The Race for 6th Generation Fighters - Drones, Lasers & Future Air Dominance

[@PerunAU]

Sponsored by Private Internet Access. Use the link below to access their promotional offer: privateinternetaccess.com/Perun Given it's the Christmas weekend, I thought it would be good to lighten the topic up slightly (by my standards) and look at one of the great defence development challenges of this decade - the race for 6th Generation fighters. Please take this as the speculation based fare it is, as the information released to the public so far is pretty sparse to say the least. In this video I try not to focus too much on the specific rumoured features of each aircraft (that would really belong in its own video) but I do try and give an overview of what 6th gen means, why designing and building these things is going to be such a challenge, and look at some of the nations that are taking a crack at it. I do omit some programs like Russia and China, simply due to the very very limited information around them...and the fact the video is already 70 minutes long. Thanks to everyone for supporting the channel this year, and I wish you all the best for the rest of 2022 (just in case the next video doesn't go up before the end of the year). Also thanks to PIA for sponsoring the video. Being safe on the internet requires good practices - be careful where you click, where you enter information, and make sure your passwords are solid, but I like to include a VPN in the battery of tools I use. PIA is one I've used for a while, so thanks for the sponsorship.

[@Githnaur]

Cheers P - best wishes to you and the family

[@leveltwotrading9657]

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[@casbot71]

Merry Xmas Eve morning in Australia. "Look I know it's Xmas dinner, but I always upload on a Sunday night and I've got to check and favour comments and give feedback" - Perun at the family get together

[@hermatred572]

Nice

[@mezzuna]

Mate, whilst I appreciate these. Are you employed to do this? I have barely enough time to work a full week and go to the gym. You're pumping these out non stop!

[@damaskusseraph6046]

I remember someone saying “The US Air Force thinks that having a fair fight means they’ve not done their job properly”

[@UberFubarius]

Not just airforce, every part of the US military pretty much has a mantra of "if you're fighting fair, you've fucked up somewhere"

[@ToastyMozart]

That's pretty much any half-competent military, honestly. A commander that sends their troops into a "fair" fight as anything but a last resort is either a glory-seeker or incompetent, and should be reassigned to a hole in the ground.

[@jakeaurod]

I'm told the Navy feels the same way. Hence, the hide and seek with a toaster at Annapolis, according to Sacred Cow Shipyards, who is a former naval officer.

[@Progection]

“If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.” ― Steinbeck John

[@kalashnikovdevil]

The only fair fight is the won you win.

[@quazar5017]

"There is no harm in starting early to develop your 6th. generation fighter aircraft" What a inspiration! I will start developing mine today! 😍

[@mrspaceman2764]

You should partner with other sovereign citizens to help manage the cost and garage space.

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

Dream big, fren

[@MostlyPennyCat]

I'll do weapons integration. I'll grab my hammer and some nails

[@relaxedmuffin3666]

I will do the stealth coating. Tinfoil keeps out radiowaves.

[@Chris-xl6pd]

Il take care of the instrument displays. Got a couple of broken iphones i can re purpose.

[@matchesburn]

I wish the USAF would've recorded the reactions of Lockheed-Martin and Northrop-Grumman when they handed over the NGAD USAF requirements and basically said, "Build a Romulan Bird of Prey with a cloaking device." I can only imagine Northrop-Grumman engineers, specifically, running almost literally wild with concepts.

[@buddermonger2000]

Lol "system of systems concept" is going to go wild

[@Truex007]

I bet the engineers are cackling madly half the time, and huddled quietly in the corner in the fetal position the other. You get to design your dream machine but have no idea HOW.

[@vincentmiller420]

Funny stuff.

[@orthrus4490]

@Insane-Randomness lol yep. That's the life of like 90% of the engineers at most aerospace companies. The guys who work at Lockheeds skunkworks comes to mind

[@mbukukanyau]

From a technical capabilities standpoint, I rank Northrop Grumman above Lockheed. Their stealth designs have always been more advanced, and who can argue with the Tomcat or the James Webb?

[@DensetsuVII]

Perun on a Friday? Truly a Christmas miracle!

[@arthur1670]

It’s already Saturday in Australia 🇦🇺 😂😂😂

[@PerunAU]

I didn't want to get in the way of anyone's Sunday basically so I worked to get this one ready early.

[@lostpony4885]

@@PerunAU this is even better than new socks!

[@HT-ww3zg]

It's a Festivus Miracle! 😂😂

[@GigglesClown]

@@PerunAU thanks! This is the perfect christmas gift.

[@saddlepiggy]

I did not know the B-21 was under budget and ahead of time. That’s absolutely insane.

[@colincampbell767]

They were able to do this because the B-21 is a phoenix that rose from the ashes of a previous bomber program. They had a mostly designed aircraft before Congress lost patience and cut the funding. Also - and this is something that people who have not been involved with the B-2 program don't think of - the B-21 can piggyback on top of the extremely expensive security program for the B-2. Something that Perun missed is that stealth aircraft requires a skilled workforce that's large enough that 90% can be excluded for security reasons and still have enough people to design, operate, maintain and support the airplane. And the security architecture is also extensive - and expensive (because every person involved in the program needs an additional security clearance that's unique to that program and a background investigation that's also unique to the program). And collaboration is difficult because when you're 'read into' the program (which is usually the first time you're aware that the program even exists) you are 'introduced' every person you are likely to work with and told the very limited and specific subjects you're allowed to discuss with him or her. And dealing with subcontractors is 'interesting' because the subcontractor can only be cleared for a program after the contract is awarded - but you can't even tell them what you want them to make when you ask for the time/cost proposal from them. Of course - I know nothing about this.

[@ianshaver8954]

They used a lot of the tech from the over budget and behind schedule F-35. Using “off the shelf” components reduced the time and cost quite a bit.

[@Goulmy86]

And apparently there's this thing called "black budget" which isn't included, for obvious reasons.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Then they haven’t adopted the “truth in reporting” mantras others have. There’s no way, they’re lying.

[@dakaodo]

​@@c1ph3rpunk truth in reporting is a sop thrown to the voting public, to give us the illusion of having the moral high ground. After the very public revelations of past CIA indiscretions and violations of, well, everything, the US didn't just meekly roll over and kill its secret programs. It only learned to keep things MORE secret and plausibly deniable. And any other country with enough funding and enough geopolitical motives will do the same. For now, the US is just the richest and brashest about it. Look at China and the hybrid warfare they've been waging in Australia. Russia and its hybrid warfare with its neighbors and with the US. Russian bots are far better at playing believable room temp IQ opposite-wing trolls designed precisely reinforce your confirmation biases with extreme prejudice than China's amateurish 50-cent army. I've read that North Korea also has plenty of state-sponsored cyber crime, hacking, etc but I've never read anything about what their online aggression looks like. It'd be naive to think that countries and rulers with power and money won't exercise those things every possible way in order to accrue more power and money, or to defend the power and money they already hold.

[@20985229147]

Late to the party but whatever - I found it funny how you presented the USAF option as the most outlandish when to me it made the most sense. The way I see it, the USAF version is the most visionary and actually generational, and while it may seem the most impossible it actually is the only one that sidesteps "the combination problem". What USAF is building is essentially a smaller, faster, stealthier AWACs that outsources armament(and possibly more) to the drones. While everyone else is essentially trying to make a 5.5 gen plane with drone support and running into all sorts of mutually exclusive technological problems, the USAF version looks almost simple in comparison - it has defined speed(supercruise, you can design engines around it, it doesn't even need adaptive propulsion at all), lets go of armaments(massive space and weight savings), lets go of kinematics(massive design/aerodynamic/stealth savings) and I would also expect it to be a high altitude aircraft since there's simply no reason for it to not be one(drones can always lower altitude themselves to drop A2G munitions and possibly to also use A2G sensors as well) which further extends range and gets you even more savings on engines/aerodynamic/stealth.

[@MrJdsenior]

It doesn't negate the need for adaptive propulsion, at all, as far as I can tell.

