US Air Force's 6th-Gen Fighter Race Shocking the World!

S2 reports that your AOR is in service of an anti-jet jet, a possible IED, take a starboard. AI-powered weapons, unfathomable data processing capacities, and the inclusion of drone companions. These are the strategies that the United States is poised to employ in keeping a vigilant watch over the skies, particularly in countering the advancing Chinese and Russian jet technologies. What we are about to explore represents nothing less than a fundamental shift in aerial combat. I am George Davidson, your host, and today's focus is on the newest breed of fighter jets, which are prepared to establish their supremacy over the skies. Back in March 2017, China unveiled its big ace, the J-20 Mighty Dragon. It is a stealth aircraft that gave the United States' monopoly on stealth aviation a run for its money. Yeah, they essentially crashed that party. The J-20 looked a lot like America's top dog in the skies, the F-22 Raptor, but after only 186 units, production of the F-22 was halted in 2011, and today we are down to less than 120 F-22 fighters. On the other hand, China's J-20 fleet is growing like crazy. So, for nearly a decade, the United States has been quietly developing next-generation stealth fighters. Fast forward to 2013, and Arati Prabhakar was at the helm of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, talking about this whole Air Dominance initiative. We now know a little bit more about it. The program is known as Next Generation Air Dominance, NGAD. Expect these new fighters to be loaded with cutting-edge engines, AI-powered drone companions, and sensors that will put yours to shame. Now, we can't predict just how sneaky these NGAD jets will be. The F-22 is already mostly invisible on enemy radar. These stealth planes are coated in secret materials that absorb radar waves like sponges, about 80% of them, and their engines are whisper-quiet. Plus, they emit some fancy radar-evading frequencies. These stealth fighters are not just for show. They can strike ground forces, spy, conduct secret squirrel missions, and even tamper with enemy radar. They're like the Air Force's VIPs. However, guess what? The rest of the world is catching up to America's stealth strategy. This is a game that is being played by more than just China. Russia has its own stealth party with the Sukhoi Su-57, also known as the Felon. There are a slew of other countries working on secret stealth fighter projects, including NGAD. Some of these projects are so revolutionary that they are dubbed sixth-generation fighters. You can bet that the MVP of 21st-century aerial combat will be chosen from this fierce competition. Okay, let us talk about these individual fighters. The first on the list is the F-22 Raptor. Imagine trying to spot a marble from space. That is the kind of ultra-small radar signature we are talking about. And those engines? Well, they're cranking out a whopping 70,000 pounds of thrust. Oh, and the nozzles allow the pilot to experiment with thrust direction. When you see it up there, it is like seeing a supercar in the sky. The F-22 has one of the smallest radar returns ever recorded in fighter history, a mere 0.0001 square meter, which is equivalent to the size of a marble to enemy radar systems. Powered by DualPrat and Whitney F-119 turbofan engines with a combined thrust of 70,000 pounds, its 2D thrust-vectoring engine nozzles allow pilots to manipulate thrust direction vertically, making this stealth fighter faster and more agile than many competitors. The F-22 not only excels in close-quarters combat, but it also has sniping capabilities. Its powerful AN-APG-77 Active Electronically Scanned Array, AESA radar, allows pilots to track and engage enemy fighters at distances exceeding 100 miles. Debuting in 2005 as the inaugural fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor's eventual retirement is anticipated sometime in the 2030s. It lacks some of the modern systems used by its rivals because it is the oldest contender on this roster. However, a $10.9 billion upgrade program is about to give it covert external fuel tanks for increased range, connect it to drones with AI capabilities, and integrate Infrared Search and Track, IRST capabilities, allowing it to target enemy fighters based on their heat signatures. The Air Force hopes that these upgrades will help the F-22 maintain its position as the world's best fighter until its eventual demise in the following decade. We will talk about a technological marvel now, the F-35 Lightning II. The pilot of this bird has an astounding level of awareness thanks to the bird's array of sensors on the left and right. Moreover, what about that radar? It serves a dual purpose of disrupting enemy systems and delivering a sobering reality check. It is not just for show. This airplane is like a one-man army in the sky, prepared to face any challenge. The F-35 represents the cutting edge of fighter aircraft technology. Its superior situational awareness is the result of data fusion from a variety of onboard sensors, giving pilots a completely new level of awareness of their surroundings. Tony Wilson, Lockheed Martin's Chief of Fighter Flight Operations, highlighted that this system reduces pilot workload while fostering true tactical acumen, a fusion of pilot and sensor manager roles. The powerful AN-APG-81 EESA radar, which provides electronic warfare capabilities that can both disrupt enemy radar and identify and target adversaries, is at the heart of the F-35's capabilities. The fighter also makes use of the AN-AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System which employs strategically placed infrared sensors all around the aircraft. The targeting setup is seamlessly integrated with this system, enabling F-35 pilots to engage enemies even if they are behind them. Although some of the other jets mentioned may have more raw power than the F-35, its $15 billion upgrade program, known as Block Afree, ensures its continued dominance for decades. Each new F-35 is equipped with a significantly improved processor that is 25 times more powerful and has 20 times more storage capacity than