6th Generation Fighters Projects

Sandhi Yudha

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The Japanese government has been in talks with the British on fighter jet cooperation for some time and announced in July 2021 that it was interested in a joint power plant development effort. And now the two governments have signed a memorandum of cooperation enabling teaming to take place on the engine demonstrator and possibly other, as yet, unspecified areas of technology.

So we will see in the future if the new joint developed engine will be used in the Japanese F-X program and the European Tempest or if the endresult will be that these two 6th generation jetfighter programs become one.
 
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swerve

Super Moderator
The UK, Italy & Japan all want air superiority aircraft to supplement F-35s initially, & presumably also capable of strike if suitably equipped, so they could potentially buy the same aircraft. But even if they don't co-development of technology for engines, radars etc. could save them all money & perhaps lead to better technology.

Don't forget that the leading British radar firm is Italian-owned & it's also the leading Italian radar firm. That could simplify co-operation on sensors between all three countries.
 

Meriv90

Active Member
Japan for sure will use RR engine but I've some doubts (unfortunately) that they would adopt Italian Elettronics.
If our government would be smart we would be buying C-2 and P-1 in exchange of their adoption of our products. We are in dire need of Strategic transport and ASW assets.

Just in case Leonardo is pushing towards elettronics. We are selling Oto Melara and Wass (probably they will end up in Fincantieri ) and we bought Hensoldt - Wikipedia. So the Japanese buying our radars would be quite the feat. But i see it pretty unrealistic.


P.s. don't forget about the Swedish they aren't a minor player. I would like Team Tempest to have a different attitude than FCAS one, we are partners not clients (that's the message we received from the French, for that reason they got so enraged when the Spanish put Indra in front of Airbus Spain, a genius move :p)

P.s. 2. By Us i mean italians.
 
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StobieWan

Super Moderator
Staff member
There really can't be a merge. Either one of the current programs will be shut down in favour of the other or both programs will be shut down and it will be back to the drawing board.

If one program is to be shut down which will it be? The French led FCAS or the British led Tempest? Can you seriously see either the British or French essentially handing control of the program over to the other?

Option B of a clean skin design may be even worse as it would require a level of cooperation that has never really existed between the British and French.
The British and French have done some good kit in the past - however, in this instance, I think you're correct in that the programs can't merge. France will want something that goes on a CATOBAR carrier, and will want design lead.

I would say that of the two programs, the Tempest program is on a better footing however -it's got a broader set of partners so far.
 

Meriv90

Active Member
(Allow me a wall of text)

My POV is:

It has a lot to do on the Geopolitical matters in the EU.

During the 2000s we were the ones sinking the EU with Berlusconi, when Germany was weaker and still doing Schröder reforms we decided to step on the brakes by allying with the UK in place of pushing for more union matters(political/fiscal union). For example Belgium back then was getting flooded by Afghans we could have reformed the refugee dublin treaty twenty years ago when the central countries were pushing for it. Now we get flooded by economic migrants. But if we were the bad guys of the first 10years of the EU the Germans were the "villain" for the next decade.


The HWR ( Berlin School of Economics and Law ) had a paper (i can find it if you need it) on the Euro effect on German export, and it was a factor of 12.5%-25% range. Consider Germany being the strongest exporter in the world and you can imagine how valuable is that factor. (Its trade balance
List of countries by current account balance - Wikipedia).

Plus German politics reflects on the rest of the EU. For example on the Greek Crisis, in February 2010 we could have stopped everything with just 10bln Euros, to show that no matter what we wouldn't have let Greece fail, we would have reestablished the trust in the Greek Bank System (That was in French and German hands). The French agreed immediately the Germans didn't.



Because there were elections in one of the main Germany lands, so we had to wait for German election purposes May-June 2010, the cost of the bail out skyrocketed to 300bln...

Or the fact they welcomed the Syrians opening an hell migration scenario because they needed skilled workers (in place of paying more theirs, Germany is one of the most unequal country on the wealth aspect in Europe) . You can see it in this Economist Graph.


So what i want to say?

FCAS is in poor words a counterbalance of German Economic policies in favor of France. For that reason the French used stronger tones on the FCAS, they werent looking for partners, they were looking for clients. They know the Germans are going to pay the bill, and if not they can always remind the Germans they can oppose them on political matters.


The lead contractors for Germany and France are Airbus and Dassault respectively. Spain designated Indra as their national prime contractor last August, but a work-share agreement between the three companies and their subcontractor clusters has proven elusive. Madrid has lobbied to be treated as an equal partner on both, government and industry level. Relevant agreements were signed between the three countries last year.

A week ago, Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury, remarked that the Spanish government must rectify its “mistake” of choosing Indra over Airbus. In his opinion, Indra is a sensors and equipment producer that lacked capabilities in airplanes, drones and satellites.


Just in case this is my personal opinion and point of view

But you can see this on the German probable decision to go for the F-18 and not the F-35 just to not anger Paris.

Put all this heavy political dynamics on the FCAS project. French and German attitude of the past. The fact that they are behind on the technological side since neither of them has the F-35.