[@Jaydee-wd7wr]

@@MrJdsenior, Why not? If it just serves as an AWAC but better, and actually fighting is considered a last resort it can just use cruising engines. I’m in no way qualified to be anywhere near any of this but the solution to me seems relatively obvious, if you want all of this stuff, and you plan to use drones for the munitions anyway, just build bigger, have way less, and have no next generation “fighters” at all. Packing all this expensive stuff into something you ever want to get shot at seems ridiculous.

[@sarcasticguy7771]

​@@Jaydee-wd7wr Range is the deciding factor for wanting adaptive cycle engines. Every nautical mile you can squeeze out of your tank is worth its weight in gold, and adaptive cycle engines are significantly more fuel efficient than their nonadaptive counterparts

[@Samuel_Kabel]

@@sarcasticguy7771 "...It can just use cruising engines." -Jaydee8652, 2023

[@sarcasticguy7771]

@@Samuel_Kabel Adaptive cycle engines ARE cruising engines. Supersonic cruise takes a lot of fuel because of the energy it takes to break the sound barrier, and the fact that air works differently in the supersonic regime. Regular engines have to make tradeoffs to do supercruise, whether in sacrificing subsonic and transonoc efficiency and performance, or in reducing supersonic performance. Either case is not ideal. Adaptive cycle engines let you have your cake and eat it too

[@49Chevy]

53:28 "Unless your last name is Doolittle, you can't just fly any aircraft off a carrier". This got a hearty laugh from me and warmed my American heart.

[@williamromine5715]

Me too, although it might not have gone over as well in Japan.

[@Goulmy86]

It went down quite well here in Europe 😂

[@euansmith3699]

Seeing the first planes struggling off the end of the US Hornet's deck is pretty scary. Such big planes, and so little take off space.

[@elstevobevo]

Is impunity a virtue?

[@georgewaters6424]

Never under estimate the skill of being able to talk to animals. You can use them to control your drones.

[@crcb251]

Merry Christmas to everyone in this community of defense-based powerpoint enthusiasts, and to Perun as well of course!

[@johnkonrad5040]

But I heard Perun exclaim, ere he drove out of sight "“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” In powerpoint format, of course.

[@Akumasama]

@@johnkonrad5040 "But while it's fine and all to wish everyone a happy Christmas, and to provide presents for all the good boys and girls, I want to look at it from a procurement perspective."

[@doltsbane]

Fascinating as usual, but I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention the Iranian stealth fighter the IAIO Qaher-313. It would have been amusing to hear your thoughts on the radar observability of painted cardboard.

[@alexboccaccio5431]

You had us in the first half not going to lie

[@MrJdsenior]

As I was reading that it was a WTF??? And then I got to the punch line. Nice. People don't seem to realize that using hobby chips and sensors from other countries is NOT going to get you to a 5th gen aircraft, period. It doesn't work that way. All of that integration doesn't come by cobbling together substandard crap from other countries, and if those countries are selling top tier weapons to countries like Iran, Russia, China, NK, and the like need a stern talking to. I did some early sensor fusion work, very early, and it is not simple. All of it needs to be designed to play nice together from the get go to get a tightly integrated highly useful system. Oh, and if you paint that cardboard with the right stuff (something that doesn't ADD return), it should be pretty damned good, cross sectionally! I would steer clear of things like aluminized paints, though. :-) That was mostly a joke, I know next to nothing about low observables.

[@BoraHorzaGobuchul]

​@@MrJdsenioryour assuming there's hobby chips inside that thing, which is way too optimistic.

[@jimmieraper5807]

I know for real

[@Azaraneth]

i heard report that air fleet was destroyed last week by its natural enemy, which even overcame stealth paint... Rain. A new research program is now underway with american air force vets living on skid row who have advanced materials science studies on cardboard boxes... gotta live somewhere... Dont judge them for selling military secrets to the enemy. The iranians offered them healthcare.

[@arthriticgamer3484]

Ah my favourite geo-political, logistical and industrial defence breakdown, delivered in PowerPoint format.

[@seanwooten6769]

You too huh?

[@GnosticAtheist]

Powerpoint is best format since there is limits to how creative the user can get saving us all time.

[@eestaashottentotti2242]

Perun delivers PowerPoints, while military delivers power to points. Capital!

[@PitterPatter20]

Honestly I kind of love the fact you give State of the Channel updates at the end of every episode, it's really endearing to see you try to keep us as in the loop and involved as that. I think you deserve a lot of the credit for building the community around this channel given the way you act and the way you handle it and your communication with us. Permit me this slightly sentimental comment to (potentially) round out the year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[@irgendwieanders2121]

🎆🎄🎇 🎉🎊🎉 🍀🍾🌠 (seasonally decorated bump)

[@PitterPatter20]

@@irgendwieanders2121 🎄🎄

[@richardgarrison2842]

As a veteran of the United States Airforce, I can definitely state that it takes great pride in exceeding what anyone else can do. As another person commented, if it is a fair fight we definable didn't plan well enough about our weapons system.

[@haxney]

I'm just about to board a plane, and this dropped in time for me to download it immediately to watch on board. It's a Christmas miracle!

[@BlunderMunchkin]

Your comment made me realize that KZbin now has a download button. When did they add that? How long have I been snoozing?

[@hikerJohn]

@@BlunderMunchkin Where is it? Is it only on a mobile device?

[@zackhawn5944]

@@hikerJohn There's various websites out there you can just put a youtube URL into and it'll give you a link to download the video. Otherwise, you need KZbin Premium to download videos

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

Heck yeah!

[@hikerJohn]

@@zackhawn5944 Got it. Since I'm always at home I dont really need it which is why I dont know much about it. I just dont do KZbin on any portable device.

[@jeffmorris5802]

In fairness, the USAF has a history of releasing what are basically alien spaceships. The SR-71, the B2, the F117, the F22... If any organization can put something like the current proposal together, it's the USAF.

[@reaperking2121]

Yeah I can absolutely see the USAF pulling this thing off. Groundbreaking is the norm for the Airforce. And dear god if they pull this thing off..... Poor china is going to go from a pear straight back down to being a near pear.

[@shalashaska5851]

@@reaperking2121 until the piles of Shit steal the designs for it.

[@SoloRenegade]

6th gen NGAD prototype... 6th gen B-21...

[@voivode2591]

Loyal wingman does exist. AI is better than admitted. Producing an aircraft without all the extended prototype testing of the past has been proven. It’s more important now to maintain the advantage virtually than in real world examples. That way tooling costs stay down. As long as several major assembly plants are producing something you maintain capability. Yes the next generation system of airframes will be way beyond what’s out now. Most of them will be unmanned. We are beyond being limited by the squishy part in a cockpit.

[@TreyWait]

Maybe they've finally figured out those saucers from Roswell.

[@bc-guy852]

It's a very impressive collection of works that you have created in a short time; it will be a part of the documentation and analysis of this tragic event forever. The calibre of the research and the production is amazing and you deserve every subscriber, like and patreon. I wish you continued success in the New Year but good health above all. Merry Christmas and safe travels from BC, Canada.

[@JessSimpson1313]

"Unless your last name is Dolittle you can't just fly any aircraft off a carrier." I loved that one.

[@alistairinglis4131]

Eric 'Winkle' Brown : hold my beer...

[@rodwallace6237]

How America almost put the F-15 on aircraft carriers kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoWuZWd6orGgjLc

[@ihdieselman]

I liked this comment but there have been other unconventional carrier launches including the U-2 and C-130

[@StoutShako]

I don't get it... Can someone explain?

[@JessSimpson1313]

@@StoutShako he is referring to the Dolittle Raid of WWII. LTC James Dolittle was an Army Bomber Pilot who planned and executed the Raid. LTC Dolittle and his fellow Bomber pilots had to take off from the Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet in their Army Medium Bombers, a very challenging feat as they were not intended for use on Aircraft Carriers. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid

[@jloiben12]

“The USAF doesn’t like fair fights.” I laughed much too hard at that one

[@jamielondon6436]

Honestly, everyone who isn't a complete idiot will *never* willingly enter into a fair fight of any kind (sports competitions aside).

