US develops aircraft to replace F-22 stealth fighter

The PCA fighter will possess many cutting-edge technologies to replace the F-22 stealth aircraft to maintain US air superiority.

Appearance of the PCA fighter that could replace the F-22. Graphics: Popular Mechanic.

The US Air Force is setting technological requirements for 6th generation fighters.named Penetrating Air Defense (PCA), expected to be put into service in the 2030s. This fighter model will be integrated with many unprecedented technologies to maintain US air superiority in future conflicts, according toPopular Mechanic.

Russia's launch of cutting-edge weapons such as the S-400 air defense system and the Su-57 stealth aircraft, while fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35 are about to reach the threshold of technological upgrades, forces the US to prepare right now.

According to military expert Kyle Mizokami, the US has not had a completely new fighter design in the past 20 years, the appearance of PCA will mark the country's transition to 6th generation fighters. PCA will take on many different roles from the F-22 and F-35 to serve the new strategy. It focuses on operating range, especially in the mission of escorting stealth bombers B-21 and B-2. These are missions that the US Air Force has not thought of in many years.

This presented a paradox in engine development for the PCA. To escort strategic bombers, the aircraft needed fuel-efficient engines to maintain long ranges. But such designs were far from the high-performance engines that gave fighters the upper hand in air combat.

The US Air Force wants to combine the best features of these two designs into a "triple-jet engine" for the PCA. If successful, this type of engine could maintain fuel efficiency while still providing enormous thrust when needed for air combat.

The PCA fighter will likely not have a vertical tail, which has been the design standard of all aircraft for decades. Vertical tails are one of the barriers that make it difficult for aircraft to maintain stealth against many types of radar.

The most modern fighter jets in the world today. Click on the image to see full size.

The technologies applied on PCA have not been announced, but experts say it will possess optimal sensor connectivity, super-cruise flight capabilities and "smart skin" electronic configuration.

The PCA will be capable of firing hypersonic weapons, as well as being equipped with laser weapons and electronic attack. In addition, the US Air Force plans to build a new air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM, an outdated missile line that is being surpassed by the Japanese AAM-4B or the British Meteor.

The US Air Force has requested $295 million in fiscal year 2018 to continue studying the PCA project and determine the necessary specifications.

According to VNE