January 21, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

F-35s Are Dead: The Sixth Generation of Fighter Aircraft Is On Its Way

by Kris Osborn

Key point: At this rate, the F-35 won't even see combat before its outmoded.

It is also possible that the new 6th-generation fighter could use advanced, futuristic stealth technology able to enable newer, more capable air defenses. The air defenses of potential adversaries are increasingly using faster computing processing power and are better networked together, more digital, able to detect a wider range of frequencies and able to detect stealthy aircraft at farther distances.

The Air Force has begun experimenting and conceptual planning for a 6th generation fighter aircraft to emerge in coming years as a technological step beyond the F-35, service leaders said.

"We have started experimentation, developmental planning and technology investment," Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisition, told Scout Warrior in an interview.

The new aircraft, engineered to succeed the 5th-generation F-35 Joint StrikeFighter and explode onto the scene by the mid 2030s, is now in the earliest stages of conceptual development with the Air Force and Navy. The two services are now working together on early conceptual discussions about the types of technologies and capabilities the aircraft will contain. While the Air Force has not yet identified a platform for the new aircraft. The Air Force characterizes the effort in terms of a future capability called Next-Gen Air Dominance.

While Bunch did not elaborate on the specifics of ongoing early efforts, he did make reference to the Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan which delineates some key elements of the service's strategy for a future platform.

Fighter jets in 20-years may likely contain the next-generation of stealth technology, electronic warfare, sophisticated computer processing and algorithms, increased autonomy, hypersonic weapons and so-called "smart-skins" where sensors are built into the side of the aircraft itself.

Some of these characteristics may have been on display more than a year ago when Northrop Grumman's SuperBowl AD revealed a flashy first look at its rendering of a new 6th-generation fighter jet.

Northrop is one of a number of major defense industry manufacturers who will bid for a contract to build the new plane - when the time is right. While there are not many details available on this work, it is safe to assume Northrop is advancing concepts, technology and early design work toward this end. Boeing is also in the early phases of development of a 6th-gen design, according to a report in Defense News.

The Navy's new aircraft will, at least in part, replace the existing inventory of F/A-18 Super Hornets which will start to retire by 2035, Navy officials said.

The Navy vision for a future carrier air wing in 2040 and beyond is comprised of the carrier-launched variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C, and legacy aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler electronic jamming aircraft.

Also, around this time is when Navy planners envision its 6th generation aircraft to be ready, an aircraft which will likely be engineered for both manned and unmanned missions.

Technologies are rapidly advancing in coatings, electromagnetic spectrum issues, artificial intelligence, maneuvering, superiority in sensing the battlespace, communications and data links, Navy leaders have said.

Navy officials also add that the Navy is likely to develop new carrier-launched unmanned air vehicles in coming years as well. For instance, Northrop's historic X-47B demonstrator aircraft was the first unmanned system to successfully launch and land on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Analysts have speculated that as 6th generation developers seek to engineer a sixth-generation aircraft, they will likely explore a range of next-generation technologies such as maximum sensor connectivity, super cruise ability and an aircraft with electronically configured “smart skins.”

Super cruise technology would enable the new fighter jet to cruise at supersonic speeds without needing afterburner, analysts have explained. As a result, super cruise brings a substantial tactical advantage because it allows for high-speed maneuvering without needing afterburner, therefore enable much longer on-location mission time. Such a scenario provides a time advantage as the aircraft would likely outlast a rival aircraft likely to run out of fuel earlier. The Air Force F-22 has a version of supercruise technology.

Maximum connectivity would mean massively increased communications and sensor technology such as having an ability to achieve real-time connectivity with satellites, other aircraft and anything that could provide relevant battlefield information.The new aircraft might also seek to develop the ability to fire hypersonic weapons, however such a development would hinge upon successful progress with yet-to-be-proven technologies such as scramjets traveling at hypersonic speeds. Some tests of early renderings of this technology have been tested successfully and yet other attempts have failed.

The Air Force Chief Scientist, Dr. Geoffrey Zacharias, has told Scout Warrior that the US anticipates having hypersonic weapons by the 2020s, hypersonic drones by the 2030s and recoverable hypersonic drone aircraft by the 2040s. There is little doubt that hypersonic technology, whether it be weaponry or propulsion, or both, will figure prominently into future aircraft designs.

Smart aircraft skins would involve dispersing certain technologies or sensors across the fuselage and further integrating them into the aircraft itself, using next-generation computer algorithms to organize and display information for the pilot. We see some of this already in the F-35; the aircraft sensor fusion uses advanced computer technology to collect, organize and display combat relevant information from a variety of otherwise disparate sensors onto a single screen for pilots. In addition, Northrop's Distributed Aperture System is engineered to provide F-35 pilots with a 360-degree view of the battlespace. Cameras on the DAS are engineered into parts of the F-35 fuselage itself to reduce drag and lower the aircraft's radar signature.

Smart skins with distributed electronics means that instead of having systems mounted on the aircraft, you would have apertures integrated on the skin of the aircraft, analysts have said.

This could reduce drag, increase speed and maneuverability while increasing the technological ability of the sensors.

