Agrégateur de flux

Summary: The Su-57 boasts stealth features, advanced weaponry, and high maneuverability, but its stealth capabilities are questioned compared to U.S. counterparts like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

-Meanwhile, the U.S. is developing the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, aiming to surpass fifth-generation fighters with advanced AI, unmanned systems, and cutting-edge technology.

-Despite Russia's claims, the Su-57 may fall short of true fifth-generation standards and is unlikely to evolve into a sixth-generation fighter easily.

Unveiling the Su-57: Russia's Overhyped Fifth-Generation Fighter

It would be unwise to dismiss all Russian military hardware out of hand. While jokes can still be made that a hammer is the tool typically employed to repair its tanks and that its submarines are better at diving than surfacing, the fact remains that the former Soviet Union managed to produce some truly advanced aircraft.

The Kremlin has continued that tradition, and the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name "Felon") is currently one of only four  "fifth-generation" fighters built to date – the others being the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, and the Chengdu J-20 (NATO reporting name "Fagin").

Yet, where Moscow often loses creditability is that it all too often overhypes even its very best aircraft – and looks almost stupid in the process.

The Su-57 in the Crosshairs

The Kremlin boasted that its Su-57 employs composite materials including polymer, fiberglass, and aluminum load-bearing honeycomb fillers. It also featured an aerodynamic configuration that includes a pair of internal weapons bays, which help provide a low level of radar and infrared signature.

Each of the aforementioned bays was designed to carry up to four K-77M beyond visual range radar-guided missions. In addition, the Su-57 can carry a pair of K-74M2 short-range infrared-guided missiles in underwing fairings, but at the expense of its stealth.

According to Air Force Technology, the Russian aircraft is also equipped with 3D thrust vector jets for higher maneuverability and is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed. The twin-engine fighter is powered by Izdeliye 117 or AL-41F1 augmented turbofans, and it can fly at a speed of up to Mach two without afterburners, while it can reach a range of up to 3,500km at subsonic speeds.

The Su-57 has been further noted to employ a powerful onboard computer – which has been described as an electronic second pilot – while its radar system is spread across its body. Its onboard avionics systems include active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and ELINT systems.

Sixth-Generation Claims

Russia has further suggested that an upgraded and even more advanced model of the Su-57 could be in the works and that it would be the world's first in-service "sixth-generation" aircraft.

This was first noted in a November 2017 report from Russian state media outlet Tass, which cited Russian Aerospace Force ex-commander and Chairman of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Viktor Bondarev, who explained, "This is actually a splendid plane and it can embrace both fifth-and sixth-generation features. It has huge modernization potential. Importantly, it is the best among the existing versions of its stealth characteristics. It incorporates all the best that is available in modern aviation science both in Russia and in the world."

Yet, even as Russia continues to tout the aircraft, Western aviation experts have suggested the Su-57 is mostly hype – and that Moscow lacks the manufacturing capabilities even to produce the aircraft in significant numbers. That has been noted by the fact that the Su-57 first flew in January 2010 but didn't enter service until December 2020.

How Does the Su-57 Stack Up to the NGAD

First conceptualized back in 2014 in a DARPA's Air Dominance Initiative study, the United States Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is designed to achieve air superiority, yet, the NGAD shouldn't be seen as simply a single aircraft.

Last year, at the POLITICO Defense Summit, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall explained that the manned NGAD aircraft will control the uncrewed fighters escorting it. A variety of multi-mission drones, which have been dubbed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), could act as loyal wingmen, while all of the aircraft could be networked together enhancing the situational awareness for the manned and unmanned craft alike.

Moreover, as previously reported by Maya Carlin, there are likely five different technologies that will be prioritized in the NGAD's fighter design including advanced weapons, stealth, digital design, propulsion, and thermal management. While sixth-generation technology has not been precisely defined, the features in the NGAD program are expected to exceed the capabilities of fifth-generation counterparts.

Therefore it would still seem like quite the leap that the Su-57, or any fifth-generation fighter for that matter, could be upgraded to a sixth-generation fighter so easily.

The next generation will likely include advanced digital capabilities, including highly-capable artificial intelligence (AI), data fusion, and battlefield, command, control, and communications (C3) capabilities; will be optionally manned; employ enhanced human-systems integration with virtual cockpits; advanced stealth airframes and avionics; advanced variable-cycle engines; increased-range stand-off and BVR (beyond visual range) weapons; and even be equipped with directed-energy weapons such as laser CIWS (close-in weapons systems).

