In 2026, a global arms race for 6th-generation warplanes began to accelerate with a trajectory that is likely to see the first operational examples enter service at the dawn of the next decade. Although the Chinese Air Force was the first to publicly demonstrate a test flight of a 6th-gen airframe, the United States and European powers are now pushing to rapidly overtake that lead.

It is unclear how much progress has been made by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force on its prototype 6th-gen airframes leaking through social media, but the US Air Force and Navy are pushing rapidly to bring the Boeing F-47 and F/A-XX to production in the next few years. Similarly, the Future Combat Air System and Global Combat Air Program in Europe are advancing in light of the progress made by China.

In the next decade, even the most advanced legacy airframes, so-called 4.5-gen fighter jets, will be relegated to support roles. Despite being relegated to secondary emissions, some of the most advanced examples remain in production, like some of America’s fastest fighter jets and others, such as Dassault Rafale F4, and Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche Five. These jets will be crucial for executing missions that are too ‘dirty, boring, or messy’ for more exquisite 5th and 6th-gen fighters.

The 5th-gen aircraft that are currently apex predators of the air warfare world will become the tip of the spear in the 2030s. From upgraded Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors to the fully matured fleet of 3,000 or more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, these aircraft will be the ‘quarterback’ on a battlefield where advanced drones, legacy platforms with modernized systems, and even more exquisite 6th-gens rely on them to coordinate the battlefield from behind enemy lines.

Global Combat Air Program: BAE Tempest

The first 6th-gen jet made by a multinational program

Credit: BAE

The GCAP is a multinational effort being developed by a collective of air forces and their domestic aerospace defense companies to jointly create a 6th-gen stealth fighter. The countries that are currently involved include the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Additionally, in early 2026, Canada signaled its intent to join GCAP as an observer, a move seen as a pathway to full partnership.

The 6th Gen GCAP was conceived as a system of systems. The stealth fighter will boast an array of weaponry from conventional kinetic munitions to directed energy weapons, both offensive and defensive electronic warfare systems, as well as a sensor suite of unmatched capability. In arguably what is the most innovative, as well as controversial, design features, the GCAP program is expected to have artificial intelligence and integration with uncrewed systems as core functions.

The UK’s BAE Systems Tempest concept and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-X concept fighters were conceived independently, but the ideas from both teams are being implemented to create the final product of the GCAP program. Meanwhile, Leonardo Aerospace in Italy, MBDA Systems based in France, Rolls-Royce from the UK, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s International Exchange Center are all involved in the development of the next-generation fighter.

The GCAP program is explicitly designed to establish sovereign industrial control, reducing dependency on any single ally whose foreign policy might shift. For Canada, the Tempest’s extreme range and internal payload are critical for patrolling vast northern frontiers where fuel tankers are scarce. Joining would offer Canada’s aerospace sector, the 7th largest globally, a role in design and manufacturing, anchoring next-gen defense technology domestically rather than simply buying ‘off the shelf’ F-35s from the US.

F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance

The first 6th-gen fighter jet in history

Credit: United States Air Force

The F-47’s unmatched stealth, increased range, sophisticated sensors, and combat technology make it an ‘exquisite’ military system of the highest order. Almost exclusively using next-generation technology, the F-47 will vastly outperform 5th-generation aircraft. The F-47’s use of multispectral stealth technology to evade detection in disputed airspace will surpass the likes of the F-117 Nighthawk and the B-2 Spirit, thanks to what has been dubbed ‘stealth ++’ technology.

Being the ultimate stealth platform involves more than just avoiding radar. The entire electromagnetic spectrum, including infrared, acoustic, and visual, will be lessened by the F-47’s design. The F-47 is anticipated to have a tailless, blended wing-body design akin to a B-2 or B-21 stealth bomber, in contrast to previous stealth fighters that sacrificed some stealth capability for agility, like the F-22 and F-35.

The F-47 fighter is at the ‘exquisite’ high-end element of the new USAF high-low fleet structure. It will be the linchpin for establishing air superiority in contested airspace while 5th-gen F-22 and F-35s support it. As the ‘low-end,’ 4.5 fighters and collaborative combat aircraft will assist the F-47 by carrying out electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and other mission profiles, enabling riskier operations without endangering expensive crewed fighters.

