As China moves forward with advanced fighter planes and a rapidly expanding ship, the US Air Force is caught between a rock of ever-tightening costs and a hard area of rising calling for development and development.
At the Airlift Tanker Association Symposium in Grapevine, Texas, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall made an announcement about the funding issues that the next-generation NGAD fighter, next-generation Aerial Refueling System ( NGAS ) tanker, and collaborative combat aircraft (CCA ) had.
According to the report, Air Force leaders claim that the US needs all three star programs to be prepared for an upcoming atmosphere conflict with China. Kendall emphasized the need for” creativity” in future force structure due to budget constraints, despite these programs ‘ interconnected operational and affordability aspects.
He also made note of the US Air Force’s challenge to upgrade as a result of commitments to upgrades to nuclear weapons and the growing threat from China, especially with precision missiles that target US mobility platforms and air bases.
Kendall claimed that the Air Force has” a lot of tips to push more potential out of the same set of resources” and that this has” come at the expense of our ability to deal with our walking problem” of China.
The US Air Force secretary made mention of the need for a subtle tanker to help combat air forces in tense situations and the significance of the US Space Force’s expansion. A US Senate blue-ribbon section is reviewing NGAD needs, according to the Air and Space Forces Magazine report, with comments expected in December.
He emphasized the need for more investments to fulfill China’s need for modernization and combat military advances, particularly as Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be prepared to seize Taiwan by 2027.
In a May 2024 article for The National Interest ( TNI), Brandon Weichert contends that the US Air Force’s development of sixth-generation fighter jets is unnecessary and a waste of resources.
Weichert contends that these cutting-edge aircraft, which include AI and drones, are fanciful investments that might not considerably improve US military capabilities.
Instead, he suggests that the US emphasis should be on developing space-based arms systems and enhancing existing fifth-generation soldiers. He points out that simpler, more cost-effective autonomous techniques could be more useful.
Yet, Dan Goure claims in a Real Clear Defense article from August 2024 that the US has enhance NGAD development to keep air superiority. He highlights the need to change the F-22, a late-1990s style, and emphasizes that simply guarded platforms, not drones, have the important decision-making abilities needed in an intense electric war environment.
Drones, Goure argues, are limited, citing Israel’s April 2024 success in downing hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles, as many countries now deploy counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS ).
He also notes that other nations, including the UK, Japan, Italy ( through the Global Combat Air Program ), France, Germany, and Spain (via the Future Combat Air System ), are progressing on sixth-generation fighters, with China and Russia following suit.
Goure claims that investing in NGAD may revive the US military plane manufacturing base and result in long-term technical superiority.
In contrast to the US, The War Zone reported this quarter that China had unveiled the Shenyang J-15T, an improved carrier-based warrior, at the China International Aviation &, Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.
The War Zone says the J-15T, equipped with sophisticated avionics, Chinese-made WS-10 engines and rocket launch connectivity, represents a substantial upgrade over the initial J-15.
It notes this new variant, capable of operating from both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, will serve aboard all of China’s aircraft carriers, including the latest Fujian, which uses an electromagnetic aircraft launch system ( EMALS ).
The report says the J-15T’s enhancements include a strengthened nose landing gear, a new wide-angle holographic heads-up display ( HUD), and an active electronically scanned array ( AESA ) radar. These improvements increase the fighter’s operational capabilities by allowing it to get off with a heavier load of weapons and gas.
The J-15T was unveiled this month, according to The War Zone, and China has also unveiled the land-based cunning warrior Shenyang J-35A in preparation for its album at the China International Aviation &, Aerospace Exhibition.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force ( PLAAF ) is now confirmed to be interested in the J-35A, which was previously only seen in unofficial images, according to The War Zone. The statement mentions that the aircraft, which has been developed for years, was originally intended for carrier-based activities with the PLA Navy and was in development for trade.
The J-35A is not a clear copy, but it does have many design elements that are similar to those on the US F-35. The differences are due to the twin-engine setup and the lack of quick launch and horizontal landing options.
The J-35A is mentioned in the report as being expected to replace the heavier Chengdu J-20 in the PLAAF, giving a more economical and quantitatively better choice.
Additionally, according to The War Zone, the development of the J-35A has the ability to open up opportunities for export to nations that are unable to purchase Western fighters.
As the US dithers in building its next-gen airpower, former US Indo-Pacific Command ( INDOPACOM) Commander Admiral John Aquilino cautioned in a March 2024 testimony before the US Senate that China, now with the world’s largest navy in terms of ships, may soon have the world’s largest air force.
That raises the question of how a potentially outnumbered US Air Force could fight China in a potential Pacific issue, necessitating important organizational and technical adjustments.
According to a report from Defense One in February 2024, the US Air Force is currentlyundergoing major restructuring to increase eagerness for potential problems with China. This was disclosed at the Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Warfare Symposium.
Kendall and US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin detailed the reform, which includes deploying full arms, or “units of motion”, rather than wholesale regiments. The goal of the report is to create cohesive combat units that are fully equipped for wartime tasks, as stated in the report.
Defense One says the reorganization, part of the” Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition” initiative, introduces a new Integrated Capabilities Command to streamline modernization efforts and a renamed Airman Development Command to centralize force development.
Additionally, Timothy Walton and Mark Gunzinger point out in a March 2024 Breaking Defense article that the US Air Force faces significant challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily as a result of China’s military forces ‘ potential outweigh its potential success.
Walton and Gunzinger suggest a number of options, including expanding the F-35A Lightning II’s range with an engine core upgrade, continuing with NGAD and CCA development despite the limited funding and other obstacles, and purchasing longer-range weapons like the AIM-260 and stealthy tankers for aerial refueling.
They warn, however, that the US Air Force must balance these advancements with budget constraints and the need for cost-effective solutions in order to maintain a strategic advantage.