Sixth-Generation Air Power: The Future of Combat Aviation
The Royal Australian Air Force is poised to transition from its fifth-generation backbone to a sixth-generation air combat capability by 2040, potentially earlier for collaborative systems like the MQ-28A Ghost Bat. In this article from Wings Magazine, Gregor Ferguson looks at the defining traits of sixth-generation aircraft—advanced stealth, AI-driven data fusion, and crewed-uncrewed teaming—while exploring global programs like GCAP, NGAD, and FCAS. From China’s J-36 unveiling to the USAF’s Next Generation Air Dominance rethink, Ferguson touches on the technology and strategies that are reshaping aerial warfare. For the article, got to https://wingsmagazine.org/ and look for the Autumn 2025 issue.
CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
00:29 What is 5th Gen?
02:49 Next-Gen Capability
03:55 6-Gen Programs
08:48 Australia's 6-Gen Aspirations
10:52 GCAP
11:48 NGAD
13:26 F/A-XX NGAD
14:31 FCAS
15:42 Wrap Up
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