It is anticipated that the F-47 will also be more affordable than the F-22, enabling a higher number of aircraft to be purchased. It is expected to be less maintenance-intensive, with a flexible architecture to adapt in the face of emerging threat technology. Its advanced stealth, combined with an extended range, allows it to perform deep-penetration missions without exposure even in highly contested areas.

Shenyang J-35 Gyrfalcon

China’s answer to the F-35

Credit: PLA MOD

The Shenyang J-35 is China’s first high-volume, multirole stealth fighter designed for both naval and land-based operations. Unlike the Chengdu J-20 made for pure air superiority, the J-35 is intended to deliver the mass and versatility needed to challenge US and allied air dominance in the Indo-Pacific. By 2030, China aims to produce between 200 and 300 J-35s, contributing to a total fleet of over 1,000 5th-generation stealth fighters, according to 19FortyFive.

At an estimated unit cost of $55 to $70 million, the J-35 will be significantly cheaper than Western counterparts, allowing the PLAAF and PLA Navy to saturate the battlespace with land-based and carrierborne stealth fighters. Beyond dogfighting and standoff missile deployment, it is engineered for systems coordination, sharing target data with surface-to-air missiles and autonomous drones to overwhelm enemy defenses.

The J-35 is the linchpin for China’s modern carrier strike groups. The Gyrfalcon was tailor-made for the new Type 003 Fujian, equipped with electromagnetic catapults that allow for higher fuel and weapon loads compared to older ski-jump-launched jets. The introduction of this true supercarrier is expected to transform the Chinese Navy into a blue water Force that can challenge American fleets for dominance of the South China Sea.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The most mass-produced stealth fighter in history

Credit: US Navy

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a combination of 80 years of evolution in American warplane development. The F-35 will likely be the most important aircraft of the 2030s, not because it is the newest, but because it will be the universal connective tissue for global air power. While 6th-gen jets like the F-47 and Tempest will be the leaders, the F-35 will provide high-end ‘mass.’

The F-35, or Fat Amy as it is endearingly nicknamed, is well known to have a number of performance, weapons, and stealth compromises in its design. By the mid-2030s, there will be over 2,500 F-35s operating worldwide across a global fleet of 19 nations and counting. The F-35s of the 2030s will be vastly more capable than today’s versions. The Block 4 upgrade turns the jet into a flying supercomputer.

One of the F-35’s most critical roles in the 2030s will be as a drone commander. It will be capable of commanding between four and eight Loyal Wingmen, or CCA drones. The upgraded F-35 will be able to jam enemy radars with enough precision to protect not just itself, but nearby aircraft as well. Although the F-35 will not be the most advanced fighter of the 2030s, it will be the most important because it is the only stealth platform available in the high numbers required to win a sustained conflict.

The 5th-gen stealth fighter represents the pinnacle of a ‘one plane that does it all’ philosophy. As such, it is also the most expensive defense industrial project in the history of the world. Not only is it a more costly and larger program than the F-22 or the B-2, which are both notoriously expensive, its $2 trillion price tag even exceeds that of the Manhattan Project and the B-29 Superfortress of WWII.

Lockheed Martin F-22 Super Raptor

America’s first stealth fighter serves on

Credit: US Air Force

Originally planned for retirement around 2030, the fleet is now expected to serve into the late 2030s or even the 2040s due to delays in the F-47 program. Skunk Works produced these jets between 2002 and 2012, making the fleet of 187 airplanes anywhere from 13 to 20 years old. The initiative has been dubbed the “Super Raptor” program and incorporates many upgrades to systems, as well as durability and maintenance enhancements.

While the original F-22 was primarily designed for radar stealth, upgrades focus on reducing its visibility to other sensors as well as improving its data-networking capacity and weapons arsenal. The 90s-era avionics are being upgraded to commercial off-the-shelf components using an open systems architecture.

Upgrades include the integration of next-generation air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. The F-22 is receiving updated and more durable RAM coatings that are cheaper to maintain and offer consistent performance like on the F-35. May even receive a multi-spectral stealthskin, as seen on a few F-22s operating out of Nellis Air Force Base, is an experimental test material, as reported in The War Zone.