Forget the F-35, the Navy is already looking to its future sixth-generation stealth fighter.
The U.S. Air Force may be considering a special “Pacific” variant of its new sixth-generation stealth fighter. That new warplane surprised and impressed many last year by suddenly becoming airborne years ahead of schedule. Very little is known about the secretive jet, yet in an interesting new development, Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Brown said there may be some consideration being given to developing two variants of the aircraft one for Europe, and one for the Pacific.
Brown did not indicate any particular plan, yet when asked about the prospect from a reporter at the 2021 Air Force Association Annual Symposium, he did not rule out the possibility, adding that indeed more range would be needed for fighter jet operations in the Pacific.
As the U.S. Air Force (USAF) forges ahead with the next generation of American fighters, some in China fear that Beijing is falling behind in the race to a sixth-generation aircraft.