[@JulianSildenLanglo]

Yep, nobody wants a fair fight and the USA are rich enough to avoid them.

[@sugandesenuds6663]

if you find yourself in a fair fight, you did something wrong

[@Uncle_Neil]

Absolutely no reason to deliver to my customers a "fair fight capability." We strive to build unfair, there are reasons I seldom sleep real well. We cannot leave anything untried, misunderstood or allow a great idea to die by neglect. Sleep is over-rated anyway.

[@drksideofthewal]

A fair fight = 50% chance of losing. Ask any XCOM player about those odds.

[@thebajabobusa]

Your reference to the Sukhoi fighters of the Indian Air Force was discussed by a Air Force F-15 pilot (squadron CO I think) on a KZbin video several years ago. The Sukhoi vs F-15 aerial dance was decided in favor of the Sukhoi. The Sukhois simply out piloted the F-15 squadron which was transiting to a new overseas duty station. The F-15 squadron was populated by both experienced and novice pilots. As I recall the novice pilots learned a lot about getting shot down. The CO couldn’t help commenting on the next Red Flag where the result was just the opposite. The F-15s were heavy with drop tanks and missiles while the Sukhois were light. The F-15s dominated. I was all about tactics and pilots.

[@Jartran72]

Planes are always designed for a certain thing. Like the F16 with its insane turning radius will dominate in dog fights vs other same gen fighters, if the F35 gets into a dogfight something has gone terrible wrong, multiple things actually. It would be stealthy and take out enemy targets from far away, even tough it can target enemy plances fliying behind it so.. like when that propanda desaster happened where the "The F35 can't dogfight" myth comes from, the F35 was severly handicapped and not allowed to use most of its features for that test, in all other tests it completely dominated. It is an impressive Jet and they have brought down the production price to 80 million dollars! Wow that is such a feat and I am glad that more and more allies are owning fleets of F35s. The more we have the better when shit goes down. Capabilities and skills should never lack behind.

[@ElTigre12024]

A new Perun video before Christmas is a gift in of itself.

[@lostpony4885]

I hope it doesnt tell you not to get on that particular plane haha. Its a plane video

[@MrCaptainnemo]

" That sounds less like a fighter and more like a spaceship" I think you may have nailed it. With multicrew aircraft being used as a C&C base for drones delivering weapons payloads maybe we will end up with air craft so high up they are at the edge of space controlling drones over a huge area.

[@TheRezro]

I would make a joke about US having space drones. But they do have them.

[@ladywaffle2210]

I read C&C as Command and Conquer (the game series) instead of Command and Control at first

[@keemanaan1734]

"Seal clubbing everyone else to death." Hilarious, and awesome content as always.

[@skylarheitzman7958]

No, no, Perun, thank YOU for giving us so much incredibly wonderful, informative and gripping content over this crazy year. Your content has literally become one of my favorite things and I get so hyped to wake up on what is usually a Sunday morning for me to a new Perun video. You've really done so much to make so many of us way more informed and happy this year. Thank you so *so* much, Perun. Happy holidays and I hope you have a fantastic new year.

[@eric02138]

Yet another excellent synopsis - thank you. Some additional notes: 1) The purported reason Manned-Unmanned Teaming is a requirement for 6th gen fighters is that overwhelming jamming will require humans in the loop inside the area of operation to manage the "bomb-trucks", rather than a command center thousands of miles away. (Personally, I question this requirement - it shouldn't take a lot of encrypted bandwidth to tell a drone to fly Combat Air Patrol in a given area.) And I agree with you that managing a drone swarm is at least a full-time job. 2) It's smart to leave Russia and China out. The technology portion of Russia's aviation industry is entirely dependent on western components - they don't have the semiconductor industry to support the data processing requirements modern radars produce (plus they're broke, and all the smart coders have already left). China's problem is with their engines - they've only just announced performance improvements to their home-grown WS-15. Prior to this, they were using Russian AL-31 or the WS-10. Supercruise is iffy, and the energy requirements for laser weapons is probably not in the cards. On the other hand, China's air combat requirements are different from those in the West, so the J-20 as it is may be "good enough". 3) The reason that agility isn't all that important anymore is that air-to-air missiles have become a lot more capable. It's no longer necessary to point the nose of a fighter at the target aircraft, so being able to turn on a dime has become less important. In fact, the evolution of smart air-to-air missiles (especially Meteor, PL-15 and AIM-260) could be a video all on its own.

[@PeterMuskrat6968]

AIM-260 makes me hard

[@rictechow231]

Russia and China should not be allowed advanced processors. I am assuming the better the processors are translates into more capable military hardware. China's domestic capabilities are still low end and Biden's recent actions should make it more difficult for them to continue to even make washing machine level processors. I'm surprised that wasn't done years ago in retrospect.

[@voidtempering8700]

@@rictechow231 The Chinese chip industry is not as far behind as you might believe. In 2019, they were already building 19nm chips, and by the end of the year, they have begun building 17nm chips. In early 2022, 37% of Chinese semiconductor needs were domesticated. And this year, after US semiconductor policies, China just gave over 100 billion to their own domestic semiconductor companies. They are more than capable of making chips for themselves, but they still need to fill in the gap for imports and money from foreign companies. Edit: What I mentioned was just one company, their chip industry has already created 7nm chips, they are relatively quickly closing the gap, as they can now make advanced processors.

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

@@strilight Back in the 20th century, Lockheed Martin had a mantra for its brand new F-22 : "First look, first shot, first kill" In fact, the same idea can be found in tank warfare ; operations research pointed out that the tank that shot first was much more likely to win a fight, even back in WW2. Armor, penetration and all the other hard statistics are secondary. Being on defense though gives a big advantage, as you can hide your tank and zero target reference points for example. Even the popular perception of gunfighters of WW2, Korea and Vietnam are fallacies. Erich Hartmann didn't end up as the greatest ace of all time in WW2 by being a dogfighter ; he was a master of ambush, revealing his position at the last moment and opening fire at close range, generally from behind. F-86 Sabres over Korea gained a notable advantage over their opponents thanks to a fire-control radar. The best fighter pilots during the Vietnam War didn't use cannons ; Steve Ritchie in the USAF achieved all his kills with missiles, with situational awareness advantages thanks to the EC-121 Disco and Combat Tree, while the U.S. Navy got the best air-to-air kill ratio after implementing Top Gun and still using Phantoms without guns, because employing missiles correctly mattered the most. Or Giora Epstein, the greatest ace of the jet age, had an advantage thanks to his extraordinary eyesight that allowed him to spot enemy aircraft in what would normally be BVR.

[@PeterMuskrat6968]

@@strilight Yup, and in Both cases having the Technological edge is literally THE single most important part. You can get away with using rusty ass AKMs on the ground, it you cannot use MiG-21’s and expect to win an engagement

[@AsbestosMuffins]

having worked in one of those legacy suppliers, ya having digital designs from the start is an absolute game changer. Older parts are absolutely terrible to have to go back and manufacture when you haven't had it in production for any number of years, especially now that everyone has integrated some form of cnc machining, requiring basically a digital version of that part to be re-engineered anyways

[@OneMonster]

From what I’ve heard, that’s exactly the reason why Saturn V engines couldn’t restart production if needed. Incomplete blueprints.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

@Asgdhgs Fhrfgfd for sure, this is why AS9100 requires manufacturers to submit 3d Models to suppliers instead of prints because you can easily pull up a model on CAD, do a measurement, even send a copy of that back to the manufacturer for clarity. now that said, putting all your other specs solely on the print isn't a great idea, there needs to be a similar baked in spec document for the guys who have to test the materials for those parts

[@Appletank8]

@@OneMonster that and also no one is exactly keeping 50 year old manufacturing equipment around.

