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Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The race to build the fighter planes of the future
'THERE'S NEVER been anything even close to it—from speed to manoeuverability…to payload,' gushed Donald Trump, as he announced on March 21st that America's future fighter jet, the F-47, would be built by Boeing, an aerospace giant. The jet is one of several so-called sixth-generation aircraft on drawing boards around the world. In December China showed off what was believed to be a prototype of the J-36, an imposing plane with stealthy features and a large flying-wing design. Britain, Italy and Japan are co-developing their own plane, in Britain provisionally called the Tempest, which is due to enter service in 2035. France, Germany and Spain hope that their Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will be ready by 2040. Together, these represent the future of aerial warfare. Fighter jets tend to be categorised by their age, features and sophistication. The first generation appeared in the 1940s and 1950s. Many of those in NATO service today, like America's ubiquitous F-16, are fourth-generation ones, built from the 1970s to the 1990s. The latest fifth-generation planes, such as the F-35 and F-22, the latter perhaps the leading fighter jet in operation today, tend to enjoy stealth, the capacity for sustained supersonic flight and advanced computer systems. One shift they all predict is more, and better, surface-to-air missile systems, a lesson reinforced by the strong performance of air-defences in Ukraine. That requires more stealth to keep planes hidden from enemy radar. Stealth, in turn, requires smooth surfaces—bombs and missiles cannot hang off the wing, but must be tucked away inside a larger body. Keeping their distance A second shift is in the increasing range of air combat. For the past 40 years, the proportion of air-to-air kills that occur 'beyond visual range' has grown steadily—from a tiny fraction of all in the 1970s to more than half between 1990 and 2002. Since then air-to-air missiles have been able to travel ever farther. Europe's Meteor, with a 200km range, was at the forefront of technology when it was first tested a decade ago. America's AIM-174B and China's PL-17 can now hit things 400km away. That means planes need better sensors to spot and fire at targets from farther away; they also need better electronic warfare equipment to parry incoming threats. These technologies require more space to generate power and remove all the heat that electronics tend to produce. Finally, planes are especially vulnerable to long-range missiles when they are on the ground. That means they need to fly from more distant airfields, requiring larger fuel tanks and less drag for more efficient flight. The huge wings seen on the Tempest and the J-36 allow for both those things, notes Bill Sweetman, an aviation expert. Range is a particular concern for America. Its airbases in Japan are within reach of vast numbers of Chinese ballistic missiles. It plans to disperse its planes more widely in wartime and to fly them from more distant runways, such as those in Australia and on Pacific islands. Long-range planes are appealing for several reasons. 'We're talking about really extreme ranges,' notes Group Captain Bill, the Royal Air Force (RAF) officer in charge of thinking through how the service will use the Tempest, speaking recently (without his surname) on the 'Team Tempest' podcast, which is produced by the consortium building the aircraft. The plane will need to be able to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a single tank of fuel, he says, a journey that would require today's Typhoon jet to be refuelled three or four times. One reason for that might be that big refuelling tankers, which once sat safely to the rear of the front line, are increasingly vulnerable to new air-to-air missiles, like China's PL-17. Another is that the Tempest could then take circuitous routes, avoiding Russian air defences along the obvious paths. Put all this together and you get planes that look like old-fashioned bombers. Mr Sweetman compares the hulking J-36, with massive wings and cavernous weapon bays, to an 'airborne cruiser', optimised for range, stealth and carrying capacity over dogfighting agility. The single most important requirement for the Tempest is the ability to carry a lot of weapons, says Group Captain Bill, noting that it will have roughly double the payload of the beefiest F-35. That makes sense: if you can deliver more firepower per sortie, you can destroy a target with fewer risky flights into enemy airspace. 'The same answers tend to pop up for all,' says Mike Pryce, who has advised Britain's defence ministry on combat air design. 'Stand off, don't be seen, shoot first, don't get into a knife fight.' As the planes get bigger, their insides are also evolving into what are essentially 'flying supercomputers', says Roberto Cingolani, the CEO of Leonardo, an Italian company that is developing the wider Tempest programme along with Britain's BAE Systems and Japan's Mitsubishi. Leonardo says that the Tempest will be able to 'suck up' a medium-sized city's worth of data in one second, according to Tim Robinson of the Royal Aeronautical Society. That could include anything from radio traffic to the emissions of air-defence radars. The point is to share that data with friendly forces, including tanks and ships, says Mr Cingolani, perhaps via satellite, with a 'central artificial intelligence' making decisions—presumably which targets should be attacked, by what, and when. Some might suggest 'that's science fiction,' he says. 