A Russian scientist has revealed that the 6th generation aircraft – which Moscow plans to build – will not be fully autonomous and manned, but will have more automation for routine flight and combat functions using “neural networks”. The first outlines of the concept of a 6th generation aircraft are finally coming from Russia.
Will such a fighter be manned or unmanned is the question going around the world. This discussion arose because of the complexity and diversity of various combat situations, where making the right tactical decisions through contextual awareness will require conscious ‘intelligence’.
A man cannot be excluded from making military decisions in a war. This was stated by Evgeny Aleksandrovich Fedosov, scientific director of GosNIAS and deputy secretary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The statement also clears up a long-standing debate in Russia about next-generation military aviation, and while the government has been promoting domestic Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies over the past two years.
Interestingly, neural network science is already on its way to being incorporated into Russian kamikaze drones. The NAKA technology, developed by drone developer Hardberry-RusFactor, is designed to detect and target Western armored vehicles such as the Leopard main battle tank (MBT) and the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
Fedosov emphasized that “manned aviation will remain forever because no one has yet overcome the human brain.
Our brains have great potential that unfolds in a critical situation – and the more complex the combat operation, the more important intelligence is. Therefore, we try not to replace the pilot with a machine and create all the conditions for performing complex combat missions. I am convinced that it is impossible to exclude a man-pilot from a combat operation.’
Neural networks: Billions of operations per second
He added that neural networks can perform “billions of operations per second.” However, “they will not be able to make a decision … when intuition is needed (or when the situation is) desperate.” “Aircraft are getting smarter, but that’s just automating the control process,” he added. Russian designers had previously argued over whether the 6th generation fighters should be manned or unmanned.
But there is a lack of consensus between Russian military and defense industry officials, where their views do not align. As of late 2023, Russia’s aerospace scientists, aviation designers, and air power theorists were still “discussing” what constitutes a 6th generation aircraft, as the global military aviation community was still undecided on the concept.
How much more modern can a fighter jet get?
The modern 4++ generation had maximized all the possible performance characteristics predicted for the past two decades for future aircraft. It included kinetic characteristics such as speed, range and maneuverability – found in newer versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Su-35S or F-15EX – that have not left room for development.
Now it’s radar-evading stealth, with super cruise engines, “intelligent” features like sensor fusion, data processing, and AI-like automated features to assist pilot decision-making in Gen-5 F-35, J-20 aircraft or the Su-57 being further enhanced. 6th-generation fighters, however, are still an “artificial” idea, Russian defense analyst Alexander Yermakov said in a June 2022 paper at the Valdai Discussion Club, one of Russia’s leading think tanks.
Su – 57’s successor
Russian designers are at a “tipping point” where this debate is “not over yet.” This may be because Russia has a different understanding of the complexity of the tasks a so-called 6th generation aircraft is expected to perform. Future aircraft will need “increased flight performance,” adaptation to control and combat engagement systems, “high maneuverability, optimal navigation and use of multiple power generation (engine) modes.
The integration of these technologies into a single system is a difficult stage in the development of a new fighter aircraft (6th generation), which requires additional efforts and resources. UAC director Yuri Slyusar previously said the 5th-generation Su-57 fighter is a “step towards a 6th-generation aircraft,” offering a fascinating insight into Russian defense technology thinking.
