The United States and China are the two obvious contenders for sixth-generation fighter programs—and various European nations have also committed to their development.

The US and China are considered the two strongest candidates for sixth-generation fighter jet programs, although many European countries are also striving to develop this type of weapon.

Key Points and Summary - Europe’s sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS) should be the jet that carries NATO airpower into the 2040s and beyond. -Instead, the French-German-Spanish program ...

It is possible that the “Combat Cloud,” a program designed to link advanced fighter jets to ground sensors and other aircraft, could be salvaged if Europe’s FCAS program collapsed. Europe’s most ...

In March of 2025, the U.S. Air Force announced that it had selected the contractor for its sixth-generation stealth fighter program: not Lockheed Martin, which made the F-22 and still makes the F-35, ...

Lockheed Martin's CEO announced plans for an uncrewed F-35. The F-35 and F-22 will gain next-gen stealth, electronic warfare, and weapons improvements, he said. The US Air Force wants uncrewed ...

Delegates look at the GCAP 6th-generation fighter jet concept design at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 near London. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) ROME — The new sixth-generation ...

Nearly half a century after its maiden flight, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, or "Viper" as its pilots call it, continues to be ...