Is the Su-57 Even Fifth-Generation?

Finally, some Western analysts have even suggested that Russia's Su-57 fighter has a design that is much closer to an advanced fourth-generation fighter than a true fifth-generation aircraft. 

Its stealth is nowhere near as effective as that of the F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II. It may be less detectable than an F-15 Eagle or F-16 Fighting Falcon, but the Su-57 simply has a poor cross-section compared to its main fifth-generation rivals.

In conclusion, the Su-57 may be a very capable aircraft – even if Russia doesn't have all that many in service – but it simply can't be considered sixth-generation when it is barely a fifth-generation fighter.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Summary: As tensions escalate between Beijing and Washington over the South China Sea and Taiwan, the battle for air superiority intensifies. The U.S., long a leader in aerial combat with the introduction of the F-22 Raptor, now faces competition from China's Chengdu J-20 and Russia's Sukhoi Su-57. The U.S.'s F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as the most advanced fifth-generation fighter, combining stealth, speed, and advanced avionics.

-However, the U.S. Air Force is already looking ahead with its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter incorporating advanced weapons, AI technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

-Demonstrator NGAD aircraft are already airborne, with a contract expected in 2024, underscoring the need for cutting-edge air superiority in the current global threat climate.

NGAD vs. F-35: A Showdown Comparision 

Now that tensions between Beijing and Washington are ramping up over the South China Sea and Taiwan, the fight for air superiority between the two nations is at an all-time high.

For many years, the U.S. retained aerial might over its adversaries. When the F-22 Raptor was first introduced to the service, it became the world’s first-ever fifth-generation fighter platform. However, Moscow and Beijing pushed to modernize their respective aircraft capabilities around this time and ultimately developed their fifth-generation counterparts - the Chengdu J-20 and the Sukhoi Su-57. While America’s latest F-35 Lightening II fighter platform is widely considered to be the most formidable of its kind to take to the skies, the U.S. Air Force is already looking towards the future with its Next Generation Air Dominance program (NGAD). 

Although no explicit definition can be applied to fifth-generation airframes, experts and military experts alike generally agree that stealth characteristics are the foundation.

The leading fifth-generation airframes today combine precision attack capabilities, agility, speed and situational awareness with stealth.

The Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 Lightening II, in addition to China’s Chengdu J-20 and Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57, fall into this category.

Each of these fighters is considered lightyears ahead of preceding platforms, yet the F-35 stands out for its particular cutting-edge features. 

This article takes a look at what will separate the F-35 and NGAD, as many experts are now questioning if the U.S. Air Force needs a 6th generation fighter like NGAD. 

Introducing the F-35

When the F-35 was well within its development phases in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the fighter incorporated new systems that were truly at the bleeding edge of combat aircraft design.

As the product of the Joint Strike Fighter program, the F-35 was developed to fulfill the specific needs of both the Navy and Air Force.

International partners notably participated in the JSF program, including the U.D., Italy, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

By the late 1990s, both Lockheed Martin and manufacturing competitor Boeing were selected based on their concept demonstrator aircraft. Ultimately, Lockheed was selected as the winner, and the F-35 entered its development phase. 

F-35: Key Details

The F-35 was designed to fly at speeds reaching Mach-1.6 (times the speed of sound), which is attainable with a full internal payload. With nearly double the internal fuel of its predecessor the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Lightening II has a greater combat radius. Since the F-35 is highly armed, it is considerably heavier than the lightweight fighters that came before it. The lightest of the F-35 variants has an empty weight of just over 29,000 pounds.

Three main F-35 variants exist: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A, the short take-off and vertical-landing F-35B and the carrier-based F-35C.

One of the most pivotal upgrades incorporated in the F-35 is advanced technology. Built on lessons learned from designing the Raptor program, the F-35 is equipped with sophisticated sensors and avionics components. The open architecture code installed in this platform enables continuous updates and improvements over time.

In addition to this top-notch avionics suite, the F-35 has an extremely low radar cross-section. 

What Makes NGAD Special 

While the F-35 will likely be dominating the skies for years to come, the Air Force is already working towards its next-generation strategy. First conceptualized back in 2014, the NGAD program is designed to achieve air superiority.

Five different technologies that will be prioritized in the fighter’s design are advanced weapons, stealth, digital design, propulsion and thermal management.

