Sixth-generation jet fighter

A sixth-generation jet fighter is a conceptualized class of fighter aircraft design more advanced than the fifth-generation jet fighters that are currently in service in the United States and in development in other countries. The United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Navy (USN) are anticipated to field their first sixth-generation fighters in the 2025–30 time frame. The USAF is pursuing development and acquisition of a sixth-generation fighter through the F-X program to complement existing platforms in service such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The USN is pursuing a similar program called the Next Generation Air Dominance, likewise intended to complement and/or replace its existing aircraft such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

On October 10, 2012, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall justified the need to start the program.

In April 2013, DARPA started a study to try to bridge the USAF and USN concepts.

The Pentagon 2015 budget request has studies to lead to an acquisition program in fiscal year 2018.

Frank Kendall revealed that funding for initial sixth generation fighter development would be requested in the FY 2016 budget. Next-generation fighter efforts will initially be led by DARPA under the "Air Dominance Initiative" to develop prototype X-planes. The agency as well as industry are known to have started internal research on potential sixth generation technologies for several years. Kendall confirmed that Navy and Air Force will each have variants focused on their mission requirements.

In 2016 the USAF announced a change of course to pursue "a network of integrated systems disaggregated across multiple platforms" rather than a "sixth generation fighter" in its Air Superiority 2030 plan.

Dubbed the "Next Generation Tactical Aircraft"/"Next Gen TACAIR", the USAF seeks a fighter with "enhanced capabilities in areas such as reach, persistence, survivability, net-centricity, situational awareness, human-system integration and weapons effects," a November 4, 2010 presolicitation notice states. “The future system will have to counter adversaries equipped with next generation advanced electronic attack, sophisticated integrated air defense systems, passive detection, integrated self-protection, directed energy weapons, and cyber attack capabilities. It must be able to operate in the anti-access/area-denial environment that will exist in the 2030–50 timeframe.”

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