Global Race to Establish New Air Superiority

On March 21, 2025, the U.S. officially named its sixth-generation fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program as the F-47. The F-47 emphasizes modular design, integration of directed-energy weapons, advanced stealth capabilities, and AI-assisted combat operations. It is expected to enter service by 2030, with a planned fleet of 200–300 aircraft, gradually replacing the current F-22 Raptor as the cornerstone of future U.S. air combat. The F-47 program also includes supporting intelligent unmanned wingmen, next-gen engines, electronic warfare systems, and sensor networks.

In Europe, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a combat system integrating sixth-gen fighters with cloud-connected drone swarms, focusing on "manned-unmanned teaming" (MUM-T) to establish air superiority in the era of multi-domain warfare. It is slated for deployment by 2040. Meanwhile, the UK-led Tempest project highlights MUM-T collaboration, modular architecture, and cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities, with its maiden flight expected in 2035.

Developing sufficiently advanced AI for autonomous air combat decision-making is a top priority. The most contentious design issue is whether to retain a pilot cockpit. Tesla CEO Elon Musk advocates full autonomy, but most air forces argue current AI cannot yet fully replace human pilots. The UK Royal Air Force estimates this technological breakthrough won’t occur before 2040.

Creating stealth capabilities resilient against next-gen detection systems is equally critical. With emerging technologies like quantum radar, traditional stealth faces unprecedented challenges. Sixth-gen fighters must develop more adaptive stealth solutions, achieving all-aspect invisibility across electromagnetic, infrared, and multi-spectral domains.

Balancing performance and cost reduction is another key consideration. The F-47’s initial contract is valued at $20 billion, with total program costs potentially exceeding hundreds of billions. For context, the F-35’s lifecycle costs have surged to $1.7 trillion. The FCAS program is projected to surpass €100 billion in total investment. Such staggering R&D expenditures make sixth-gen fighters not just a technological race but a contest of national strength.