July 5, 2026:
Current European jet fighters include the French Rafale, the German, Italian, Spanish and British Eurofighter Typhoon, and the American F-16 and F-35. The F-16 is used by Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands while the F-35 is used by Britain, Italy and Norway.
The 24-ton French Rafale is a twin engine, single seat, supersonic combat aircraft with a combat range of 1,000 kilometers and a ferry range of 3,700kx. Ceiling is 15.8 kilometers. Armament is one 30mm autocannon with 125 rounds and 9.5 tons of bombs and missiles.
The 23-ton British/German/Italian/Spanish, Typhoon is a twin engine, single seat, supersonic combat aircraft with a combat range of 1;389 kilometers and with a of 1,000 and a ferry range of 3,700 kilometers. Ceiling is 16.7 kilometers. Armament is one 27mm autocannon with 150 rounds and 9 tons of bombs and missiles.
European countries have had a more difficult time developing a next generation jet fighter. These include the Franco, German, Spanish FCAS/ Future Combat Air System, which was cancelled last month. The British Tempest, already in development, then became the new contender as a 6th Generation European fighter. Tempest is a joint development of Britain, Japan and Italy. It is to be in service by 2035. First flight is supposed to take place sometime between 2026 and 2032. Few specifications have been released other than the aircraft is 17 meters long and has a max speed of 3,000 kilometers an hour. Service ceiling is 20 kilometers
Other Sixth generation aircraft in development include the American F-47, the Chinese J-36 and J-50.
The F-47 specifications are unknown. No data has been released on how much it weighs, what weapons it carries, max altitude or much else besides a top speed of Mach 2 and a range of 1,900 kilometers. The air force plans to buy up to 200 aircraft that will enter service before 2029. The F-47 will cost three times as much as the F-35.
China also has sixth generation aircraft. The J-36 is a tailless three engine fighter
The J-50 is smaller and, like the J-36, still in development
China has also developed carrier based aircraft and is seeking to adapt the J-36 for use on aircraft carriers.
Russia has been busy in Ukraine, where it used its not-quite 6th Generation Su-57, a failed attempt to develop a fighter equal to the F-35. The Russian MiG-41 is a true 6th Generation aircraft and successor to the Su-57 but, like the American F-47, neither aircraft have been built or flown yet.