s China and Russia
inch closer to rival-
ling America’s top
fighters, the US Air
Force is on the huntfor a new jet. Dubbed
the Next-Generation Air Dominance
programme (NGAD), this effort
is intended to replace America’s
hobbled fleet of F-22 air superiority
fighters. While maintenance records
indicate that just 33 F-22s are flight-
ready at any given time today,
China’s fleet of Chengdu J-20 Mighty
Dragons is estimated to number
around 50 aircraft, and Russia’s fleet
of Sukhoi Su-57 Felons is growing,
expected to reach 76 planes by 2028.
America’s air supremacy is at risk.
The J-20 and the Su-57 are stealth
fighters designed for the contested
airspace of a near-peer war. Most
modern fighters specialise: America’s
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter serves a
primary ground-attack role, while
the F-22 Raptor is considered an air
superiority fighter. Details are scarce
regarding the sixth-generation NGAD
fighter, but it will likely boast awe-
inspiring capabilities that improve
upon or offset the advancements of
the previous generation, including
the J-20 and Su-57. Examining the
NGAD’s competition provides clues
as to what the new plane might bring
to the table. The US Air Force’s next
jet can’t just compete with these
fighters. It has to exceed them.
A
‘Russia considers
stealth useful ...
but they show no
interest in winning
a stealth competition
with the US.’
The Su-57
is the first
Russian plane
to use stealth
technology.42 MAY / JUNE 2022