'No, that's a vision.' Flying together Perhaps the most contentious design choice is whether sixth-generation planes should have pilots. Elon Musk, Mr Trump's aide, recently mocked the fact that 'Some idiots are still building manned fighter jets.' In practice, most air forces believe that artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy are not yet mature enough to allow a computer to replace a human pilot entirely; that will take until 2040, reckons the RAF. Images of the F-47, though unreliable guides to the final product, depict 'a relatively large bubble canopy', notes Thomas Newdick of the War Zone, a website, 'providing the pilot with excellent vision'. Some missions are particularly sensitive: France will use the FCAS to deliver nuclear weapons, a task that may always remain a human prerogative. Nevertheless, the prevailing idea is that sixth-generation planes will be the core of a larger 'combat air system', in which a human in the cockpit controls a larger fleet of uncrewed drones, known, in American parlance, as collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). 'The concept is that you have an aircraft-carrier that is flying,' says Mr Cingolani. 'It's an entire fleet that moves in the sky and makes decisions.' The human in the cockpit is best described not as a pilot, says Group Captain Bill, but as a 'weapons system officer', the RAF's term for someone managing sensors and weaponry. On May 1st America's air force announced that it had begun ground testing its two CCA prototypes in advance of flight tests later this year. Current order numbers suggest that each F-47 will get two CCAs. The drones might scout ahead, spot targets or carry weapons themselves—all within line-of-sight and under 'tight control', notes Frank Kendall, a former air-force secretary. Much of the intensive computing required to carry out these tasks will need to take place on board the crewed mothership, with relevant data shared to all craft instantaneously, says Mr Cingolani, speaking in the context of the Tempest. He emphasises that the communication links have to be secure. 'I'm not sure in ten years we can make it.' If he and his company can pull it off, it will cost a pretty penny. Mr Kendall, in the Biden administration, paused the development of the F-47 in large part because it was expected to cost twice as much as the F-35—perhaps as much as $160m-180m apiece—which would mean the government could afford only a small fleet of 200 or so planes. Many in the Pentagon wanted a greater emphasis on building CCAs to complement the existing fleet of F-35s, rather than pouring money into a new platform that might not turn up until long after a war with China. In Britain, Justin Bronk, an air power expert at the Royal United Services Institute, expresses similar concerns, drawing an analogy with the experimental versus war-winning weapons of the second world war. 'Pouring all the money that defence can spare…into a programme that, in the best case, will not deliver a fully operational capability before 2040 feels to me like the UK concentrating all Air Ministry resources on Avro Vulcan development in 1936,' he says, citing a plane that did not appear until a decade after the war was over, 'rather than Hurricanes, Spitfires, Blenheims, Whitleys and Wellingtons.' Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
One Of Russia's Swing-Wing Tu-22M Bombers Just Crashed
A Tu-22M burns on the ground in 2023. A Russian air force Tupolev Tu-22M bomber crashed in Usolsky District, in eastern Russia 2,700 miles from Ukraine. It's probably the fifth of the 139-foot, four-person bombers the Russians have lost in the 37 months since they widened their war on Ukraine. That's nearly 10 percent of the pre-war fleet of around 60 swing-wing Tu-22Ms, updated versions of Cold War bombers that carry anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and which, from the Ukrainian perspective, are terror weapons. These days, they primarily target Ukrainian cities. Their victims are usually civilians. Fighterbomber, the unofficial Telegram channel of the Russian air force, confirmed the crash on Wednesday. 'Crew is being searched for,' the channel reported. The Tu-22M force has had a hard war. Before Wednesday's crash, the Russian air force had lost four of the bombers—another that crashed, one that was shot down and two that were destroyed or at least badly damaged by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's long-range drone strike force has focused much of its attention on Russian bomber bases. A triple-tap series of raids between January and March targeting Engels air base in southern Russia, 400 miles from Ukraine, destroyed a huge stock of bomber-launched cruise missiles costing nearly $1 billion. A flaming Tu-22M falls to the ground in April 2024. The Tu-22Ms almost always conduct standoff raids, launching their cruise missiles from as far away as 600 miles. This keeps the Tu-22Ms out of range of Ukraine's surface-to-air missiles—usually. But that doesn't mean the bomber raids are totally safe for their crews. Last April, a Ukrainian SAM battery—likely an aged but potent S-200—hit a Tu-22M flying over southern Russia after launching its Kh-22 cruise missile. Merely carrying a 1960s-vintage Kh-22 can be dangerous. 