[@NineSeptims]

@@OneMonster luckily we have better newer engines we have designs of and can build faster.

[@trolleriffic]

@@OneMonster The blueprints are all available, it's just that you wouldn't bother doing it. The Rocketdyne F-1 is bigger than you'd need for any current or planned rocket and it's not a particularly efficient or high performance engine from a TWR or specific impulse perspective. Its design is also rather labour intensive and likely relies on alloys that aren't made anymore, and may even incorporate materials like asbestos that would need to be replaced with something safer. If you were going to start building it again you'd want to redesign it first, which is exactly what Rocketdyne did with their proposed F-1B derivative that not only increased thrust by over 15%, but cut the parts count from more than 5,000 in the original engine to fewer than 100. The end result looked more like a SpaceX Merlin-1D than an F-1.

[@jcs0984]

31:00 I was actually really interested in hearing about the benefits of splitting design, production, and sustainment contracts. I don't think I would find it boring, I think in-depth information like that is one of the reasons I come to your channel, but I can understand if you'd like to include it in a General Procurement Information video rather than specifically in this fighter jet video :)

[@pseudonym8791]

Absolutely - I’m also interested tangentially. I work in healthcare and defence spending has a direct opportunity cost for this area. If the reports are true then over half the current Medicare budget could have been funded by the total cost of development of the F35. So hearing about how this process could be made more cost effective is very important indeed!

[@piersonjamesa]

i also would like to hear that because any big military object that you can use this as an example is useful when discussing this type of procurement strategy in other fields.

[@ryanfee8209]

Seconded. Definitely interested in the contracting/procurement side of things.

[@w0ttheh3ll]

same

[@airbornecigar537]

Agree - I think your audience are tougher than you think 🙂

[@Razgriz2118]

Hi Perun, I'm normally a lurker, playing your videos while doing weekly chores. I've enjoyed all of your content, and quite frankly I'd listen to you talk about any topic with your blend of information, organization, and humor. These are some of the highest quality videos I know of with the amount of research, verification, and disclaimers made for these. I just wanted to comment that I'd love to hear a deeper dive into each 6th Gen Fighter program from you, and I love these "off-topic" videos since they're still very interesting and well-presented. Also, considering I'm an Ace Combat fan and these 6th-Gen fighter capabilities are basically Ace Combat planes, this is a topic I especially am interested in. Happy New Year! I hope you get the rest you need, and I look forward to your future content!

[@jonsitron11]

Weirdly enough I find spending an hour watching a PowerPoint presentation on 6th generation fighters a supreme way of spending the evening before Christmas

[@demomanchaos]

Honestly, a "fighter" that is basically an AWACS mothership for the drones that do the bulk of the actual fighting would be really hard to deal with.

[@ndh06]

It's like they were inspired by ace combat or something.

[@simonhenry7867]

That's what I'm thinking. Two stealth fuel tanks drones with RTB engines. Detachable supercruise engines drones to bring the thing into the combat zone and extract it.

[@geiers6013]

@@RobertLutece909 Well, I think an actual AWACS will obviously still have a better radar range and sensors, because of its sheer size. Nevertheless I think they will be able to significantly improve stealth while improving the radar and other sensors. They already improved very much when you compare the F35 to the F22. Also the USAF seems confident that the NGAD is on time.

[@xponen]

@@simonhenry7867 Concorde can supercruise, hence,it means they are rebuilding Concorde-like airplane and turn them into an AWACS.

[@daniellivingston7699]

Arsenal Bird moment

[@Shack11]

Got me real hyped for the NGAD now

[@m4_patriot374]

Same

[@Mrinsecure]

Every other country: Well it seems like we'll just need to get used to a world where stealth fighters aren't the end-all, be-all of aerial combat. US Air Force: And I took that personally.

[@stone-hand]

I just hope, for them, that they do not end like with the Boeing 2707...

[@johan13135]

Even US realized that and started producing more F15 or F18 for ground support

[@georgethompson1460]

@@johan13135 I thought they were making a 4.5 gen fighter that uses certain F-35 spinoff technologies except lacking stealth. A bit like how the B-21 uses the same engines as the F-35.

[@commandopengi]

@@georgethompson1460 That hasn't really gone anywhere. The USAF has put money into upgrading their F16 fleet close to Block 70/72. Block 70/72 does utilize some developments from the F35 program like the new AESA radar and cockpit upgrades and mentions improved EW which has seen more development in the last decade.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

@johan13135 you don't appreciate how bitter boeing was about getting shut out of f35, they've been arguing the f15 EX is better than f35 for years, and only got EX made because they pulled the wool over congress by saying its just another f15

[@Duncan23]

What a great Christmas present for us all! Thanks Perun, hope you have a nice break for Christmas :)

[@prismgames]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the NGAD will look and perform. If it's anything near what's being indicated, it will be an exponential leap forward

[@sjoerdglaser2794]

I'm really glad you explained what all the generations meant. As someone who is completely new to all things war since the Ukrainian war, I am searching for some basic, yet still in depth, overview on the most important topics. I really love these videos as they provide that. As someone who worked in academic education, I know how rare it is for someone to be able to provide 'basic' knowledge without dumbing it down.

[@jeremyt7722]

If history is an interest to you, I recommend Kings and Generals as well, they have some very informative series that are well researched and produced.

[@gunterthekaiser6190]

If you are interested in WW2 air warfare, the World War 2 channel has some videos on it. Plus the weekly coverage of the war.

[@hankhillsnrrwurethra]

@@jeremyt7722 my dad was a Pacific theater vet; I've been enjoying their weekly videos tracking the timeline of that part of WW2.

[@wallyw4965]

Just don't be fooled by some information...any Google search will let you know that f22 and f35 are the only true 5th gen aircraft...china's j20 and russias su57 are considered 4.5 gen at best because their radar signature reduction doesn't meet standards of a full stealth aircraft...it means the f35 and f22 will always have a tactical advantage on other countries so called stealth aircraft... US has been at stealth innovation for decades since the f-117 nighthawk ...it takes a lot of work to get the radar signature reduced to a fly...China and russia just aren't there yet...they like to act like they are for propaganda to act strong , and unfortunately a lot of people get confused and actually believe it....and check out the new B-21 stealth bomber fleet being developed at 200$ billion...these are far beyond anything another country can make...other countries just don't have the budget for it first of all...but they look damn near a ufo haha

[@madkoala2130]

Good for you. But watch out "Reformers". Dont trust any word that those guys say (they are nut cases stuck in WW2 tactics).

[@farsidesc4044]

It’s cool to watch your channel grow- one slide at a time.

[@DonKangolJones]

It's really awesome to discover this channel in a quest for understanding, and have it be one of my favourite and most entertaining new KZbin channels of 2022. It's even more awesome that you're rounding out the year with one of my favourite subjects - military aviation. Happy New Year to you and the rest of the community!

[@georgesmith4768]

31:00 I personaly would watch an hour long video from about that type of thing. I like learning about that type of thing and this channel does an excelent job of gathering and presenting information on these types of topics for a lay audience very efficiently. I love being able to sit down and just learn about something that would normaly be a massive slog for an hour ❤

[@waryviewer488]

So would I! Gladly!

[@cpgvonc7568]

I was contemplating going to bed, but screw that, I've got a powerpoint to get through.!Thanks Perun, for this Early Christmas present.

[@pl7868]

lol it's -20 with fifty mph winds an i'm on fourth beer was thinking the same thing go hide on the couch under a blanket then saw this an thought i have room for another beer couch isn't going anywhere .😂

[@jewelianwest2324]

As a Canadian with our paper airplanes, I now get why we are so polite to our southern neighbour...

[@black10872]

Your southern neighbor created those planes!

[@goutvols103]

Canada at last sees the light and will purchase some F-35s. Thank you.

[@Tecmaster96]

I believe Canadians will stand with us at the end of the world, whenever it comes. Bless those maple lads

[@black10872]

@@Tecmaster96 they served in Afghanistan with the US for 12 years. I'll give them that credit.

