Pentagon 6th-Gen Stealth Jet to Incorporate AI & Cyberwar Breakthroughs

Volreka F. Senatus, Warrior Cyber Analyst

The Pentagon’s relentless journey into the future of air dominance has for generations been informed by technological breakthroughs that redefine military aviation capabilities. The most recent instance of anticipated breakthroughs can be associated with the mysterious and still somewhat unknown Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a new platform likely to change technical paradigms defining air dominance. As part of this, NGAD signifies a departure from incremental advancements, in part due to the expected integration of AI into military aviation designed to enable continuous modernization. The effort streamlines or combines a number of efforts, which could be described as the convergence of stealth, speed, autonomy, and cutting-edge AI cyber-system technologies, reshaping the essence of air dominance. 

 Stealth: The Unseen Advantage

The NGAD programs’ stealth, speed, and autonomy likely result from the incorporation of advanced materials, aerodynamic designs minimizing radar cross-section and infrared signatures fortified by radar-absorbing coatings; various materials and combinations of coatings can dissipate radar waves, making the aircraft difficult to detect. 

Speed: Beyond the Sound Barrier

Critical to fighter jet agility, NGAD’s exceptional speed is likely achieved through innovative state-of-the-art propulsion systems and aerodynamic designs. Some of these might include different kinds of high-thrust engine technologies pushing the boundaries of speed, potentially even incorporating scramjets.

Warrior talks to Air Force Research Laboratory about 6th-Generation Aircraft