'Nothing says fun like flying around with an ancient missile containing ~4 tons of hypergolic fuel,' aviation expert Bill Sweetman quipped. But for all the risk and all the losses the Tu-22M community has endured while terrorizing Ukrainian civilians, there's no reason to believe it will stand down—not even temporarily. The Russian air force has been losing bombers at a rate of just one or two a year. It has more than enough Tu-22Ms and larger Tupolev Tu-95s and Tu-160s to bombard Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chinese state broadcaster airs first visuals of sixth-generation stealth fighter jet
A Chinese state broadcaster has released grainy footage and photographs purporting to show a test flight of the country's most advanced stealth fighter yet, just days after Donald Trump announced the start of a project to build an American equivalent. It is only the second time the Chinese aircraft, dubbed J-36 in domestic media reports, has been seen during testing, and the first time it has been reported by Chinese Communist Party-run media. The maiden test flight took place in December. Visuals of the triangular ginkgo leaf-shaped jet were aired by national broadcaster China Central Television on Sunday, purportedly to mark a minor air force anniversary – 27 years since the maiden flight of the fourth-generation J-10 fighter. The jet was seen conducting a test flight over Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province. Analysts said it was notable that the jet was flying solo without a chase plane, and that it looked like the landing gear and aerodynamic capabilities of the J-36 were being tested. The US announced on Friday that Boeing would build the US Air Force's own sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, with the project referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). Donald Trump declared that 'nothing in the world comes even close to it' as he made the announcement, adding that it would be "virtually unseeable" on radar. Analysts say the timing of the two events points to a race for aerial superiority. They say that, if confirmed, the completion of the J-16 would be the first time since the Second World War that China has beaten the United States to a new generation of military aircraft. While official details from the Chinese government remain limited, the J-36 was first spotted publicly on 26 December 2024, during what was believed to be its maiden flight. It was seen flying alongside a J-20S, the twin-seat variant of China's fifth-generation stealth fighter, which served as a chase plane. The J-36, reportedly developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), has a distinctive tailless, flying-wing design, which is intended to enhance its stealth capabilities by reducing radar cross-section. Analysts suggest the J-36 is not designed solely for traditional dogfighting but rather as a multi-role platform craft within a broader combat system. Its large size, estimated to be 66 to 85 feet long with a wingspan of about 65 feet, suggests it is designed as a mix between a fighter and a bomber. It can carry heavy weapons inside, such as long-range missiles or precision-guided bombs. It is likely built to avoid detection and attack from a distance rather than engage in close-up dogfights. Bill Sweetman, a defence analyst, wrote in The Strategist that the J-36's primary function will be to launch long-range missile strikes against enemy targets, not only in the sky but also on the ground and aboard aircraft carriers. 'It is the largest combat aircraft designed and developed in China, and the second-largest to fly anywhere in 35 years,' he wrote. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the J-36 would prove crucial in battle zones where electronic warfare like jamming or hacking could interfere with drones. 'The reliance on crewed aircraft like the J-36 highlights their enduring value in contested environments where electronic warfare could disrupt uncrewed systems,' he told the EurAsian Times. In his commentary on the think tank's website, Mr Bronk said China needs planes that can stay in the air for long missions, whether defending its airspace or attacking enemy targets over the vast Indo-Pacific region. 'These considerations will have led to a similarly large internal fuel volume requirement for the J-36 and contributed to its very large size,' he added. The J-36 is believed to feature three engines, an unusual choice for a tactical fighter, which can provide the thrust needed for high speeds and heavy payloads, according to The War Zone, a defence news and analysis website. The US military has shared eww details of what the new NGAD fighter would look like even as Mr Trump said early versions have been conducting test flights for the last five years. Renderings by both Lockheed Martin and Boeing have highlighted a flat, tail-less aircraft with a sharp nose.