The new 6th-generation fighter will also likely fire lasers and have the ability to launch offensive electronic attacks.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35s-are-dead-sixth-generation-fighter-aircraft-its-way-114901

On the same subject

November 8, 2018 | Local, Naval

Government of Canada Accepts New Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard
OTTAWA, Nov. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is making our oceans healthier, cleaner and safer than ever, thanks to the $1.5 billion Oceans Protections Plan. The Canadian Coast Guard's two new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSVs) will support the ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of mariners in Canada as they serve as the platform for the Canadian Hydrographic Service's Channel Survey Program. The program collects information about channel conditions and water depth of the St. Lawrence waterway to assist in safe navigation. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard has accepted two new CSSVs, called the CCGS Jean Bourdon and CCGS Helen Irene Battle, into the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. Under the Coast Guard's ship-naming policy, Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels are named after Canadian scientists, hydrographers, and explorers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. In this case, Jean Bourdon carried out the first hydrographic studies of the St. Lawrence River, and Helen Irene Battle was an award-winning scientist and first woman in Canada to earn a PhD in marine biology. Both were important citizens whose contributions helped shape Canada. These new CSSVs were made in Canada by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, Ontario, as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. These vessels will enhance the capability of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as other departments and agencies, to monitor and observe marine and environmental conditions. In addition, the new CSSVs will be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, and natural disasters, as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. Quote "This investment by the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy is a priority of the federal government. The new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels will enable the Canadian Hydrographic Service to collect important data, while contributing to the safety of mariners through safe and efficient navigation on the St. Lawrence." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick Facts The Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSV), built by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, ON, are a catamaran design of 11.95m in length. They will have a maximum speed in excess of 20kts and have a crew of four. The home port for the new CSSVs will be in Mont-Joli, Quebec; however, they will operate within the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Isle-aux-Coudres. The new CSSV class reflects the advancements and new standards existing in the field of hydrographic surveys, such as multi-beam sonars, highly accurate positioning systems and modern data acquisition and processing technologies. The new CSSVs will allow hydrographic surveys to be conducted with better accuracy while reducing data gathering time. They will also be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, natural disasters as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. These two new vessels will replace the two current Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CCGS F.C.G. Smith and CCGS GC 03) operational in the St. Lawrence waterway, which have been in operation for an average of 37.5 years and are nearing the end of their lifespan. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-accepts-new-vessels-for-the-canadian-coast-guard-700059911.html
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February 11, 2019 | Local, Naval