While sixth-generation technology has not been precisely defined, the features in the NGAD program are expected to exceed the capabilities of fifth-generation counterparts. 

Significantly, AI technology and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be incorporated into the NGAD. These collective combat aircraft are expected to fly alongside a sixth-generation fighter jet. The concept of moving away from the idea that fighters have to be a single, crewed aircraft is also being toyed with in Beijing. While the U.S. became the first country to introduce a fifth-generation airframe to the playing field, it won’t necessarily be the first to get a sixth-generation successor out front first. 

NGAD Is Coming Soon 

The Air Force has indicated that demonstrator NGAD aircraft are already airborne and that within a year a contract could be awarded to start its official development.

As posted in Breaking Defense: “The Department of the Air Force released a classified solicitation to industry for an Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance Platform with the intent to award a contract in 2024,” adding that “This solicitation release formally begins the source selection process providing industry with the requirements the DAF expects for NGAD, as the future replacement of the F-22.”

Considering the current threat climate, the introduction of the military’s new-generation fighter program is essential to preserving America’s dominant aerial capabilities.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons. 

Summary: The USS New Jersey (BB-62), a former United States Navy Iowa-class battleship from World War II, will return to its home in Camden, New Jersey, after spending the spring in drydock at the Philadelphia Naval Yard for extensive maintenance.

-The historic battleship, currently serving as a museum ship, underwent its first dry docking in over thirty years for crucial hull repairs.

-The vessel is scheduled to leave Philadelphia on June 14, with a brief stop in Paulsboro before its grand homecoming celebration on June 20. Despite delays, the USS New Jersey will be back in time for Fourth of July celebrations, ensuring the preservation of this significant piece of naval history.

USS New Jersey's Triumphant Return to Camden Set for June 20

The former United States Navy's World War II Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) spent much of the spring in drydock undergoing maintenance at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, but in a few weeks time, the historic warship will be back home in the Garden State.

Officials at the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial announced late last week that preparations are underway for a June 20 homecoming celebration for the battle wagon. The vessel is now scheduled to depart Philadelphia on June 14, and the "Big J" will dock in Paulsboro for six days before making a triumphant return to Camden.

Much Needed TLC

The historic warship, which opened as a museum ship on Oct. 15, 2001, had spent decades in the water and was in need of a major restoration. This marked the battleship's first dry docking in more than three decades, and efforts to preserve the ship focused on hull repairs.

In March, USS New Jersey was carefully guided down the Delaware River en route to the North Atlantic Ship Repair facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, back to the very berth where it was built and subsequently launched on December 7, 1942.

The original plan to preserve the 80-year-old, 887-foot-long, 45,000-ton vessel called for the repairs to be completed in time for Memorial Day. However, the museum and memorial's newly-titled CEO Marshall Spevak told the Courier-Post newspaper last month that work has taken longer than expected as unexpected issues were discovered during the restoration. That included the welding of a steel ring around the outward propeller shafts as part of an effort to prevent future leaks, while ultrasonic tests were conducted to determine the thickness of the steel hull. The biggest task was the application of around 18,000 linear feet of sealant to further stop corrosion and future leaks – and more importantly to ensure that the elements won't win and sink this battleship!

The ship will now be back in time for the Fourth of July celebrations.

"We'll be leaving the Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 14," Spevak told WHYY. "We'll be heading to Paulsboro for a quick pit stop as we did on the way down here. And then on June 20, we’ll be leaving Paulsboro and traveling the six miles upriver underneath the Walt Whitman Bridge again and back to our home court in Camden."

The stopover is needed to remove water in the ballast tanks.

"When we stopped there on the way on the way down to the dry dock, we actually put about almost 500,000 gallons of water in the forward tanks in order to even out the ship," Spevak added. "What we'll be doing when we return is taking that water off. So we'll de-water about 500,000 gallons from the forward tanks at Paulsboro. And then after that, that’s when we'll be ready to return back to Camden."

Home in Camden, N.J. for Battleship USS New Jersey 

The USS New Jersey is the only Iowa-class battleship to be maintained as a museum in her namesake state. Three locations were originally determined to be suitable for the warship, including Bayonne, Jersey City, and Camden.

Several factors came into play – notably the fact that the vessel was already undergoing the necessary preparation in Philadelphia, which was just across the Delaware River from Camden. However, after Jersey City opted not to submit a proposal, Bayonne became the frontrunner and was selected as the site for the museum.

