6th Generation Fighter Meta Thread

www.thedrive.com...

a reply to: RadioRobert

They need less, more capable platforms for the Pacific. They wouldnt be able to support the fighter circus as is, moving to more, less capable platforms will make things even worse.

A low end, more affordable MQ-L/RQ-180 variant to accompany the B-21 could make sense depending on how the actual LRSB FoS is developing, but they aren't talking about that.

Ambitious...I hope manufacturing can keep up with the tooling demands..

From the sinocentric internet:

The 6th gen figher program is underway. It's being called informally the J-X on that part of the net. The projected in service date is around 2035/36.

More rumors as I come across them.

It should be noted:

The J-10 first flew in 1998, went into LRIP in 2003, and IOC in 2004.
The J-20 first flew in 2011, went into LRIP in 2016, and IOC in 2018.

The latest the J-X would fly if (and it's doubtful) would be 2028, imo, if they wanted a 2035 IOC. I'd actually speculate they will have it flying around 2026.

This next decade is going to be interesting in aviation again.

a reply to: anzha

Meanwhile, institutional gridlock means we'll be lucky if our 6th gen hits true IOC by 2040.

a reply to: Barnalby

It'll be interesting to see what the Chinese can come up with if they start going in their own direction with innovation.

a reply to: Masisoar

CASC made some interesting claims recently wrt the 6th gen. it would be very to see if they are true. I'm hunting for a new translation.

a reply to: anzha

Keep us posted if you do, thank you!

originally posted by: anzha
www.thedrive.com...

Thanks for that, some tidbits,

Roper has called his plan the Digital Century Series in reference to the U.S. Air Force's "Century Series" fighter jets that it paid to develop in the 1950s, starting with the North American F-100 Super Sabre. Roper's main goal is to get away from ponderous and costly acquisition cycles with lengthy development periods before production of aircraft can even begin. 
He also views the concept as a way to keep potential major opponents constantly off balance and guessing as to what kind of combat aircraft the United States might deploy next. As a hypothetical, he described the following scenario to Defense News:

This is an excellent article as it serves to remedy the gridlock that our aviation industey we are in condering R an D and fielding new warplanes.

It's an ambitious plan and one I hope they implement, clean up our contractors and get them on board, no more cookie jar stealing.

Looks like the end of Legacy Fleet..Maybe a changing of the ways with a production line of standardization of parts and systems being the way forward now.

Fund us if we're gonna do this thing:

www.flightglobal.com...

Erm. Not sure what to think of this one:

www.janes.com...

a reply to: anzha

Dassault and Airbus want more money!

a reply to: paraphi

Well, yeah, they kind of want to get paid for their work. Right now no money has been allocated to them.

originally posted by: paraphi
a reply to: anzha

Dassault and Airbus want more money!

Nope. There has been a delay with the demonstrator contract. And they are asking the politicians to get on with it.

Europe's still coming to terms with the reality of Rising China and the existential threat is poses to Western Democracies. There's still a lot of companies invested in China that have lobbyist influence over politicians, it's going to take a little bit but we'll see what happens.

Chinese aircraft patent:

originally posted by: anzha
Chinese aircraft patent:

Do you submit patents on Etch-a-Sketch in China?

originally posted by: Masisoar
Europe's still coming to terms with the reality of Rising China and the existential threat is poses to Western Democracies. There's still a lot of companies invested in China that have lobbyist influence over politicians, it's going to take a little bit but we'll see what happens.

I dont think Europe's defence is pointed towards China at all or that there is a threat to Western Democracies. Australia probably a little more but only because they are in that corner of the globe.

It would take China decades to even pose a military threat to Europe, certainly enough time to see it and counter it.

Europe is still a defensive military, the UK's 2 brand new aircraft carriers and 70odd F-35B are not looking to counter non existent threats from China, they have even been committed to NATO. We are at cold war plus levels here, defence from Russian bombers and subs and some expeditionary capability to smack down an uppity peasant or two in the Middle East and North Africa (plus the Argies, always an eye on the Argies......).

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