the model it replaces. The Block Afree upgrades also add two more missiles to the aircraft's weapon storage, 17 new kinetic and electronic warfare weapon capabilities, a more potent radar and distributed aperture system, as well as other classified upgrades. The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon should not be disregarded. This bad boy is a real show-off who performs aerial acrobatics like they are nothing. However, do not write it off just yet. It might not be the slyest bird in the sky. It has a few hidden tricks, like finding those stealthy jets that barely register on the radar. There is no doubt that this aircraft has some surprises up its sleeve. Despite its impressive power and agility, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon poses a serious threat to nearby 4th and 5th generation fighters. Due to its aerobatic abilities, it may be able to outmaneuver foes. Its radar cross-section, RCS, is larger than even some non-stealth aircraft, so it falls short in terms of stealth capabilities. Sukhoi claims that the Felon is thousands of times more noticeable on radar than the F-22 due to its RCS, which ranges from 0.1 to 1 square meter. Despite its limitations in stealth, the Su-57 is a strong competitor thanks to its 70,000 pounds of thrust and active electronically scanned array radar. The fighter also has infrared search and track, IRST capability, allowing it to locate and attack covert enemies who avoid radar detection. The Su-57 is unique among 5th generation fighters in that it only has 3D thrust vector control. The Su-57 can direct thrust in any direction, which enables remarkable aerial manoeuvres in contrast to the F-22 and some J-20s, which manage thrust vertically. However, there is a big production problem with the Su-57. This difficulty is highlighted by the fact that Russia only has 21 Su-57s, 12 of which are hand-built prototypes that might not be combat-ready. The initial serial production, Su-57's crash during its first test flight, reduced the intended count to 22 from the original intended count. Let us talk now about the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon, a Chinese aircraft. These infants are being produced like there is no end in sight. Look at those quirky canards, they give it a distinct appearance. The radar too? It is sort of like a long-distance detective spotting you from a great distance away. Those missiles too? Oh, they are all about getting you to quickly re-evaluate your choices in life. The Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon boasts an extended blended fuselage that surpasses the American F-35 by over 20 feet. Sporting movable miniature wings referred to as canards, which extend from its divertilous supersonic air inlets and well ahead of its rear delta wings, the J-20 showcases a distinctive profile among stealth fighters. This is despite allegations from the US that China illicitly obtained design concepts from the F-22 and the discontinued Russian MiG-1.44 stealth initiative. The heart of the J-20 lies in its integration of potent WS-15 after-burning turbofan engines anticipated to generate a combined thrust of 44,000 pounds each, equipped with two de-thrust vectoring capabilities akin to the US F-22. Although Chengdu encountered challenges in WS-15 development, leading to the use of older engines in most J-20s, China reported plans in March to embark on mass production of the WS-15. Even without the WS-15 powerplant, the J-20 stands as a formidable adversary against most aircraft. This is thanks to its Type 1475 AESA radar and the inclusion of the formidable PL-15 radar-guided air-to-air missile, which possesses its own onboard radar system for tracking enemy planes post-launch. Leveraging its EORD-31 IRST system, which emerges from its nose, the J-20 can target the heat signature of stealthy enemy jets. However, in contrast to the F-35's comprehensive 360-degree infrared awareness, the J-20's IRST capacity is limited to its frontal aspect. The combination of stealth attributes and long-range armament positions, it has an adept hunter of command-and-control aircraft, airborne command centres, and fourth-generation fighters such as the F-18 Super Hornet and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. While the J-20 is generally considered stealthier than Russia's Su-57, it still lags behind American stealth fighters. Notable assessments of the J-20's design suggest that it achieves effective stealthiness when approaching head-on, but it becomes more detectable from other angles. Summing up its threat level, General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, remarked last September that the J-20 is "...not anything to lose a lot of sleep over." But wait a minute. The true game-changer here is the Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter, or NGAD. The NGAD fighter project of the United States Air Force aims to replace the aging F-22 Raptor with a cutting-edge sixth-generation stealth jet. But do not expect this NGAD craft to resemble a standard fighter. It is aiming for something more. According to a Congressional Research Service report from 2022, the program's ultimate goal is to create a weapon that can truly rule the skies, not just another fighter. In fact, when completed, this plane may resemble the B-21 stealth bomber more than an F-22. The same report reveals details about NGAD's Next Generation Combined Cycle after-burning turbofan engines. These engines produce more power while using less fuel than those used in the current generation of stealth fighters. And that extra power is a game-changer, allowing for the integration of new technologies such as lasers, which are ideal for missile defense or destroying enemy targets. According to renderings released by rivals Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, which are vying to develop the NGAD, this aircraft could have a significant stealth advantage over fifth-generation fighters. This has been made possible by a combination of enhanced design and cutting-edge composite materials that promise to better absorb electromagnetic energy. Additionally, the NGAD fighter will have