we do know they were aiming for all aspect stealth so the choice of canards is somewhat logical because while possibly increasing front aspect RCS they will definitely greatly reduce rear aspect RCS
Should’ve put the F-15 ppl on NGAD. Would’ve been the best looking 6th gen
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Im never gonna understand why they didnt use a design similar to YF23 for f35
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but they are busy making more good looking f15s
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Except B-21 Raider being 6th gen is nonsense imo, so they don’t necessarily have a capitalization in what qualifies.
It’s a bomber, so it can’t be defined as a 6th Gen only because this classification is only for Fighters.
I’m guessing the avionics it carries could make it a 6th gen if it was a fighter, that’s probably why.
iirc, didnt they define 6th gen as AI integration and ability to use and control unmanned platforms and sometimes optional manning
Except 4th gen aircrafts and 5th gen will be able to do that, Rafale and F-35. So that doesn’t work. Avionics and tech can always be jammed into older platforms. What should matter for generation is airframe design.
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Is the BAE Tempest 6th Gen for you?
That is probably a part of the wing or LERX maybe
It’s truly joever for Chinese weather Balloons
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Unfortunately no, it does not get rid of vertical* stabilizers. Doesn’t mean it won’t be as good as a 6th gen, just doesn’t offer a radical change.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking too. Probably just a very advanced 5th Gen.
You don’t need to trade the addition of canards in order to achieve a tailless design though.
That suggests an engineering compromise in order to achieve a specified performance goal instead of absolute peak stealth performance.
The ESSM?lmao the Navy is laughing rn with their AIM-174Bs
well, LREW also exists
but not sure that it would be better
The actual Air Force announcement:
Bc the YF-23 was made by Northrop and McDonnell Douglas, the X-35 was made by Lockheed Martin,the same guys that created the YF-22 together with Boeing
Using the YF-23’s design for a next generation stealth aircraft meant that the YF-23 was the ultimate winner of the ATF program,and not the YF-22
Because they had different requirements and an additional decade of engineering and manufacturing development?
It also has a top speed of “Over 2” and “not many are over 2”. Over 2 what, he did not say.
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