issue a paper notice, so many people understand what Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the closure of F-22 fighter jet production line really want to do.

To find successors for the F-22


According to Reuters reported on November 5th Air Force has begun to look to the future, exploring the production of Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter subsequent models. Recently, the Air Force Materiel Command to the information industry, issued a consultation notice, requiring industry to provide information on available around 2030 initial operational capability of the "next-generation tactical aircraft systems" concept and the ability to form / information technology needs .


Defense experts believe that this "next-generation tactical aircraft systems" is actually referred to the sixth-generation fighter the Air Force, which is the future F-22 fighter "successor."


U.S. Air Force requirements in the circular for companies interested in the Dec. 17 response to the information submitted, and hope that the latter can be related to the cost estimates submitted. Congressional Research Service (CRS), a MiG-American military aviation expert Jeremiah Butler, said: "This is the next generation of fighter jets the United States to quantify the technical and tactical targets may be the first step."


Sixth-generation fighter will be the future look like? What are the characteristics and it will have an unprecedented ability? Some aviation experts in the world after that, the sixth generation of stealth fighter with great ability to effectively carry out several times the speed of sound from the subsonic to all flight modes, with the "variant" capacity; body surface material with intelligence, fighter itself to achieve a high degree of networking; fighters equipped with highly sensitive sensors, the time fighter pilot in the control of arbitrary, to the realm of human unity. Equipped in terms of airborne weapons, directed energy weapons can be a new generation of fighters as "killer."

This time, the U.S. Air Force in the circular of the sixth generation of fighter aircraft performance is also put forward their own demands. The notice said "the next generation of tactical aircraft systems" must be able to have the airborne electronic attack capability, advanced integrated air defense systems, passive detection equipment, the comprehensive self-defense equipment, directed energy weapons and electromagnetic attack capabilities of the enemy network operations, must be able to 2030 to 2050, the "anti-intervention / regional isolation" in the combat environment.

Notice in the U.S. Air Force also made clear that "the next generation of tactical aircraft systems," the main task is to carry out the mission offensive and defensive air operations - that is to destroy or weaken the enemy of the air capacity. The machine has completed the U.S. Air Force would also like missile defense, air interdiction and close air support and other tasks. In this circular, the Air Force also proposed that future fighter aircraft may be prepared with greater than the existing range and longer endurance, and better survivability, situational awareness, weapons performance, and "man-machine one "control coordination and sensitivity.

Three companies competing

Although the Air Force refused to comment publicly on its sixth-generation fighter to make the effort, but from the three major U.S. airframe manufacturer Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman's top aviation Designers say they are very eager to know what the U.S. Air Force requirements for such aircraft.

The sixth-generation fighter the Air Force may be able to like science fiction movies, high-tech products, as more than the fifth-generation stealth fighter, deformation in the flight to seek higher speed or endurance, aircraft engine in flight control to achieve the degree of effect of supersonic or subsonic. Sixth-generation fighter may be equipped with directed energy weapons - that is, high-energy microwave and laser weapons, protects against incoming missiles, can also serve as offensive weapons. Preparation of ammunition they could and are "control" type of weapon, can be played on air or ground targets destroyed from damage to different degrees of damage.

Materials and microelectronics technology will be a sixth-generation fighter large-scale integrated sensor. By then, the nose of the radar may no longer necessary. Moreover, its response may also be highly competent network attacks. However, the construction, use and upgrade costs of the sixth generation aircraft would still be high.

Northrop Grumman said: the development of the next round of aircraft may be dominated by the command and control information. Large amounts of data will be transported to the aircraft pilot. Bank staff will be able to see around the aircraft, "more room." Aircraft will collect their own data and using on-board or off-sensor analysis of these data. In this regard, the sixth generation is different from the fifth-generation fighter aircraft is that the former is more detail and accuracy.


Boeing believes that the conventional electronic components may also make way for photonic components. The demand for aircraft will be reduced to the wire, connect all the systems will be diverse, fiber optic components, because people that time will be able to use different light. Sensitivity in the sixth-generation fighter on the issue of directed energy weapons play a very important role. "Light" weapons will be "completely denies" the importance of mobility of today's fighters. In the face of modern warplanes attack directed energy weapons, there is no avoiding the time. In addition, the pulse directed energy weapons can also destroy enemy weapons systems - or the enemy ground systems.

