According to the AW&ST (Aviation and Space Technology Weekly), the US Navy and Air Force have begun preliminary work on the formation of requirements for the sixth generation fighter. Despite the fact that the US Department of Defense will start financing the project no earlier than 2015, and the aircraft itself is planned to be put into service in 1015-2030. work has already begun.
It is not yet clear what exact requirements will be presented to the new aircraft. According to preliminary data, the new aviation complex may be hypersonic, unmanned or optionally manned aircraft.
Even if the Pentagon starts financing the project in 2015, it will be possible to adopt the new fighter only after 2030, according to the AW&ST experts. This conclusion is made on the basis of the timing of the development of the F-22 Raptor aircraft (development began in 1986, entered service in 2005) and the F-35 Lightning II (launched in 2001 into service, should enter service in 2016).
F-22 Raptor
F-35 Lightning II
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense intends to significantly reduce military budget expenditures in the coming years. Therefore, the US aviation industry may face a decrease in the amount of work associated with the creation, testing and production of new aircraft for the military. Production of the F-22 is nearing completion, the production lines of the F / A-18E / F Super Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Strike Eagle are likely to be closed after 2015, and the F-35 will be in production until 2030. The production of new generation long-range bombers was frozen in 2009.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-14
But in early 2011, immediately after the first flight of the new Chinese fighter-bomber J-20, the head of the US military department R. Gates announced that funding for the new long-range bomber project would be resumed in 2012. Also, the US Air Force is currently developing requirements for strike systems.
The Pentagon is currently aiming to cut military spending by $ 72 billion over the next five years. Therefore, the beginning of financing of new projects remains a big question, they are not included in the 2011 budget for sure. All that is known about 2012 is that the creation of a new electronic suppression system for ships, the extension of the service life of the F-16 and F-15 and their modernization, as well as the development of the F-35 will be financed.
Of the major projects that American companies are already working on, the development of a carrier-based drone for the US Navy, as well as the development of a new generation of MQ-X drones, which will replace the RQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator, will remain in the coming years.
RQ-9 Reaper
MQ-1 Predator
MQ-X