IMHO the Tempest has a clear advantage.

Yes we lack the German economical power to finance the Jet, but I still want to see German taxpayer to pay for a Nuclear Able Naval Strike version of the FCAS....

So im ultra happy we are in with the UK/Sweden and Japan :) and i want to be as far away as possible from those "toxic" dynamics of the other "team".

I'm pretty positive on the outcome. We have to play it safe, since they are in a "follower" position, so Team Tempest IMHO has to aim to not be too ambitious but to commit the least amount of errors possibles. Because it is already crazy to have two fighters in Europe for the 6th generation, surely there wont be two for the 7th, and there will be wild rationalizations of the industry. There is a lot at stake.

I hope i didn't bore You too much with this wall of text. Just in case I have nothing against the Germans, we Italians are the main factors of our own destiny, Germans have nothing to do with our stagnating productivity of the last 30years for example.



 

swerve

Super Moderator
Japan for sure will use RR engine but I've some doubts (unfortunately) that they would adopt Italian Elettronics....
But isn't Leonardo's main fighter radar centre in the UK? IRST development's in Italy though, AFAIK.

I don't see Japan buying a foreign radar for a 6th generation fighter, but I think they may be interested in a collaborative development.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group

French Safran already begin trials for NGF engine based on M88. What's not clear yet, if this means M88 will be developed toward new prototype or M88 being used as template for new tech developed for new engine.

It's quite different, the former one means M88 design will evolve into new engine while still using M88 basic design as based. The later ones means M88 being used as platform to trial new tech that later on being used for clean sheet design of new core.

I do suspect the former one, as the later one is going to cost much more effort. M88-2 that being used by Rafale at this moment is being equivalence to GE-404. While not developed yet, but Safran has project of M88-4 that aim to rival GE-414.

I do suspect this new engine will be based on their concept of M88-4 that based design around 100KN thrust (compare to M88-2 of 75 KN). Still in my opinion it's shown the size and capacities of this NGF will still be around current Rafale or Eurojet.
 

Delta204

Active Member
Possible NGAD sighting in Area 51 of all places...

Mysterious Aircraft Spotted At Area 51 In Unprecedented Satellite Image (thedrive.com)

Delta wing design and fighter size (article estimates 65' long and 50' wide). The article discusses other possibilities such as an unmanned vehicle, but it's pretty big and likely very fast. Or, it may be an old prototype that's being worked on (most likely IMO if it's not NGAD).

Pretty odd for something like this to be left out in the open, unless it was purposely left in the open of course. As we know, a NGAD demonstrator has been flying for at least a year and a half. Fingers crossed we'll get to see more soon!
 

Meriv90

Active Member
But isn't Leonardo's main fighter radar centre in the UK? IRST development's in Italy though, AFAIK.

I don't see Japan buying a foreign radar for a 6th generation fighter, but I think they may be interested in a collaborative development.
Looks like we were wrong (I liked your post)



And since the korean submarine news had a positive reaction i will post more news (until now i was reluctant on doing so)

So from the FCAS front:


That’s understandable, since these are the companies best suited to produce this equipment in the EU. However, it probably isn’t long before German politicians begin to see the FCAS as yet another program that fits the German stereotype of an EU project: Germany pays half the bill, and French industry gets the vast majority of the technology, workshare, and economic benefits.


The FCAS is best viewed as a knee-jerk response to Brexit. Once the dust settles over Brexit in a few years, the aviation industry will resume its normal course. Germany can then join Britain and BAE Systems on its Tempest fighter, perhaps with legal provisions that prevent a minority partner from vetoing export sales. (As a 50 percent partner with the FCAS, Germany likely wouldn’t accept those kinds of stipulations.)


As for France, it has historically done well by going its own way. The UAE Rafale order proves that yet again and also implies that another purely French program would be richly rewarded. Expect France to act accordingly—and go its own way again.

From the nothingness of the Franco-German strategic relationship to the necessary divorce
After the broadcast on March 23, 2021 of the tribune on the German errors of France, the Vauban group, which brings together around twenty specialists in activity in defense issues, returns to the failure of the German policy carried out since 2017.


If post like this are appreciated I will keep updated from news i find.
 

Sandhi Yudha

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Looks like we were wrong (I liked your post)



And since the korean submarine news had a positive reaction i will post more news (until now i was reluctant on doing so)

So from the FCAS front:









If post like this are appreciated I will keep updated from news i find.
It is actually remarkable that India doesn't join the FCAS - project (they also need a new 6th generation jetfighter capable for aircraft carrier operations) instead of developing the HAL AMCA and TEDBF.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
actually remarkable that India doesn't join the FCAS - project (they also need a new 6th generation jetfighter capable for aircraft carrier operations) instead of developing the HAL AMCA and TEDBF.
Seems they think their own fighters population requirements already big enough to go alone. India also have Political national pride to go alone, as much as they can. If China can do it, why they should not done the same path ? That's their nationalistic thinking that geared by BJP toward "made in India" movement on defense equipment.