longer-range weapons and wider sensor ranges, according to the same Congressional Research Service report. However, there is still more. Each new NGAD fighter will be accompanied by uncrewed systems known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs. These AI-capable drones are here to fight alongside you and take out your enemies. Think of CCAs as a high-tech evolution of the targeting pods, electronic warfare gear, or weapons that are typically slung beneath the wings of our human-piloted planes, as Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall put it in March. It's all about working together to secure the skies. And there is more. The US Navy is developing the F-AXX. The F-AXX of the United States Navy is currently in development and is intended to take off from aircraft carriers. The X's in the aircraft's name indicate that it is awaiting an official designation. This stealthy fighter will share modular internal systems with the Air Force's NGAD fighter and, like its counterpart, will collaborate with drones to improve radar coverage and carry extra munitions. This dynamic duo is set to replace the Navy's current F-A-18 Super Hornet fleet in the 2030s. While specific details about this sixth-generation aircraft are scarce, the Navy expects significant improvements. They want to outperform today's Super Hornets and F-35Cs in terms of speed and range. These fighters will be outperformed because both of them have a combat radius under 700 miles. The Navy is also interested in outfitting the new fighter with more powerful, longer-range and internal storage weapons. By making this tactical choice, American aircraft carriers would be able to attack enemy shoreline defenses while keeping a safe distance from hypersonic anti-ship missiles, which have a range of more than 1,000 miles. Next, the Chinese Shenyang FC-31 Gear Falcon. It has that carrier vibe and could compete with the F-35. It resembles the larger, more powerful brother of the F-35. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in China revealed the FC-31 prototype, a plane with striking similarities to the F-35 from the United States, in 2014. The United States charged China with stealing intellectual property during the creation of the FC-31, just as they had done with the J-20. The FC-31 is outfitted with not one but two after-burning turbofan engines, in contrast to the F-35's single engine. The FC-31 is expected to be deployed on China's new aircraft carriers, according to reports. The South China Morning Post published satellite images of the jet, parked alongside China's existing carrier aircraft, the J-15, at a naval base. Though China has kept the specifics under wraps, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation analyst, has shed some light. He told the South China Morning Post that the FC-31 is technically comparable to the F-35C in terms of carrying capacity, combat radius, advanced airborne gear, and superior situational awareness. While it is still in testing, Fu anticipates that the FC-31 will begin carrier trials later this year. Finally, we purchased the BAA Tempest from the UK. This one is all about the radar and includes several cutting-edge features, including virtual cockpits. For this infant, the UK has some serious plans. The United Kingdom's Tempest initiative is moving forward with a sixth-generation stealth fighter that is planned to replace the current Eurofighter Typhoon by 2035, much like the ongoing efforts in the United States with NGAID and F-AXX. The UK Ministry of Defence made a significant decision by awarding BAA Systems a sizable $822 million to advance the Tempest's development, with plans to reveal a prototype by 2027. Italy, Japan, and Sweden will work together to create this new fighter as part of this project. The Tempest is intended to work in unison with AI-powered drones, according to BAA Systems. Notably, the fighter's powerful radar array was built by the Italian company Leonardo, and the company boasts that its electronic parts can process data as fast as the internet traffic for a medium-sized city every second. The fighter uses an electro-optical infrared system to target even the most elusive enemies who might avoid being detected by traditional radar. The Tempest will use a variety of groundbreaking technologies, which is what makes it unique. The idea of a virtual cockpit, which is a digital display projected inside the pilot's helmet visor, stands out among these innovations. This innovative function will help pilots navigate through the massive amount of data coming in from drones and other Allied aircraft. Finally, the pursuit of sixth-generation fighter aircraft dominance has sparked a fierce global competition among the United States, China, and Russia. The integration of AI-powered weaponry, unparalleled data processing capabilities, and the strategic deployment of drone companions are driving a paradigm shift in the landscape of aerial combat. These advancements represent a watershed moment that will reshape the dynamics of air superiority. As we have dug deeper into this subject, it is clear that the race for supremacy is both a technological and a strategic endeavor. The United States is forging ahead with groundbreaking projects like the next-generation air dominance fighter, NGAD, in order to maintain its edge in the face of advancing Chinese and Russian technologies. This initiative seeks to establish an entity that will dominate the skies rather than simply build another fighter. The NGAD's innovative propulsion, enhanced stealth features, and integration of AI-controlled drones are set to reshape aerial warfare. The stakes are higher than ever in the race for sixth-generation dominance. Artificial intelligence, data fusion, stealth, and advanced weaponry are combining to shape the future of aerial combat. If you found this video informative and engaging, we would greatly appreciate your support by giving it a thumbs up. Simply click the like button below. To stay up to date with our latest content and never miss out on future updates, make sure to subscribe to our channel. 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