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As sixth generation fighter programs increase, Military insider It is divided as to whether future fighters will need pilots.
The Department of Defense is pouring billions of dollars into next-generation aircraft, pushing the boundaries between stealth and speed. But as America aims for a future of aviation control, one question is looming. Are Americans still risking their lives in the cockpit?
AI-backed autonomous drones are progressing faster than most people expected, with some defense leaders rethinking the role of pilots.
There is a view that the F-35 should be the last manned aerial vehicle. However, many pilots disagree.
Drone intrusions at US bases are subject to intense scrutiny as devices prove fatal overseas
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is the largest self-driving vehicle in the military currently in operation, primarily for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. (David Marleuil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“It’s very controversial,” the former senior defense secretary told Fox News Digital. “We have a cohort of people who think we should not think about building manned fighters in the second half of this century.”
“In the Air Force, there are people who are in the air ruler of the Hardline. They are on Cloud9 after what the B-2 did in Iran this week… But in my head, why do we put men in that loop?
Air Force pilots flew a B-2 bomber on a 36-hour round trip, attacking three Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend. Trump said the strike “was wiped out Iran’s nuclear site like he’d never seen before.” He praised the “brave” pilot who made the plane “the best shot in the world.”
However, the most rapid technological advancements in US history have confusing defense authorities about how to plan for the future.
“To date, services have only scratched the surface about what future human and unmanned tacare (tactical air) looks like,” the former official continued.
“If AI technology continues to evolve in five years, when you’re in your childhood, just starting to make decisions about what the F-47 is, you’re on the wrong path.”
The US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone can perform reconnaissance or forecast strikes. (Reuters/Janice Lizance)
Others argue Unmanned system There is still no decision-making reliability and network resilience needed for high-stakes combat.
“It’s very important that President Trump has advanced manned platforms for the Air Force. Clearly, the F-47 is the solution,” said former Congressman R-Calif, a former F/A 18th Navy Aviator. “This academic debate about unmanned only platforms is ambitious, but the networks don’t exist yet. We need a distributed network with latency, high bandwidth, and critical nodes, and we don’t have that.”
However, he urged Boeing to move quickly.
“Boeing needs to be done. They can’t afford to lead this into a tanker program. This is absolutely important to get it right.”
Due to the Pentagon’s long acquisition timeline, sixth generation aircraft will not reach the battlefield, with autonomous counterparts matching their capabilities, with less risk to humans.
Garcia emphasized that the crew plays a unique role in coordinating combat operations. “We still need quarterbacks in the air to manage unmanned aircraft and need to have situational awareness come back to the entire advanced combat management system,” he said.
At the heart of this debate is America’s ability to project power while preparing for conflicts that are close to peers. But economic restrictions shape what is possible.
“We ended up with today’s Air Force being the oldest, smallest and most prepared situation in history,” said the retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general. David Deptaladean of Mitchell Aerospace Research Institute.
Trump expelled the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter jet in March and announced plans for the F-47 in its oval office. (Washington Post via Demetrius Freeman/Getty Images)
Deptula told Fox News Digital that the “only” debate about the F-47 is about money because of “any budget not tied to the defense strategy, shape or shape.”
He said anyone who thinks a drone is ready to take on a pilot job can quickly believe in “science fiction.”
“It could be at some point in the future, but we’re not there yet.”
Others warn both Air Force And the Navy may have different bets on how unmanned technology will take into account their valuable fighter needs.
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“To date, services have only scratched the surface about what a human and unmanned tactical atmosphere looks like,” another former defenseman said. “The Air Force is hoping to rush the F-47 to the IOC and beat unmanned supporters to the Trough,” referring to the early operational capabilities (IOC).
“The Navy appears to be on a more measured path to F/A-XX than it was a few years ago, and perhaps part of that is seeing where unmanned technology goes.”