In the end, it was decided that Bayonne was too close to New York City, which was home to the USS Intrepid (CV-11), as the U.S. Navy feared the battleship would overshadow the carrier. In the end, it was decided that Camden would be the future home for the Big J – and perhaps fittingly, BB-62's home is across the river from the Independence Seaport Museum, the home of the protected cruiser USS Olympia (C-6), the oldest remaining steel ship afloat.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The main image is from Creative Commons. All others are from the National Interest via Ethan Saunders on seen at the USS New Jersey. 

Summary: The U.S. Navy relies on aircraft carriers for force projection, protecting sea lanes, and supporting ground operations. Carriers have been crucial since WWII, but their role is threatened by advancements in adversary anti-ship weapons.

-Critics argue that large, expensive supercarriers are vulnerable and suggest a shift to more numerous, smaller, conventionally-powered flattops for greater flexibility and reduced costs.

-Despite these challenges, aircraft carriers remain vital to the Navy's 21st-century operations, much like tanks for the Army or bombers for the Air Force.

The U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carriers in Trouble? 

A recent hypothetical raised on some discussion boards was whether the United States Navy could exist without aircraft carriers. There were numerous considerations – including whether the smaller Amphibious Assault Ships should be counted as carriers.

Yet, the simplest answer is that from its founding on October 13, 1775, until March 1922, when USS Langley (CV-1) was commissioned, the sea service had no aircraft carriers in service. In other words, for nearly its first 150 years of existence, the U.S. Navy got by without any flattops – but that answer is being a bit cheeky, as of course until the early 20th century there were no heavier-than-air aircraft in military service (or even in existence), so it was a moot point.

Thus, the question is really about whether the carrier has a place in the modern 21st-century U.S. Navy. The answer is a bit more complicated.

The Role of the Aircraft Carrier in the Modern Day

Aircraft carriers are about force projection around the globe, so the short answer is that the United States Navy remains committed to the floating airfields.

"The United States is a maritime nation, and the U.S. Navy protects America at sea. Alongside our allies and partners, we defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and keep the seas open and free. Our nation is engaged in long-term competition. To defend American interests around the globe, the U.S. Navy must remain prepared to execute our timeless role, as directed by Congress and the President," the sea service explains concisely but to the point in its mission statement.

Although it doesn't specify how the U.S. Navy should execute that role, since the Second World War, carriers have played a vital role – replacing the battleship as the core of the fleet. Yet, as the U.S. Naval Institute noted in a 2018 report, the role the carrier now plays has narrowed considerably. It stated, "The centerpiece of U.S. power projection has been the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a hugely expensive but immensely flexible asset that can conduct almost every naval role imaginable."

U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Can Be Sunk

The argument against large supercarriers – one emphasized by the U.S. Naval Institute and others – is that near-peer adversaries including (but certainly not limited to) China have made great strides in developing so-called "carrier killer" weapons, including anti-ship missiles that can strike targets from hundreds of miles away. Moreover, efforts to develop nuclear-armed drones, hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, and even small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) all pose a serious threat to the flattop in the 21st century.

It is also true that the United States Air Force has shown that its long-range strategic bombers are more than capable of conducting CONUS-to-CONUS missions, while the U.S. military maintains bases worldwide.

However, while carriers are vulnerable to a plethora of weapons, and long-range bombers can strike targets around the world, the carrier remains vital in supporting ground operations on distant shores – while the deployment of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea has proven, a U.S. Navy carrier strike group (CSG) can both defend the waterways and then launch strikes on enemy positions with near impunity.

Rethinking the Role of the Carrier

The real question isn't whether the U.S. Navy needs aircraft carriers, but whether it needs 11 nuclear-powered supercarriers that make for large tempting targets. The answer may be a return to more numerous and less costly smaller conventionally-powered flattops. In addition to costing less to produce, these would be easier to retire and scrap at the end of their services lives. Disposing of nuclear-powered carriers remains an expensive proposition!

More importantly, in large operations multiple warships could be employed together – and such deployments could allow for greater flexibility.

All things considered, it is impossible to think that the United States Navy could exist in the 21st century without a fleet of aircraft carriers. It would be like asking whether the U.S. Army can operate without tanks, or the U.S. Air Force without bombers. It is possible that someday smaller unmanned platforms will replace the bombers, the tanks, and yes, even the carriers – but that isn't today. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

All images are Creative Commons. 

