The relentless progression of military aviation technology has led to speculation about a hypothetical seventh-generation fighter jet. While the current focus is on the sixth generation, the contours of a future beyond that are starting to emerge, driven by technological breakthroughs and strategic imperatives.
The term “fighter generation” isn’t formally defined but has become a part of the defense lexicon, segmenting the evolution of fighter aircraft into distinct eras, each marked by technological leaps. For instance, fifth-generation jets, like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, introduced unparalleled stealth, sensor fusion, and networked warfare capabilities. Today, we’re witnessing the conceptualization and early development of sixth-generation fighters, which promise further advances in stealth, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and perhaps even manned-unmanned teaming.
However, the seventh generation remains a canvas of imagination, where speculation intertwines with emerging technologies. Gareth Jennings, an aviation editor at Janes, has not heard “anyone even mention 7th generation,” underscoring the concept’s speculative nature. Still, the progression of fighter generations suggests that the future could hold advancements not yet conceived or fully realized in the current framework of military aviation.
“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.”
Enderle mentioned that time gaps could decrease, but Jennings is not as optimistic. Technology is advancing quickly, enabling material printing to progress prototyping and production. Computer-aided design (CAD) can also accelerate development. However, cost will still be a consideration.
“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.
The international collaboration will likely continue to be a cornerstone in developing future fighters. High development costs and the need for interoperability among allied forces make multinational programs practical and strategically favorable. This trend, seen in the development of fourth, fifth, and sixth-generation jets, may become even more pronounced with seventh-generation endeavors.
As we look to the immediate future, the sixth-generation fighters are still taking shape. Concepts like the United States Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) systems and the UK-led Future Air Combat System (FACS), also known as Tempest, are pushing the envelope in human-systems integration, AI-enhanced battlefield awareness, and advanced digital capabilities.
Relevant articles:
– Forget NGAD: What a 7th Generation Fighter Could Be Like, The National Interest
– Forget the F-22 and F-35: 7th Generation Fighters Could Fire Lasers, nationalinterest.org
– USAF/US NAVY 6G Fighter Programs – F/A-XX, F-X, NGAD, PCA, ASFS news, Secret Projects Forum
– Is There Such A Thing As A 7th Generation Fighter Jet?, Simple Flying