[@MMAniac90]

​@@Tecmaster96 we will, but we will need to borrow your ammo

[@jack_L858]

Please do a follow up for Wingman type drones, I think they really solve an issue of attrition for industrial level conflicts. Cant really send half billion 6th generation fighters into a meat grinder conflict

[@xponen]

yea, expendable mass-produced aircraft.

[@Scottagram]

One of the major ones is Loyal Wingman, and Perun has said before that Australian military topics are a bit "spicy" due to his occupation (whatever it is)

[@redacted9912]

@@Scottagram my dude is totally a fed

[@geohiekim8705]

TBF I think a part of having a 6th gen airframe is that you won't be in a situation where the firepower is anywhere near equal enough to facilitate a meat grinder.

[@lubricustheslippery5028]

The pilots that die or get captures will be an non significant part of all the death and suffering in an modern full out war. In WW2 they had bigger trouble with replacing the pilots than the airplanes and an excellent pilot made a huge difference against an average pilot. Since then the cost of manufacture and maintain fighter jets and bombers have gone up to insanity. The cost of training pilots have also gone up because they have to use real hardware to train. I don't know if the training is more important or not? If more system gets automated and with better displays. The function of the pilot may get more and more reduced to take decisions you don't want AI to do and make the vehicle harder to hack. And more and more of the trained personell is there to maintain the planes when they are on the ground. You need a lot of personell with lots of training to maintain and service high tech vehicles. Cheap mass-produced drones like the Iranian Shahed-136 drones have totaly different capabilities than the wingman type drones the US army is talking about. An wingman drone need to have similar capabilities as the manned aircraft and thus will have similar costs to produce and maintain as the manned aircraft.

[@richardtretler6336]

Fascinating, never underestimate the ability of the US military industrial complex to produce an aircraft which changes the game. Jeff Morris mentioned SR-71, B2, F117, and F22. I'm old enough to recall P-51, B-17, B-29, F-86, and F-4.

[@atakorkut5110]

Damn your old

[@richardtretler6336]

@@atakorkut5110 Indeed, I am.

[@bramschoenmakers5071]

Jesus. This is fascinating. I know people that are probably 20 years younger then you that refuse to even go on the internet because its too complicated and new. How did you adapt to new tech and environment?

[@2909dk]

@@bramschoenmakers5071 im not fluent in jet nerd stuff, how old is he?

[@atakorkut5110]

@@richardtretler6336 I wasn’t trying to be a jerk btw… just imagining all that you have witnessed

[@FlyingsCool]

"The US Militaries critical shortage of acronyms" killed me 🤣🤣🤣

[@mechanought3495]

I think something to consider is that NGAD is the first air superiority platform developed at the same time we have the Internet in it's current state. Even F-35 wasn't as transparent because 2001 Internet was a different animal entirely. NGAD is the first time the air force has tried to develop ultra-secret leapfrog technology in an era where secrets don't exist. They're doing a pretty good job too. We don't know what they're developing, all we can see is the void of information where something should be. I imagine this is what it would have felt like if the F-117 had been developed in the information age. Interesting stuff to be sure!

[@lucasschneider1894]

I cannot think of many other channels which, when they publish a video, I stop what I am doing immediately to appreciate the content. Thank you so much Perun for all these detailed breakdowns in this tumultuous year of 2022. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the upcoming year, I'm sure all of us here eagerly wait for what will come out of this wonderful channel in 2023! Merci from France :))

[@nekdonikde5317]

4:02 A year and a half later a Su-57 lost to 3 kamikadze drones. What a time to be alive

[@NoThanksChief]

It is quite exciting to think about how many topics you have yet to discuss. I hope you enjoy making this sort of content, because I know for a fact that this community appreciates it. Also, don't feel the need to rush and get overwhelmed. I can't even imagine the work involved with researching, organizing, and presenting these topics in such a concise manner. Even if it takes time, this stuff is worth the wait. Cheers!

[@SvdSinner]

I WANT that "build systems better" video! I work in the software arena where that is always a key issue. I'd love to hear how those concepts have analogs in military R&D.

[@richardmeyeroff7397]

As a retired computer consultant the"build systems better" makes a lot of sense. too many client wanted to see a fully completed product with out working with the interim which lead to many integration problems and cost overruns

[@geroffmilan3328]

@@richardmeyeroff7397 yes, need to take the adage "measure twice, cut once" and make it "determine how many times yiu will need to measure, and when, before you start cutting". But too many clients are impatient, because with that approach they are not seeing the deliverables. Still, always put it in front of the stakeholders to start with: they go another way & it fails?; their funeral.

[@DarkElfLover]

as someone who's about to study to be a network engineer i'd like to hear about these better built systems cause either way what y'all do affects what i do so if it can make my job easier or just keep food on the table i'm all ears lol

[@556MSL]

Asking one client too fund a research and development of process for a grand project leaves the contractor with valuable IP and the end of the day. I think that fact needs to be addressed in the beginning negotiations.

[@richardmeyeroff7397]

@@DarkElfLover The problem is that there is no one answer. It counts on the the consultant and there team, whether the company has written a good set of specs and knows to a degree what is being left because of time and cost. What that really means in terms of capability and if they they can live with the delay in implementation. That is only the minimum of what both sides need to understand when building a system.

[@Edwinthebreadwin]

This is another topic where the media frenzy makes it hard to get a condensed view of what is happening. Thank you for providing such a clear and consise summary

[@MadmanInUkraine]

Woooow you're ahead of schedule @perun!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the best for a hopefully peaceful 2023 mate!!

[@chaosvii]

🎄

[@kcStranger]

"Believe me when I say that I could not wish for a better audience..." Stop Perun, you're gonna make us blush

[@mandtgrant]

FCAS will be a non-starter: France will demand more French equipment and priorities (see Eurofighter) and Germany will demand a large share of production, then scale back their order to a pale imitation of what they originally stated; Spain and Germany can't go it alone. I predict that France will build a few 6ish gen fighters, thaen modernized Rafales, Germany and Spain will join Tempest or buy American

[@badjuju2721]

I doubt the NGAD will be avaliable for export at all.

[@trolleriffic]

@@badjuju2721 F-35 will still be the main export combat aircraft and should have received some significant upgrades by the time NGAD enters service, and there's also the F-15EX for nations wanting a bomb/missile truck. I've not read about any other plans to develop another 5th or 6th generation platform that would be suitable for export unless the USN NGAD might fit the bill - some countries bought F-18 after all.

[@knoll9812]

​@@trollerifficf35 cannot carry enough engine and stuff for 6th gen

[@trolleriffic]

@@knoll9812 Agreed, but a future version of F-35 that's been upgraded to the point that it could reasonably be described as a 5.5 Gen aircraft would be a formidable weapon at a relatively affordable price, that would have the added advantage of leveraging existing training/maintenance/logistics/etc infrastructure in place for older F-35s already in service. There might be a handful of superior 6th Gen aircraft in service but if they're not for sale or unit cost is multiple times that of the latest F-35 then realistically the choice becomes "What's it going to be: the F-35, or nothing?"

[@dudeyouregettingadel]

9:44 “even though the Cold War was over, Uncle Sam wasn’t just going to sit back and chill” Gotta love the embedded dad jokes 😂

[@rowanirving4844]

Perun I was military and when ai left was DFO of 65 ac your stuff is brilliant. To have information of this calibre is brilliant I share it with all my pilots. Wish you did 2 a week. Cheers Rowan

[@AWaBfantasy]

Hey man, improved cup-holders shouldn't be underestimated! Very important stuff!

[@bryce4724]

A true holiday treat Happy holidays everyone and a special thanks to Perun for making it a little more bearable.

[@fortythird]

"Now, unless your last name is Dolittle, you can't just fly any aircraft off a carrier." Some of Perun's cleverest and funniest so far.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

And he did hide it so well that it almost went un noticed.

