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A notional light fighter concept has been presented by the U.S. Air Force’s senior uniformed officer, providing a thought-provoking insight into one direction that the service’s future combat fleet could take. The concept emerges as Air Force officials are increasingly questioning the requirements for the crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet being developed as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.Were Allvin’s vision to be followed through, then the Air Force’s sixth-generation stealth jet could eventually be accompanied by multiple iterations of light (or at least lighter) fighters, offering a way to provide the kind of combat mass needed for a future conflict with China, for example. At the same time, not remaining wed to a single platform would offer a route to ensuring that software developments were the key driver in moving capabilities forward to keep pace with China’s own rapid air power modernization.
Interestingly, there have also been previous signs that some kind of ‘high/low’ fighter mix could be on the cards for the Air Force of the future, as you can read about here.
Back in 2021, retired Gen. James M. Holmes, the former head of Air Combat Command, reportedly brought up the idea that the Air Force might consider fielding two distinct versions of the NGAD fighter component, one optimized for long-range/heavy-payload missions of the kind that would likely be required in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as one with shorter range sufficient for the European theater of operations.
It looks like a lesson from the Ukraine that losses are inevitable in combat so make them lighter and cheaper.
A notional light fighter concept has been presented by the U.S. Air Force’s senior uniformed officer, providing a thought-provoking insight into one direction that the service’s future combat fleet could take. The concept emerges as Air Force officials are increasingly questioning the requirements for the crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet being developed as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.Were Allvin’s vision to be followed through, then the Air Force’s sixth-generation stealth jet could eventually be accompanied by multiple iterations of light (or at least lighter) fighters, offering a way to provide the kind of combat mass needed for a future conflict with China, for example. At the same time, not remaining wed to a single platform would offer a route to ensuring that software developments were the key driver in moving capabilities forward to keep pace with China’s own rapid air power modernization.
Interestingly, there have also been previous signs that some kind of ‘high/low’ fighter mix could be on the cards for the Air Force of the future, as you can read about here.
Back in 2021, retired Gen. James M. Holmes, the former head of Air Combat Command, reportedly brought up the idea that the Air Force might consider fielding two distinct versions of the NGAD fighter component, one optimized for long-range/heavy-payload missions of the kind that would likely be required in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as one with shorter range sufficient for the European theater of operations.
It looks like a lesson from the Ukraine that losses are inevitable in combat so make them lighter and cheaper.
statistics: Posted by Rebcop — 5:56 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 2 — Views 44