Is the era of US-manned fighter jets within sight? Possibly. The F-15’s production is entering its twilight, the F-35 is in full swing, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is ramping up, and NGAD is in development and perpetually uncertain. However, what all these 5th and 6th-generation fighters have in common is low production numbers compared to their 4th-generation predecessors. Additionally, it is unclear if there are any plans for manned combat aircraft beyond them.
Current combat aircraft being built/developed
Fighter jets were first developed in the 1940s, and through the 1950s and 1960s, there was an explosion of them and many thousands were built. However, the United States Air Force currently has only three fighter aircraft in development or production: the F-35A and F-15EX (currently in production) and the manned component of the NGAD program. The F-16 Block 70 remains in production but for export only, the Air Force is purchasing a limited number of F-15EX Eagle IIs (to be replaced by NGAD), and the F/A-18 Super Hornet is Navy not Air Force (besides its production is to end in 2027).
Photo: USAF
Aircraft type: Generation: Role: Remaining to be delivered: Note: F-15EX: 4.5th multirole/air superiority Approx. 96 Production likely to end before 2030 F-35A: 5th multirole stealth fighter Approx. 1,450 Deliveries through 2030s NGAD manned fighter: 6th
Is The Era Of US Fighter Jets Coming To An End With The F-35?