[@andreasdreher9449]

True! Spilled my Tea hearing that

[@travisjohnson6703]

Fun fact-the B25's Doolittle and his boys flew were half the weight of F35's.

[@JamieR2077]

Based on the quality and QUANTITY of your videos, I can't believe we get this content free. Keep up the good work!

[@Pincer88]

The pleasure was mutual for all watching/listening I'm sure, Perun. All out of the blue KZbin recommended that first video about the 'end of the tank' and the stuff you've been putting up since is exceptional. It's a shame it took this bloody war, but apart from that, what an enrichment your videos have been. Thank you so much for that. Have a merry Christmas yourself as well. Cheers from up above as opposed to down under (i.e. the Netherlands).

[@matthewholt2174]

I don’t think this will be seen, but I think perun may have overstated the technical infeasibility of the USAF’s NGAD. The X-44 MANTA was an x plane with similar features to the USAF FCA/F-X (supercruise, tailless, extremely high altitude) and was designed in the year 2000 (it was never produced but was deemed technically feasible). The USAF has stated a tech demonstrator has already flown, and usually a tech demonstrator in past usaf programs has preceded a production design by around 5-10 years. For example, X-32 and X-35 preceded the F-35s introduction by around 10 years, and both of those aircraft were considered tech demonstrators. Similarly, the F-22s tech demonstrator first flew in 1990. Likely the NGAD demonstrator somewhat resembles a final production aircraft at least in the broad strokes. Keep in mind there are x plane projects from the 2000s and 2010s that are still classified, so cutting edge aviation in the us defense sector is probably at least 10 years ahead of what we see in publically showcased aircraft.

[@F14thunderhawk]

or, to kirk summation it: the US will have retired three Stealth Aircraft before any other nation has domestically manufactured their first.

[@Statueshop297]

While it is possible to make it, the cost of such a program could spiral to massive levels. When introducing so much new tech into a new aircraft and operating it in new ways not done before there is a lot of areas for problems, delays etc. Look at how much of an issue getting block IV on the F35 is. Somethings go smoothly but others can become a complete nightmare. Fingers crossed it all works out ok

[@splatoonistproductions5345]

I personally am of the opinion that aircraft like the tempest should replace the typhoon (I’m British) on a 1 for 1 basis, I can understand the whole problem w budgets and so on, but sometimes despite the capabilities of these incredible aircraft, having less of the actual planes while havin them ( even if paired up w a group of smaller platforms) can limit how many of each pairing we can send elsewhere, which also has its own implications for sending so much or so little to an area. Personally I’d like to see the tempest replace the typhoon 1:1 w all those extra small platforms and have the us finally deliver the remaining hundred f35’s so there can be more to operate elsewhere, cause right now having only 130 craft between thr typhoon and the f35 right now (equalling the original number of typhoons) is just not enough plain and simple. Even if it’s just replacing the currently in service 100 w tempests and the us finishes its order then it’ll give us about 108 extra craft. God I hope the mod actually do something like this, or find or design a cheaper aircraft that can operate in place of the f35’s and tempests, cause recently w all that shit w Russia and china and Iran and n Korea, it’d be better to have as many as possible.

[@grego15]

Thanks for providing nearly a years worth of unrivaled in-depth analysis on KZbin!! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in the land down under!!

[@terminalarray1047]

Don't forget about the American NGAP (next gen adaptive propulsion) program that goes along with the AETP (which produced the GE XA-100 and PW XA-101). This is likely a more advanced gas turbine that will be completed several years later. XA-100/101 are pretty well along in the testing stages. NGAP is at an earlier stage of development. The XA-100 may hit operation in 2027-2028 for both F-35 re-engine and NGAD, whereas the NGAP is probably early 2030's to go along with NGAD

[@GeoQuacks]

I usually listen to Perun releases as if they were an audio podcast while I'm commuting or doing boring jobs around the house. They are still awesome even without the slides and this video is no exception. Thanks for your huge amount of knowledge and the effort that must be required to put your videos together. You have earned a break over the holiday period but I'm hoping for a NYE release. 👍

[@OliverOcsko]

As a Slovak I approve that you showed one of our 10 fighter aircrafts! Thanks. (Tought we ordered some 14 "new" F-16s)

[@aanonymous3638]

Delivery has been pushed back to 2024

[@kurousagi8155]

@@aanonymous3638 wasn’t the delivery date always 2024?

[@pgr3290]

Slovakia got 14 tasty brand new Block 70 F-16s coming, latest generation with all the bells and whistles. Some upgrade on those old Fulcrums.

[@davout5775]

The new block 70 F-16 are just as capable as the best 4th gen fighters. They come compatible with all the latest an greatest weaponry NATO can provide including nuclear weapons. On top of that they come with APG-83 which has similar capabilities to F-35's APG-81. Both are AESA radars ofc. It is far and beyond anything old of Soviet legacy.

[@andreimihailov671]

@@davout5775 you mean block 70 F-16 are just as capable as the best 5th Gen not 4th Gen same gos to rafale

[@herbertkeithmiller]

👍👍👍👍 you said depending on the reaction to this video you will make others dealing with the US Air Force's NGAD fighter program. So here's a few thumbs up to motivate you. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🥳

[@alexm922]

NGAD is literally gonna be the aircraft from the movie Stealth.

[@kenlloyd3078]

You've put in a massive amount of work on all these videos, Perun. Time for a well-earned break!

[@Chesterseventythree]

The aims of the USAF project being a 2-3 seater aircraft made me think of the Cylon Raider from the original Battlestar Galactica, a cool looking airframe for sure

[@hughfisher9820]

I can see how the tank crew model / classic Cylon Raider would work for the NGAD. A commander who thinks about overall mission and goals and decides where to go next and what to shoot, a specialist pilot to decide the best way to get there, and a specialist gunner who handles the shooting. Or, since any air force hates to admit that other services might have a good idea, maybe NGAD can adopt the crew concept from the nearish-future / fairly hard science fiction "Hellburner" by CJ Cherryh. Commander, pilot, gunner, and a sensor operator because in 3D with long ranges there's just too much to make sense of for even a really good fusion display.

[@MrJdsenior]

@@samuelboczek1834 I doubt it, that is a LOT bigger integration nightmare. 10th to 12th would be my guess, but you are correct in that it will happen, eventually, and war will move to space. Some aspects of it already have been for a long time, surveillance, for example.

[@MrJdsenior]

@@hughfisher9820 Eventually a human crew will be totally detrimental to every aspect of effectiveness, on any platform. Just sayin'. It's a ways down the road, but it is coming, and faster than most would imagine. With an AI that obliterates human capabilities, you don't even NEED any kind of display, or any other human considerations.

[@deanwoodward8026]

@@MrJdsenior And I think without the expensive human crew, and needs to support / protect them, the need for vehicle survivability goes down, which solves a lot of problems. Pretty soon it's all kamikaze drones... oh wait.

[@Eliastion]

@@MrJdsenior Looking at the pace at which things are progressing and the requirements we're seeing, I'd say that there are two ways to look at things a) the USAF project is the only one truly shooting for 6th gen - everything else is just an advanced version of 5th gen b) most projects are 6th gen, USAF wants straight-up 7th gen If we take option a, then the next jump big enough to count as a new (7th) generation would probably be a completely autonomous fighter. If we take option b, then we might MAYBE still be able to squeeze in a manned 8th generation after that... But the 0-seater will come as 9th at the latest. And boy, will these have an advantage. Quite a lot of design choices for a fighter jet are focused on keeping the pilot alive, making the data it receives from sensors interpretable for a human, making the controls possible to handle by a human... if you can manage an AI pilot good enough to replace the human, SO MANY limitations and requirements just go away. Skynet is going to be such a great thing!

[@baab4229]

Perun no matter how many videos you make on NGAD and how long they are, I will watch them all.

[@jloiben12]

What do you want the 6th gen fighter to have? USAF: Yes and more

[@Jedsa009]

I won't be surprised if, a few decades later, USAF will ask for a fighter that can transform into a giant robot.

