As of December 2024, the United States does not have an operational sixth-generation jet fighter in service. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has been developing a sixth-generation fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, aiming to replace the F-22 Raptor. This program envisions a “family of systems” centered around a manned fighter jet, supported by unmanned drones and advanced technologies. However, in July 2024, the USAF announced a temporary pause in the NGAD program to reassess design choices and ensure alignment with evolving threats and budget constraints. Similarly, the U.S. Navy is pursuing its own sixth-generation fighter through the F/A-XX program, intended to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Despite the Air Force’s pause, the Navy has committed to advancing its program, with plans to award a contract by the end of fiscal year 2025 and field the new aircraft in the 2030s. It’s worth noting that other nations are also developing sixth-generation fighters. For instance, recent reports suggest that China may be unveiling a new stealth aircraft, potentially indicating progress toward a sixth-generation fighter. In summary, while the U.S. is actively developing sixth-generation fighter technology, as of now, these aircraft have not yet entered operational service.
ZGRoot 发表评论于 2024-12-26 18:47:00
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The Future of U.S. Air Power
When it comes to delivering America’s resolve, the B-21 Raider will be standing by, silent and ready. We are providing America’s warfighters with an advanced aircraft offering a combination of range, payload, and survivability. The B-21 Raider will be capable of penetrating the toughest defenses to deliver precision strikes anywhere in the world. The B-21 is the future of deterrence and the world's first sixth-generation aircraft to reach the skies.
https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/b-21-raider
B21在2023年已经完成试飞，官方定性就是六代机
当然中国可以不承认，小粉红可以不接受
诺索普-格鲁曼官网自己定性如此：全球首架具有最强破防和全球打击能力的六代战机
中国社交媒体平台周四流传大量疑似一架中国第六代战机和一架歼-20共同飞行的影片和图片，“六代机试飞”成网络热门话题。
从社交媒体上传播的视频中可以看到中国试飞的新飞机（左）的机腹。 © 网络图片
根据多段四川成都民众从地面拍摄的影像，两架飞机低空飞越成都，其中一架整体呈三角形。有军事博主分析，这架外观接近隐形战机的飞机是典型的超音速巡航加上超机动设计，两个进气口在机头下两侧，一个进气口在机背，主翼外侧4片副翼为左右各两组开裂式阻力方向舵，机腹的两条棱则显示弹舱空间不小。为神秘三角机伴飞的，被外界认为是仍处于保密阶段的双座版歼-20。
美国《防务新闻》6月曾报导称，有迹象表明，中国在第六代战机的研发领域取得进展，原型机最早在2028年前后准备就绪。该报道引述中国航空工业集团成都飞机设计研究所总设计师王海峰2019年1月接受采访表示，正在准备研究一种“到2035年可以保卫海空的战斗机”，还提到有人／无人协同组合、人工智能的使用，以及改进的隐身和全向传感器等元素。
《国防时报》抖音号置顶视频：“它真的好像一片银杏叶子”。俄罗斯官媒也迅速放大了这一视频的视觉效果，称中国第六代战机为“白帝”。《航空周刊》报导称，该机的主起落架具有“苏-34等重型战斗轰炸机的特征”。关于这架飞机，仍有太多未知之处。
华盛顿和北京之间的竞争也日益激烈。美国空军未来战斗机计划的命运掌握在即将上任的特朗普政府手中。拜登政府任命的美国空军部长肯德尔（Frank Kendall）上周四在智库、米切尔航空航天研究所的一次活动上说：“我不想作出一个可能会被新班子打乱和推翻的决定”。
肯德尔表示，“我不想让我们的工业沿着一条特定的路线前进，然后在几个月后突然逆转”。