Northrop Grumman's current research shows that in the next 20 years, this technology will become a reality. In airborne application engine - may be an auxiliary engine - with the support of directed energy weapons to have an "infinite ammunition."


Russian warplanes target is the sixth generation


According to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicted, Russia's fifth-generation fighters will be deployed in 2016 after the investment, after a few years China is expected to have their own fifth generation fighters. If the mass production of future Sino-Russian fifth generation fighter, then to the mid-2020s, the United States will lose the advantage of Russia's air combat.


It is for this consideration, the U.S. military are determined to stop the expensive F-22 fighter production, the funds for the next few years, the sixth generation fighter development, to ensure that the U.S. has been great emphasis on air superiority .


F-22 fighter early conceptual studies began in the early 80s, when the F-15 fighters just to achieve mass production. The ability of these concepts into the early action took 20 years. The historical experience of industry leaders that the United States, the United States needs another 20 years to develop the next generation of fighters.


Air Force analysts believe that the U.S. Air Force aircraft inventory for the minimum 2250, 2030, when 971 aircraft the Air Force will appear in the gap. Moreover, this is the assumption that F-35 fighters to as scheduled, at an annual rate of at least 48 production to build and deliver on time. This gap is a F-15 and F-16 due to mandatory retirement - these aircraft have exceeded their service life, to continue the flight, then it may be dangerous.


In this case, sixth-generation fighter the Air Force need to speed up the development pace, as expected, the F-22 and F-35 fighter is a fixed quantity and not enough to fill the next 20 years, the gap between the fighters.


It is noteworthy that the U.S. Air Force fighter in the sixth-generation performance requirements specifically referred to "must be able to between 2030 and 2050 the 'anti-access / regional isolation' environment of war", and "anti-intervention / regional isolation" is word several times in recent years, the Pentagon issued "China Military Power Report," appeared, the U.S. military that the PLA is currently under the guidance of this strategic goal to develop all aspects of their operational capability and to use "anti-intervention / regional isolation" will block outside of the Western Pacific or Indian Ocean. Therefore, the United States since last year to throw the "air, sea, one of the war" concept, specifically for China's military rise.

Today, the U.S. fighter in the sixth generation of the performance requirements of the public referred to in the "anti-intervention / regional isolation" combat environment, apparently hoping to become the next generation of aircraft weapon against China's military power, and thus play a role in deter China.


Fighters "from generation to generation spectrum"

WASHINGTON May Stone River


Defined on the generation of fighter aircraft, has long been a controversial topic. Department under the authority of the U.S. Air Force magazine "AIRFORCE" ("Air Force" magazine) gives their generation fighter division of the world, the magazine that the fighter should be in accordance with the following generations by the broad "lines":

1-generation fighter: The most important feature of these fighters is just using jet engines. Models for the United States on behalf of the F-80, the German ME 262.

2-generation fighter: The swept wing, in the airborne electronic systems ranging only equipped with radar, air combat weapons are usually equipped with infrared-guided missiles. Models for the United States on behalf of the F-86, MiG -15 the former Soviet Union.

3-generation fighter: to achieve supersonic flight, equipped with radar, capable of striking targets horizon. Prior to the third generation of fighters known as the largest generation of fighters across, on behalf of models for the U.S. F-105, F-4, the former Soviet Union's MiG -17, MiG -21.

4th generation fighter: fighter equipped with a pulse Doppler radar, high mobility, as can be observed under the use of the missile down the attacks. Models for the United States on behalf of the F-15, F-16, the French "Mirage" 2000, Russia's MiG -29

4th generation fighters: a very high agility, sensor data fusion, reduce the radar reflection signals. On behalf of the European fighter aircraft, "Typhoon", Russia, Soviet -30 and improved F-16, F/A-18 and the French "Rafale."


4-generation fighter: with the active phased array radar, to further reduce radar reflection signal or by a number of "active" invisible means (using the reflection of radar absorbing materials), and some time to achieve supersonic cruise. Model is representative of Soviet Russia and the United States -35 F-15SE.


5th generation fighter: The internal weapon outside of the body in order to achieve full stealth, with very excellent flexible capabilities, fully integrated sensor data, with the integration of avionics, in part or whole range supersonic cruise. Models for the United States on behalf of the F-22 and F-35.