What capabilities make a 6th generation fighter?
Alex Hollings | July 21, 2021
In recent months, just about every headline associated with a new fighter platform has been accompanied by the phrase “6th generation” or 6th gen, suggesting that whatever platform comes next will be the first of this new generation of fighters. The truth, however, is that fighter generations aren’t official labels, but rather industry terms commonly associated with significant leaps in aircraft capabilities. The definition of 5th generation fighters, as a good example, has varied over time — and as such, it’s important to remember that simply being new isn’t the same as being a new generation.
In order to understand what a 6th generation fighter will have to bring to the table, we first need to understand what the criteria make for a 5th generation platform.
A historical snapshot of generational designations
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)
In 2005, the United States became the first nation on earth to field an operational 5th generation fighter in the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. When you look at the F-22 compared to its 4th generation predecessors, the aircraft clearly stands out… but what exactly made it the first of a new generation, rather than a more advanced approach to the existing generation of fighters?
https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/what-capabilities-make-a-6th-generation-fighter/
