The US may lose the race with China for the lead in the development of the sixth generation fighter jet
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US Air Force spokesman Andrew Hunter has warned that China could outpace the US in the race to fully develop the world's first sixth-generation fighter jet.
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Andrew Hunter, a former US Air Force acquisition executive, told Breaking Defence that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) could achieve initial operational capability of its sixth-generation fighter jet before the US.
Nevertheless, Hunter expressed confidence in the technical superiority of American developments, which he believes will surpass China's.
"I think we'll have the better capabilities, but we definitely don't have time to lose. They could be ahead of us," he said.
In December, China unveiled its tailless twin-triangular wing fighter optimised for supersonic performance. This development is part of Beijing's strategy to combat US air dominance.
Hunter stressed that the emergence of the Chinese fighter jet was not a surprise to him, given Beijing's rapid pace of progress. In 2023, he had already warned US lawmakers about China's success in developing a new generation of fighters, but then believed that the United States would retain the lead.
Meanwhile, the US Air Force has officially launched a competition to develop its first sixth-generation fighter jet under the highly classified NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) programme. Designed to work in conjunction with drones and for air warfare in general, this aircraft is expected to have increased lethality and rapid adaptability in difficult situations.
Source: Breaking Defence