CSC Home Team Celebrates Canadian Industry Success
Canada's Combat Ship Team awarded contract for Canadian Surface Combatant OTTAWA, Ontario, Feb. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian technology, experience and infrastructure proved a winning combination for Canada's new fleet of surface combatants, as Canada's Combat Ship Team has been awarded the Canadian Surface Combatant design contract by Irving Shipbuilding. Irving Shipbuilding is the Canadian Surface Combatant prime contractor and will build all 15 ships at Halifax Shipyard. BAE Systems, CAE, Lockheed Martin Canada, L3 Technologies, MDA and Ultra Electronics partnered as Canada's Combat Ship Team to offer the Royal Canadian Navy the most advanced and modern warship design, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, with high-tech platform innovations from prominent Canadian companies. The solution includes the internationally renowned and Canadian-developed combat management system, CMS 330. Bringing together a pan-Canadian team, the six companies have a uniquely skilled workforce and supply chain that are ready to begin work on the program today. Canada's Combat Ship team employs a combined 9,000 Canadians in 40 facilities from coast to coast and engages a Canadian supply chain of more than 4,000 small and medium sized enterprises. The team also secured several additional partners, including Rolls-Royce with its Canadian-designed and manufactured Mission Bay Handling System that will enable adaptability for the ships' operations. The Type 26 Global Combat Ship is a globally deployable multi-role warship that meets the distinctive mission requirements of the Royal Canadian Navy. It is enhanced with the team's collective Canadian naval expertise in combat system design, integration, training, logistics and program management. Purposely designed for high-end anti-submarine warfare and capable of performing a variety of missions around the world, the Type 26 is acoustically quiet, versatile, highly survivable, and allows for significant growth margins for future modernization. Canada's Combat Ship Team will deliver lasting economic benefits to Canadian industry through $17 billion in value proposition commitments in innovation across Canada's priority areas, including $2 billion in supplier development, $2 billionin research and development, and $200 million in advanced manufacturing. All of this contributes to a strong Canadian team - Canada's Home Team - ready to begin work on day one as promised. Quotes "We are delighted to be part of Canada's Combat Ship Team that has been awarded the Canadian Surface Combatant design contract. We believe that the Type 26 Global Combat Ship is the right solution for Canada, combining Canada's trusted Combat Management System with the world's most advanced warship design and bringing together a pan-Canadian team with a proven track record and current capability to perform complex defence projects." Anne Healey, General Manager - Canada, BAE Systems "As one of Canada's largest defence companies, we are proud to be part of this pan-Canadian team selected for the Canadian Surface Combatant program. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Canada, Irving Shipbuilding and the entire team to develop and deliver world-class capability that prepares the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy for mission success." Joe Armstrong, Vice President and General Manager - Canada, CAE "This award is true validation of our Canadian capability. Our team is honoured, knowing that we offered the right solution for Canada and a proven ability to perform on complex defence programs. Lockheed Martin Canada is ready to continue serving as Canada's trusted Combat System Integrator, as it has for more than three decades, leveraging the innovation and talent here at home that will ultimately result in unprecedented economic outcome for Canada." Gary Fudge, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary and Mission Systems "With over 2,200 Canadians working at L3 Technologies, we stand ready to deliver the latest EO/IR sensors, Integrated Platform Management, Integrated Communications and Torpedo Handling systems for the Canadian Surface Combatant. With proven capability on existing Canadian ships, L3 Technologies is proud to be on the team that will deliver the world leading performance expected by the Royal Canadian Navy." Rich Foster, Vice President, L3 Technologies Canada "As one of Canada's leading space and defence companies, MDA's participation in this project validates our expertise in electronics, antennas, signal processing, system engineering and mission software capabilities. In addition to providing world-class operational CSC capability to the Canadian Armed Forces, this project will be a catalyst for exporting more of our technology to the global naval market." Mike Greenley, Group President, MDA "As the underwater warfare lead on the CSC Home Team we are bringing to bear our considerable depth of anti-submarine warfare experience and capability, ensuring Canada's new ships will provide an enduring operational advantage to the Royal Canadian Navy. This work will generate high-tech jobs in Nova Scotia for sonar design and manufacturing and add to our existing significant export capability." Bernard Mills, President, Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems "Our experience and world-leading capability as providers of integrated power and propulsion solutions will deliver these warships with exceptional power through-life and the superb acoustic performance essential to anti-submarine warfare operations. Our Canadian-designed and manufactured Mission Bay Handling System will allow the essential flexibility and adaptability for future operations." Bruce Lennie, Vice President Business Development & Government Affairs, Rolls-Royce Canada About BAE Systems BAE Systems is a world leading shipbuilding, support and maintenance company with the skills and expertise to design, build, integrate, test, commission and support complex warships. BAE Systems has a strong track record of collaboration with customers and industrial partners worldwide to share technology and skills – helping countries grow their naval and industrial capabilities. Canadian industry is already integral to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship program. BAE Systems has operated in Canada for over 100 years partnering over a recent period with over 240 Canadian companies. BAE is active across Canada with equipment including Hawk trainer jets, Submarines, cyber security, Hybrid drive busses, and naval guns. About CAE As a globally-recognized training systems integrator, CAE is committed to providing defence and security forces world-class training centres, training services, and a comprehensive portfolio of training solutions. CAE is headquartered in Canada and has employees in 15 locations across the country. About Lockheed Martin Canada Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for nearly 80 years and has a proud legacy of providing innovative naval systems and sustainment solutions for Canada and abroad. For more than three decades, Lockheed Martin Canada has demonstrated its capability and commitment to the Royal Canadian Navy as the Prime Contractor and Combat System Integrator for the HALIFAX Class Frigates. The company employs approximately 1,000 employees at major facilities in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Victoria, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and commercial sectors. About L3 Technologies A leading provider of communication, electronic and sensor systems used on military, homeland security and commercial platforms, L3 Technologies is also a prime contractor in aerospace systems, security and detection systems, and pilot training. With over 50 years of business operations in Canada, L3 has a strong Canadian presence with L3 MAPPS, L3 MAS, L3 Communication Systems Canada and L3 WESCAM that each have experience working on technologies and projects for the Royal Canadian Navy. About MDA MDA is an internationally recognized leader in space robotics, space sensors, satellite payloads, antennas and subsystems, surveillance and intelligence systems, defence and maritime systems, and geospatial radar imagery. MDA's extensive space expertise and heritage translates into mission-critical defence and commercial applications that include multi-platform command, control and surveillance systems, aeronautical information systems, land administration systems and terrestrial robotics. MDA is also a leading supplier of actionable mission-critical information and insights derived from multiple data sources. Founded in 1969, MDA is recognized as one of Canada's most successful technology ventures with locations in Richmond, Ottawa, Brampton, Montreal, Halifax and the United Kingdom. MDA has supported the Royal Canadian Navy for over two decades. About Ultra Electronics Based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Ultra Electronics is a part of the Ultra Electronics Group, an international defense and aerospace company. Ultra Electronics has been delivering world-leading underwater warfare solutions to the defense market for 70 years. Ultra Electronics has been highly successful in transforming its research investment into the technologically-advanced underwater battlespace sensor systems that it delivers to both Royal Canadian Navy and internationally. Today, Ultra Electronics is recognized worldwide for its expertise in hull mounted sonar, towed active and passive arrays, sonar sensors, and underwater acoustics. About Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting edge technology to provide highly-efficient integrated power and propulsion solutions. Rolls-Royce has been established in Canada for over 70 years and today employs over 1500 Canadians at eight locations across six provinces. Rolls-Royce plays an active role in many of the world's major defence programs offering advanced system solutions to navies and coastguards. SOURCE Lockheed Martin https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2019-02-08-CSC-Home-Team-Celebrates-Canadian-Industry-Success

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