TIME TO GO FOR SIXTH-GENERATION AIRCRAFT

With China racing ahead in 6th-Gen Fighter Aircraft Programme, India cannot afford to be left behind. AIR MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA (RETD) explains

- MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA

Most fighter jets used by air forces worldwide are 4th —and 4.5th-generation aircraft. More than 1,500 fifth-generation fighters are already in service, and many fifth-generation aircraft programs are upgrading to adopt sixth-generation technologies.

Sixth-generation technologies are cutting-edge and still evolving. Therefore, they are expensive. They use fifth and sixth-generation communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), and a system-of-system approach with extensive data sharing between platforms. A close look at the efforts for a sixth-generation fighter aircraft being made internationally.

Many countries require fewer aircraft and cannot afford to fund the programs, so consortiums are being formed. The F-35 program was an example earlier. Some countries want to boost their defence industry and do not want to remain dependent on American programmes.

The Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is one example, where companies from Italy, Japan, and the UK have tied up. As India still struggles with its 5th generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), some experts are urging New Delhi to consider joining the GCAP.

After the advent of the jet age, the aviation community started classifying jet fighters by “generations.” There are no official definitions, but the “generation” represents stages in the development of fighter design, performance capabilities, and technological evolution. It is important to understand what the 5th and 6th generation technologies are.

What Is A Fifth Generation Fighter?

The Fifth Generation was ushered by the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor in late 2005. These fighter jets are designed to operate in a network-centric combat environment. These warplanes feature extremely low, all-aspect, multi-spectral signatures employing advanced materials and shaping techniques.