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The Independent
24-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Chinese state broadcaster airs first visuals of sixth-generation stealth fighter jet
A Chinese state broadcaster has released grainy footage and photographs purporting to show a test flight of the country's most advanced stealth fighter yet, just days after Donald Trump announced the start of a project to build an American equivalent. It is only the second time the Chinese aircraft, dubbed J-36 in domestic media reports, has been seen during testing, and the first time it has been reported by Chinese Communist Party-run media. The maiden test flight took place in December. Visuals of the triangular ginkgo leaf-shaped jet were aired by national broadcaster China Central Television on Sunday, purportedly to mark a minor air force anniversary – 27 years since the maiden flight of the fourth-generation J-10 fighter. The jet was seen conducting a test flight over Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province. Analysts said it was notable that the jet was flying solo without a chase plane, and that it looked like the landing gear and aerodynamic capabilities of the J-36 were being tested. The US announced on Friday that Boeing would build the US Air Force 's own sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, with the project referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). Donald Trump declared that 'nothing in the world comes even close to it' as he made the announcement, adding that it would be "virtually unseeable" on radar. Analysts say the timing of the two events points to a race for aerial superiority. They say that, if confirmed, the completion of the J-16 would be the first time since the Second World War that China has beaten the United States to a new generation of military aircraft. While official details from the Chinese government remain limited, the J-36 was first spotted publicly on 26 December 2024, during what was believed to be its maiden flight. It was seen flying alongside a J-20S, the twin-seat variant of China's fifth-generation stealth fighter, which served as a chase plane. The J-36, reportedly developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), has a distinctive tailless, flying-wing design, which is intended to enhance its stealth capabilities by reducing radar cross-section. Analysts suggest the J-36 is not designed solely for traditional dogfighting but rather as a multi-role platform craft within a broader combat system. Its large size, estimated to be 66 to 85 feet long with a wingspan of about 65 feet, suggests it is designed as a mix between a fighter and a bomber. It can carry heavy weapons inside, such as long-range missiles or precision-guided bombs. It is likely built to avoid detection and attack from a distance rather than engage in close-up dogfights. Bill Sweetman, a defence analyst, wrote in The Strategist that the J-36's primary function will be to launch long-range missile strikes against enemy targets, not only in the sky but also on the ground and aboard aircraft carriers. 'It is the largest combat aircraft designed and developed in China, and the second-largest to fly anywhere in 35 years,' he wrote. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the J-36 would prove crucial in battle zones where electronic warfare like jamming or hacking could interfere with drones. 'The reliance on crewed aircraft like the J-36 highlights their enduring value in contested environments where electronic warfare could disrupt uncrewed systems,' he told the EurAsian Times. In his commentary on the think tank's website, Mr Bronk said China needs planes that can stay in the air for long missions, whether defending its airspace or attacking enemy targets over the vast Indo-Pacific region. 'These considerations will have led to a similarly large internal fuel volume requirement for the J-36 and contributed to its very large size,' he added. The J-36 is believed to feature three engines, an unusual choice for a tactical fighter, which can provide the thrust needed for high speeds and heavy payloads, according to The War Zone, a defence news and analysis website. The US military has shared eww details of what the new NGAD fighter would look like even as Mr Trump said early versions have been conducting test flights for the last five years. Renderings by both Lockheed Martin and Boeing have highlighted a flat, tail-less aircraft with a sharp nose.