[@artruisjoew5473]

Honestly the USAF is actually asking for a trans atmospheric space ship with these requirements. Think about it, darting around the globe with their gone base in the US, at orbital speeds. Like a hypersonic weapon it’s almost impossible to intercept, creates plasma upon reentry that basically blocks out all radar signature. It darts in at orbital speed, deploy weapons, zoom back out of the continent…the only question is the power source. Then, conveniently, a sudden break through in fusion technology was recently announced. The USAF might do the funny after all.

[@MrJdsenior]

@@artruisjoew5473 You dream big, I'll give you that. Not this decade, or probably next, it won't, unless AI super brain REALLY goes, maybe not then. As for breakthroughs in fusion technology. Yeah, continuous, and so far they move the time frame to achievement back from 20 years, to 20 years, and so does the next 20 years time, from my young adulthood, 40 years ago, to the present. Just sayin'. If you want the 'eternal technology of the future', so far fusion fits that bill perfectly. It will happen, probably, but the when is the big question. I can almost guarantee it won't happen in the next 10 or 20 years, but I hope I am wrong. They don't need A breakthrough, they need several, including just being able to sustain the reaction for more than about eight seconds, which I think is the current record. Getting a ways past one, energy out to in, is but one tiny one. Economics is another rather large one, when they finally get there technically.

[@sixstringedthing]

In my experience, most of the fighting over generational definitions occurs when somebody with far too much time on their hands spots somebody shuffling their favourite jet into an earlier generation. White Knights to the rescue! 😂 "Yes please" to a detailed comparison of various nation's next-gen AD programs in 2023 👍 Thanks for the early upload mate, wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

[@Sajuuk]

In my experience, fighting over generation definitions occurs when people are stupid and/or suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect. Hammering at the keyboard to post an opinion over facts never creates a discussion, just an argument.

[@sixstringedthing]

@@Sajuuk Very true, and unfortunately - as Perun points out - discussions in this space often involve personal interpretation/opinion as to whether a specific feature or system qualifies an aircraft for one generation or the next. The silly "white knight factor" rears its head when everybody involved in a discussion is in happy agreement regarding the shorthand terms as they're currently being used, and then one of the aforementioned folks with too much spare time comes barging in with the ol' "well actually" and bogs the whole discussion down in pointless minutiae that isn't relevant to the broader concepts at hand. Highly counterproductive!

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Also marketing. 5th generation is a prime example, the only true 5th gen is F-22, all the others making the claim are too compromised to be more than 4.5 hence the knock on claims that Typhoon, Rafale, & Gripen are only 4 not 4.5.

[@LRRPFco52]

There are absolute delineating features between the fighter generations though. For example, in the 4th Generation, we saw afterburning turbofans for propulsion, look-down/shoot-down fire control Radars that actually worked, solid state electronics, Threat Warning Receivers standardized from production, Head Up Displays integrated with the Fire Control System, monocoque airframes with use of advanced metallurgy and composites, ease of maintenance with generous placement of access panels, and pilot-designed man machine interface.

[@idioluh5838]

And don't forget, besides generatios, where is a good tradition to add different number of + signs to gen 4 fighters. And if you say something like "Super Hornet is a gen 4 fighter", without adding at least +++ after number 4, you're going to be in serious internet fight :D .

[@alpang6161]

Your section of the USAF section at the end really got me thinking. I think the only way for the USAF can get what they need: speed, stealth, armaments, and advanced radar sensors is to quite literally split it to the extreme. All the programs system of systems seems like they still have a primary fighter that has some fighting capabilities of their own but the USAF may completely ignore any or all armaments for their mother ship fighter. It may be a crew of a much larger, slower, but stealthy plane controlling dozens of other smaller more agile UAVs that has the speed and armaments it needs. Alot of the 6th generation programs I've seen usually have mock ups of a central manned unit with one or two UAVs of similar fashion flying next to it or in formation. I would speculate the manned unit would be more along the line of a high altitude reconnaissance plane with little to no armaments but stealth and radar sensors blinged out to the max. on the other hand, the UAVs would be in a much more reasonable altitude where it can properly do it's job as a air combat fighter or possibly attack aircraft as well. I think that's the order of magnitude that will put it well above the adversary. If you're main mother ship is difficult and complex out of range of SAMs and other radar detection system, it could really change how air combat is being looked at. The mother ship could control the advanced UAVs while staying protected and out of range. With the advancement of AI of controlled swarm drones, I wouldn't be surprised seeing something similar to this on a larger scale with cheap UAVs to tank the brunt of all incoming attacks and do most of the heavy lifting as well. Just some random thoughts after this video. It really seems like the USAF program is a out breaking the pre-existing notion of what a 6th generation fighter would be and push it to the absolute extreme.

[@philippvelimirovic2284]

Hey Perun, thank you for the (as always) great Presentation! You are wrong about one thing however: I, for one, would love a Presentation on the Benefits of Splitting Design Production and Sustainment Contracts!

[@timowagner1329]

Yes, future role of drones seems like a good topic!

[@natespurgat6245]

as an engineer with hopes to go into aerospace, thank you for detailing why these things are so dang hard and require thousands of very smart and skilled people to make

[@AC_Blanco]

I'm very grateful for your work. Feels like having insider knowledge about todays news.

[@gordondouglas9220]

Thanks for all the content :) I first found "All bling, no basics" and have been greedily watching every installment since. Reasoned, humble, and cheeky is a great combo to present the complex subjects you do. Cheers and thank you for your efforts in making others feel better informed.

[@stephenalley5177]

What I'm picturing with the NGAD is a plane that operates similarly to modern tanks, with a large overpowering platform protected by its "infantry screen" of drone counterparts. Not sure how apt it is, but was what I was thinking through the whole thing.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

I had a teacher who was an A-6 pilot for the Navy. He described aircraft carrier landings as a controlled crash.

[@yellowbeard1]

Hearing about sixth generation fighters has given me some ideas for a D&D campaign I am running for some friends. They want to advance firearms technology in the setting, other people are going to use the supernatural elements of the setting to push technology which can then be used to better exploit the supernatural parts of the setting. Great video by the way, always nice to see your weekly releases.

[@LargeBlueCircle]

jeeze perun- i work for a defense contractor in the US (i wont say which one) and I wish your videos were mandatory training. Like this stuff helps me learn my job, role, and industry better.

[@bobtank6318]

Merry Christmas Perun. I want to say thank you for all the great content you’ve produced this year. I’ve learned a lot about defense economics thanks too you, and I have a more complete picture of the war in Ukraine. I look forward for to your videos every. Thanks for a great year, and here’s to another good one. PS: Are you planning to release the part 2 on Chinese modernization? I understand if other things take priority.

[@erichahn5665]

A release time that is Aussie friendly... WOOHOO! Thanks for a great year's worth of PowerPoints (I never thought I'd write that). Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you and your family.

[@samallon9492]

My sons have not been born yet, but the wars they may die in are already being prepared for. Merry Christmas.

[@feekygucker2678]

Awww… Perun… you gave us a PowerPoint for the season 🙂. Thank you! Have a good holidays 🎉.

[@Baloney108]

Would it be possible to add some content about the mechanism of troops rotation? Or anything about infantry logistic. I would really love to see a video about the economics of Ukraine during the war. Like how can they sustain an economy in the reality of war. Anyway, your work is reality appreciated. I love the way you give us a realistic point of view on "non hollywoodian" reality 🔥

[@waryviewer488]

Anything & everything about any type of logistics!! I’m hooked! Have a good holiday, Perun!

[@icantthinkofaname4265]

I'd watch it!

[@Statueshop297]

Ukraine’s economy has tanked down at least 40 percent in 10 months. I gets help from EU and other friendly nations to keep some things running. It’s awful what’s happening to Ukraine. I don’t think Russia is going to give up anytime soon either. There objectives are unclear as to what there end game is.

