We asked a military aviation expert what the US' future sixth-generation fighter jet might look like

A military aviation expert told Business Insider what a sixth generation fighter might look like, after
Richard Aboulafia, a military aviation expert at the Teal Group, said that he expects it to be more about the accompanying systems — the weapons, outboard sensors, drones, etc. — than the air vehicle.
He also said that while he's not in favor of an unmanned system or high energy lasers, the two capabilities are certainly possible.

"Obviously next-generation low observability," definitely a return to supercruise, which we had on the F-22, but do not have on the F-35," adding that there would probably be a "return to an emphasis on kinematics ... the ability to launch a missile with that extra speed behind it."

But "what probably matters most is what you might call hyperconnectivity," o not only are you receiving instant real-time data from outboard sensors but it's being fused in front of you" so that "the pilot can work with loyal wingmen — basically unmanned drones that can do your bidding on the battlefield."

"constantly communicating about what might need to be replaced or serviced" and that "all this has to be extremely non-interceptable [with a] low-chance of jamming, [and] low chance of intercept."

"The enemy is going to try to jam everything," he said.

Potential downsides of new technology

Not all of the new technology that is floated around for a sixth-generation fighter would neccesarily be beneficial to the aircraft.

As for high energy lasers, "it's conceivable," "but getting to that place has taken a very long time and might continue to take a very long time."

"What would the range of this thing be? don't know, but once you fire it, you better be careful."

"A really good air-to-air missile can go 30, 40, 50 miles," "You do that with a laser, [and] there might be all sorts of complications" since anything in its path might get hit.

"I've always hated that idea ... the perfect unmanned fighter is a missile," said. "If you have an asset you wish to preserve, then having a pilot on board is the most cost-effective insurance policy ever ... now, if you're doing something that involves long-range penetration like a bomber, optionally unmanned makes all the sense in the world, very good chance it's a one-way trip anyway."

"But a fighter? ... Why aren't you just using a lot of missiles? In other words, if you're talking about a $100 million asset, having someone on board is a good way to preserve it,"

Ultimately, though,

We asked a military aviation expert what the US' future sixth-generation fighter jet might look like

Potential downsides of new technology

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