Private sector can develop it. Developing a 5th gen fighter will mean competing with well established F-35s. These projects are still in the planning phase so becoming 6th gen is quite likely. They don't really need another 5th gen. It has little to do with relying on USA for defense because they can defend themselves more than easily enough from Russia, instead it is Russia who is now far behind and feels the pressure. Some are probably eyeing Russia's abundance of natural resources and land with certain plans for the future. Europe has F-35s now ergo no need to hurt the budget with another expensive overlap in capabilities. But they still want to improve these industries so exploring 6th gen is well within Europe's interest especially now they have time on their side. USAF is invested into 6th gen PCA and PLAAF has programs in place as well. At the moment nobody has come out with well defined abilities of 6th gen and most players are probably going independent routes.
European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter sandyj
- Start date
Equation
Lieutenant General
Yeah all NATO has to concern about it Russia. Even 15 years into the future with a lower defense budget NATO has enough to handle the threat of Russia. Russia is still under economic sanctions and that alone had a major on their economy and defense spending. Russia just can't keep up with NATO at this time or into the next few decades. That's why 6th gen aircraft programs are a good way for the Europeans to keep their high tech aero space industries competitive.
There is still a matter of F-35 just being unable to fulfil critical roles. And not being capable enough in others.
With hungry domestic industry, demanding for some assurance for decades to come - sounds probable.
Brits, though... for a looong time they fail such programs much more than pursue them to the end. Typhon basically was an exception.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
First F35 is a proven supersonic aircraft. Second it's multimission. Few nations actually want a dedicated mission aircraft. All the nations starting a second indigenous program are however considering other missions primarily air superiority.
Tempest clearly isn't a pure air superiority breed, though.
With known feature list, it's more of a "strike first" heavy multirole aircraft.
With its high bypass ratio engine the F-35 is obviously designed for subsonic mission profile. An opponent flying at moderate supercruise speed can't be effectively intercepted by the F-35. An aircraft that will always have the worse kinetic position in an air-to-air engagements. Also check which types of aircraft the F-35 is replacing and which the various ingenious stealth fighters.
And talking about the Tempest. I don't see how UK will actually be able to build their own stealth fighter in a post Brexit world. This appears to be more an attempt to gain some leverage after not being main partner of the French-German next gen fighter.
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TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
First bogus F35 was designed to be able to maintain unreheat cruise at mach 1.2
It won't supercruise but most military aircraft don't anyway. It had an afterburner for acceleration when needed but is not intended for Airsuperiority more for air interndiction like the F16 and F18 before it the aim is to get into a position to meet the enemy and missile or attack. Few machines can actually over take another in modern aviation save perhaps the Mig31.
On tempest, no fighter these days is truely indigenous all have some partnership involved and Brexit may hurt some but not as hard as it's been made out to be.
It won't supercruise but most military aircraft don't anyway. It had an afterburner for acceleration when needed but is not intended for Airsuperiority more for air interndiction like the F16 and F18 before it the aim is to get into a position to meet the enemy and missile or attack. Few machines can actually over take another in modern aviation save perhaps the Mig31.
On tempest, no fighter these days is truely indigenous all have some partnership involved and Brexit may hurt some but not as hard as it's been made out to be.
Jura The idiot
General
I'm getting the impression that you are arguing from an emotional position regarding to the F-35. Aircraft are designed for specific mission profiles and requirements.
This is also off-topic and I'm interested in arguing about alternative facts regarding the F-35.