Le mouvement loyaliste modéré en Nouvelle-Calédonie a demandé, mardi, à Emmanuel Macron, de lever les "ambiguïtés" et de mettre "officiellement" fin à la procédure du projet de réforme constitutionnelle, dont le vote à Paris, début avril, a déclenché la colère des indépendantises, ainsi que des émeutes et des blocages dans l'archipel.

Après la promulgation de la nouvelle constitution qui bascule le Togo dans la 5e République, beaucoup de changements vont s'opérer dans le fonctionnement des institutions, notamment au niveau de l'exécutif et du législatif.

À l'occasion des 80 ans du Débarquement en Normandie, le président français Emmanuel Macron présidera le 6 juin une cérémonie internationale à Omaha Beach. Comme tous les 10 ans, l'anniversaire du Jour-J est devenu un rendez-vous incontournable pour de nombreux chefs d'État. Mais ces commémorations n'ont pas toujours connu une dimension politique et diplomatique, évoluant au fil des décennies.

Citizens in the EU Member States will elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections of 6 to 9 June. The newly elected Members, representing EU citizens until 2029, will meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They will decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term. The committees will then hold their first meetings to elect their respective Chairs and Vice-Chairs.
European Elections 2024 website
European Elections News
Fact Sheet: Electoral procedures for the European Parliament
AFET-SEDE-DROI calendar of meetings 2024
Meeting documents
Webstreaming
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

DÉCRYPTAGE - Alors que le chef de l’État veut saturer l’espace médiatique en cette dernière semaine de campagne, une bonne partie de ses troupes se projette déjà sur la suite.

LA VÉRIFICATION - Les Républicains et La France insoumise ont annoncé, ce lundi, saisir l'Arcom après l’annonce d’une prise de parole du président de la République ce jeudi sur France 2 et TF1, à 24 heures de la clôture de la campagne électorale.

Les agences humanitaires affirment que la quantité d'aide qui entre à Gaza est si faible qu'il y a un risque de famine.

CONTRE-POINT - Le premier objectif qu’Emmanuel Macron déteste sera de laisser passer l'orage. Tenir, c'est parier que l'impact du résultat des européennes, même spectaculaire, s'estompe rapidement.

REPORTAGE - À moins de six jours du scrutin, le chef de file des Républicains s'est offert, en compagnie du président de la région Normandie, une petite déambulation dans le centre-ville avant de tenir une réunion publique devant plus de 250 personnes.

The U.S. military’s collapsed pier in Gaza is symbolic of a much bigger issue.

Magyarország déli határához közel éppen 25 esztendeje zajlott a Jugoszlávia ellen indított Allied Force művelet. A bombázóhadjárat az amerikai légierőt helyezte fókuszba, ezért kevéssé ismert, hogy kanadai CF-18A Hornet vadászbombázók is komoly szerepet kaptak a gyors beavatkozásnak tervezett, végül 78 naposra nyúlt műveletben.  

A kanadai légierő koalíciós szerepvállalása nem volt előzmény nélküli. Vadászpilótáik nyolc évvel korábban, az 1991-es öbölháborúban szereztek tapasztalatot a nagy, többnemzeti kötelékben végrehajtott harci alkalmazásról. A Desert Storm műveletként ismert öbölháborúnak a résztvevők többsége saját elnevezést adott, a kanadai részvétel a Friction nevet kapta. A háború utáni években a kanadai légierő békeidős működésre állt át, az öbölháborús veteránok kikerültek a rendszerből, és a megszerzett tudást az olyan gyakorlatokon igyekeztek hellyel-közzel szinten tartani, mint a hazai Maple Flag vagy az amerikai Red Flag. Közben egy újabb hadművelet lehetősége kezdett kibontakozni, ezúttal a Balkánon.

[...] Bővebben!

The dissolution of the British parliament on 30 May has precipitated the government and the intelligence agencies into having to prepare for the United Kingdom's general election. A new interdepartmental unit called the Joint Election Security Preparations Unit has just

On 3 June, the French army's deep operations and intelligence command (CAPR) launched a specialised intelligence reserve battalion (B2RS), as

The eighth edition of the World Drone Congress, held in Shenzhen from 24 to 26 May, was the scene of

A flurry of new jobs were advertised by Raytheon Saudi Arabia last week, including at least five based around the

Japan's Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) has dispatched a representative to Australia. Hosted by the University of Sydney's United States