Next-Gen Aerial Rivalry: The United States and China’s Quest for Sixth-Generation Fighter Supremacy

The global military landscape is witnessing an intensifying race between the United States and China to develop and deploy sixth-generation fighter jets, underscoring a significant shift towards a multipolar world marked by escalating military rivalry. China showcased a prototype of its sixth-generation aircraft in 2021, aiming for operational readiness by 2035. In contrast, the U.S. plans to introduce its “Next-Generation Air Dominance” (NGAD) platform by 2030. Both countries are focusing on integrating these advanced warplanes into broader systems that encompass sophisticated weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Despite the U.S.’s ambition to deploy its NGAD platform ahead of China, the latter’s capability to produce these aircraft in larger quantities and its potential to learn from the U.S.’s initial operational challenges could negate the American lead. The competition is further complicated by concerns over industrial espionage, with China accused of leveraging stolen technologies to advance its military capabilities, as allegedly seen in its J-20 fighter jet.
The pursuit of these cutting-edge warplanes raises questions about the necessity and financial wisdom of investing in such expensive military technologies, especially when both the F-35 and F-22, the U.S.’s fifth-generation fighters, have faced their own sets of challenges. There is a growing argument that resources might be better allocated towards securing space dominance, reflecting a broader view that the future of military power extends beyond traditional aerial combat.
Authored by Brandon J. Weichert, a national security analyst with contributions to various publications, the article underscores the strategic dynamics and technological ambitions driving the U.S. and China’s quest for aerial supremacy in the 21st century.