Nothing wrong trying to be independent. Japan doing it, even the defense population needs is not big enough (cost them higher). As long as your pocket and industrial base can support that, then it's all right.
 

Sandhi Yudha

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|"Development work on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF) programme has effectively been halted, with the industrial partners unable to agree on workshare terms."|

The progrss of this program already wasn't smooth, but now its just on hold. Like some members here already saying, maybe its better for France to pull out of this project.
 

Sandhi Yudha

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ITAR-TASS reports that the developers of Russia’s cutting-edge single-engine Checkmate fighter took into account and corrected the weaknesses of the United States’ stealth aircraft Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, as follows from the text of the patent, published by the Federal Intellectual Property Service.

They are not telling about the progress/status of development of this new single engine stealth fighter, but it is to be expected that there will be a delay for many years, looking to the current situation.

 

Terran

Well-Known Member
ITAR-TASS reports that the developers of Russia’s cutting-edge single-engine Checkmate fighter took into account and corrected the weaknesses of the United States’ stealth aircraft Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, as follows from the text of the patent, published by the Federal Intellectual Property Service.

They are not telling about the progress/status of development of this new single engine stealth fighter, but it is to be expected that there will be a delay for many years, looking to the current situation.

Are they praising it or Trolling it? The article claims the F117 as the Counterpart to the Checkmate. I mean if you are calling a 40 year old bomber aircraft the counterpart to your brand new fighter… It claims the fixed the controllability. Okay F117 wasn’t built to be a maneuvering machine it was built to be a sneaky bastard. It’s other preference aspects left much to be desired. The F117 wasn’t even a production aircraft it was a number of hand built prototypes that had such a then unique capability it was put into operation.
 

Sandhi Yudha

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Its indeed funny t
Are they praising it or Trolling it? The article claims the F117 as the Counterpart to the Checkmate. I mean if you are calling a 40 year old bomber aircraft the counterpart to your brand new fighter… It claims the fixed the controllability. Okay F117 wasn’t built to be a maneuvering machine it was built to be a sneaky bastard. It’s other preference aspects left much to be desired. The F117 wasn’t even a production aircraft it was a number of hand built prototypes that had such a then unique capability it was put into operation.
Its indeed funny that they compare their brqndnew 6th generation multirole fighter with a 40-years old bomber/attack aircraft, and that they are proud that their design is better.

Probably the ones who wrote this article were getting bored with only news about the war and Covid-19.
 

Delta204

Active Member
For those who are interested in following the USAF NGAD program, here's a good article that has compiled most of the open source info that exists on the platform.

Piecing Together the NGAD Puzzle - Air Force Magazine

A few interesting items:
- speed, range and payload seem to be priority, possibly trading off maneuverability.
- L/O might not ensure survivability in the future; NGAD will have to rely more on speed and EW
- low production runs (50-100) with short lifescycles (12-15 years). This was first mentioned by former AF exec Will Roper a few years ago (who first announced that NGAD existed), appears USAF is still buying in to this philosophy.
-USAF will not confirm or deny that a second NGAD platform already exists

Roper ruffled a few industry groups when he talked about his vision for acquisition a few years ago (low production runs, open architecture where any company could upgrade platform, not just original manufacturer). Some even started lobbying against him (hiring usual shills to write articles decrying his ideas). Since he left there has been some speculation on whether these ideas will have gone with him but this article seems to indicate that is not the case. This will be something to keep an eye on over the next few years.
 
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Sandhi Yudha

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| “We are not out of the programme, but there has been a hibernation period for Sweden while we see how the UK, Italy, and potentially Japan set up the programme. I am not sure how this will play out.”|

So Sweden is still joining the program, but its involvement is put in the freezer.

 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Surprise, surprise, Germany and France’s sixth gen program now likely won’t see a jet until 2050. The reason, partners Airbus and Dassault can’t agree on workshare. SCAF replac a the acronym FCAS. There is no mention of France’s requirement for a carrier jet. This has to be a problem for the SCAF program.

 

Meriv90

Active Member
At this point one way to exit this industrial cul de sac (dead end street).

Let Airbus(thus also Germany) join Tempest and Dassault focus on a naval jet for future EU CVN (hoping we will ever get common EU defense) to field later in the timeline.

F35B will be 42 years old in 2050 similar to the Harriers 2 we are retiring today.
 
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Sandhi Yudha

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Surprise, surprise, Germany and France’s sixth gen program now likely won’t see a jet until 2050. The reason, partners Airbus and Dassault can’t agree on workshare. SCAF replac a the acronym FCAS. There is no mention of France’s requirement for a carrier jet. This has to be a problem for the SCAF program.

If there are more delays, it can be attractive for Germany and Spain to move to the Tempest-program. That will be a real replacement fpr the EF2000 and JAS39 Gripen.

France can maybe team up with India, which also needs a aircraft carrier capable jetfighter.

The only positive point of the delays is that in 2050 the SCAF has probably become a 6,5th generation or even a 7th generation fighter.
 
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