[@HeadsFullOfEyeballs]

30:58 Last night I watched a presentation about the regulatory history of interior wall insulation in post-war Germany. I have never touched a piece of insulation in my life. I absolutely will watch and enjoy an hour-long slideshow about the benefits of splitting military design, production and sustainment contracts.

[@jessehachey2732]

Isn’t it amazing how KZbin can send us down weird rabbit holes 😂 I can relate, I’ve watched similar niche videos hahah, one of my favourite channels is Sandi Brock, a 🇨🇦 sheep farmer 😅 I don’t even own a farm lmao! Perun truly has a gift for making PowerPoint slides captivating!

[@victoralander1398]

Do you have a link? Insulation is an interesting subject, especially given current energy prices.

[@HeadsFullOfEyeballs]

@@victoralander1398 Sure! It's in German though. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3_HZKaLi6yfn7M He does interesting presentations on insulation and building energy efficiency in general, I've learned a lot.

[@RobinTheBot]

Same

[@EEWombat]

For the record: a vid on the structure of defence contracts, and how they have changed over time, would be entirely welcome!

[@louishermann7676]

I do believe you when you say it. We couldn't ask for a better analyst/content maker. You're a gem Perun, thanks for your work.

[@Rasc0117]

An early Perun video? Nice. You worked hard to give us this video, so enjoy the holidays!

[@danielfrisk925]

Putting a lot of the 6th gen fighter capabilities onto wingman drones could help solve a lot of the problems about weight, size, stealth, payload, heat generation and the like. - You could have one or more wingman drones with the payload, able to go ahead and launch not risking the fighter and its pilots. This could then fly back to get re-armed or exchanged with a ready one. - Another drone could have ewar and directed high energy weapons (for defence). - A third drone that is designed for recon, flying ahead to scout, being smaller and more stealthy, having the targeting and surveillance capabilities. The drones could be used as a shield in emergency situations with missiles fired against the fighter. And so on. This would enable the fighter to stay further back and more safe, staying longer in the air and further away from radar and other detection systems - or trade this with increased offensive range. Having drones carrying the payloads enables doing more of what today is deemed high risk-reward missions. The fighter design will be less restricted when it comes to stealth. Maybe one could put a third pilot on for drone control. The drones are cheaper and easier to replace than a whole 6th gen fighter and it's trained crew. One hit wouldnt mean all the capabilities are lost. Maaan, there are so many possibilities with the wingman drone stuff.

[@MattMajcan]

The pivot is finally happening! and im all here for it. I cant wait until this war is finally over and to see you continue being a big youtuber, youve earned it

[@valopf7866]

"not talking about improved cupholders" 🤣 nice blow at the Tesla Semi

[@derekh7441]

'Bringing an F-22 to an air combat exercise is the equivalent of seal clubbing.' That is the moment I died.

[@merrily08]

Perun, I don't have to watch all the way through to know this will be an awesome presentation. Merry Christmas dear sir, and all the best for the new year!

[@DBExplorer]

@Perun The lack of light carriers is explained due to the fact that for a navy the size of the USN you save more money with a big carrier since a ships crew will generally tail off after a point but the number of airplanes you can hold goes up as you get bigger.

[@KB4QAA]

DBE: True. There is an economy of scale. Perun is absolutely wrong about drones. They require EVERY bit the same maintenance and access to facilities that normal manned aircraft do. 3. Having the two on different ships increases communications difficulties, and 4. If the two ships get separated the manned planes have no fuel support or any other capablities of the drones. Poor idea. Put them on the large carrier. old carrier sailor.

[@trolleriffic]

Would light carriers also struggle to keep up with a supercarrier? Am I right in thinking that the longer hull of the supercarrier allows not just a greater top speed but also greater relative efficiency at any given cruising speed? Presumably light carriers wouldn't be nuclear powered either so cruising at high speed for long periods of time would use a lot fuel and require regular replenishment - whether it would be a problem I have no idea, but I could see it being an issue the Navy would prefer to avoid.

[@BiscutTheGreat]

“F22 is not an air superiority platform, it’s an air DOMINANCE platform.” goes hard af

[@Pyratemime]

Two trivia items on 5th Gen fighters. 1. The contract for the F-22 was issued in 1981 and the first operational fight entered the service in 2005. It took us longer to develop the air frame than to grow the lieutenants flying it. This is why upgrades for 4th gen were and are so important. 2. The F-22 was killed by the US SecDef Robert Gates because he wanted drones to take over air dominance but did not take into consideration that none of the precursor technologies existed at even the prototype level. It is one of the biggest technological, industrial, and defense blunders in history.

[@Pyratemime]

@@garetheckley7018 Disagree with what? The time line or that Robert Gates screwed up killing the most advanced fighter in the world because he wanted to replace it with techology that wasn't even on the drawing board?

[@Pyratemime]

@@garetheckley7018 He was not right then and history has shown that. He took the premier fighter platform in the world and irrevocably ended the program, even when he only needed to allow buying a half dozen a year to keep it open, before any of his planned replacements were even on the drawing board (and they still aren't). He left the AF a platform which no longer had an incentivized industrial base to even make the requisite spare parts in the required numbers inside an executable fiscal time frame. With retirement of the block 20s and loses of airframes to attrition the fleet is shrinking to the point of almost being tactically irrelevant because there just aren't enough of them to sustain operations once combat loses accumulate.

[@at_omic8578]

Here’s my thoughts on the NGAD, the Air Force one not the FA/XX... If it works, IF it works, it will be the most overpowered, most advanced, most sophisticated, most capable aircraft in the world. Period. No ifs ands or buts. The problem, as you stated, is just whether or not the NGAD can actually be developed into what is being hoped for, since it is not a small step like the F35, but a giant leap like the F22. And here’s the thing. I am an American so I could be unconsciously biased, I do admit, but I fully believe that, all things considered, we COULD actually make the NGAD to be what we want it to be. By 2030, no. Even I can admit that technological advancement on this scale is simply unattainable in the timeframe requested. But by 2035 or 2040, absolutely, I have no doubts that by then, we could have NGADs be ready for service. After all, we’ve done this before. The F22 was, as you stated, and as I repeated above, a giant leap forward, not a small step. This utter leap from traditional air superiority fighting into air dominance with a single aircraft seal clubbing the most advanced designs the rest of the world could ever dream of HAPPENED. The F22 was among the largest leaps forward in military aviation history from a technological perspective, and of course it came with its own issues like cost, production numbers, maintenance (queue the sounds of every Air Force technician committing suicide over the F22 maintenance requirements), but the point is that with absolutely no precedent whatsoever for most of the technologies in combinations that would mold the 5th generation category, we DID deliver them all, all at once, in the F22, which has proved itself maybe not in combat, but certainly in war games and simulations to be the king of the skies. But now it has siblings who want to try and be better than their showoff older brother, and as you stated, the US doesn’t like a fair fight, an ideal fight should be as unfair as possible for the enemy, and the F22 in its day DID deliver that. The bottom line is, the amount of innovation the USAF is asking for in the NGAD is not unheard of, because they’ve done it before. And that, in my opinion, is why the NGAD is not a fantasy, but just another challenge for the best minds the human race has to offer, a challenge that we will overcome. On time? Hell no. But a decade or so behind schedule? Absolutely. Oh yeah, we also have experience with delivering advanced aircraft a decade or so behind schedule. No offense F35, you’re still amazing. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[@laststand6420]

The US has this habit of showing off their planes one generation late, basically they let the public see their stuff only after it is obsolete. I imagine that we have already flown or are very close to flying a 6th gen fighter. 7th gen is probably also somewhere in the pipeline.

[@nighthawk2174]

One thing to consider radars also have physics based limitations, essentially smaller = shorter ranged. So the idea of this being a big jet is on point as if they want a monstrous radar it needs to be big, probably needs to be able to accommodate a radar that is even bigger then the AWG-9 in dish size. And when combined with all the other radar improvements made in the past 30 years you'll have something.

[@trolleriffic]

The radar is going to be an updated version of PAVE PAWS!