Explained: 5th Generation Fighter Jets And India's Need For Them

Following approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India is set to acquire 5th-generation fighter jets through the green light given to a longstanding proposal for indigenous design.

But what exactly are 5th generation fighter jets, and what drives India's need for them? Let's delve deeper into the matter.

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5th Generation Fighter Jets - What are they?

The apex predators of the sky are defined by the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) as fifth-generation fighters, which are capable of operating in highly contested combat environments characterized by the presence of the most capable current air and ground threats, as well as those reasonably expected to be operational in the foreseeable future.

According to Business Insider, only aircraft possessing features such as stealth capabilities, the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds without engaging their afterburners, can be classified as fifth-generation fighters.

Fifth-generation fighters are distinguished from their fourth-generation peers by multi-spectral low-observable design features, self-protection mechanisms, radar jamming capabilities, and integrated avionics, as per Simple Flying.com.

Simple Flying.com notes that there are three 5th-generation fighter jets currently in production: China's Chengdu J-20, Russia's Sukhoi Su-57, and the US Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning.

America's F-22 Raptor, recognized as the first fifth-generation fighter jet, is presently in use but is no longer undergoing manufacturing.

According to Business Insider, the final F-22 Raptor was manufactured by Lockheed Martin in December 2011 and delivered to the USAF in May 2012. The F-22s aren't being phased out anytime soon. The company plans to keep the craft airborne for the next two decades.

US' F-35

When it comes to fighter jets, the F-35 is positioned atop the food chain, as described by Lockheed Martin, which labels it as the 'most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter jet in the world.' The F-35s are currently being deployed to replace the US' trusty F-16s and A-10 Thunderbolt-IIs.

According to Business Insider, the US Air Force has stated that the F-35s possess "an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which they were designed to operate." Additionally, it was mentioned that the F-35 "is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion, and unprecedented situational awareness."

The US Department of Defence has plans to spend an estimated $1.7 trillion on nearly 2,500 F-35s in the upcoming decades.

Lockheed Martin quoted retired US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who stated, "The F-35 is a capability in indications and warnings, command and control, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. All that, plus its speed and range, speaks for itself. The benefits of interoperability and networking offered by the F-35 and its proliferation among allies and partners don't bode well for an enemy of NATO."

Last year, the Pentagon projected that it would purchase 83 of the stealthy F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin for $9.8 billion. However, US President Joe Biden aims for an 18 percent reduction in the number of F-35 jets that the Pentagon purchases next year, following Congress' cap on the size of the upcoming defence budget, which compelled the administration to seek savings, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

The Pentagon's order for the stealthy fighter is expected to drop to below 70, down from an anticipated order of 83, resulting in an estimated $1.6 billion decrease in spending on jets. Lockheed expects the F-35s to remain in service until 2070.

Russia's Su-57

According to Business Insider, the Sukhoi Su-57 represents Russia's initial endeavor in developing a fifth-gen fighter. As stated by Russian Defense Export, the aircraft is characterized as a fifth-gen fighter with features aimed at ensuring "overtness of combat operation due to low signature level in the radar field, ensuring continued supersonic cruise flight, and solving the whole range of fighter and strike tasks assigned in tactical aviation."

Dubbed "Felon" by NATO, Russia is believed to possess just 10 Su-57s. Nevertheless, it has been reported by state media that the intention is to increase this number to 22 by 2024 and 76 by 2028. The aircraft saw its inaugural combat engagement in Syria in 2018. Russian officials have indicated that the Su-57 has also participated in the Ukraine war.

However, experts have highlighted several shortcomings, casting doubt on whether it warrants classification as a fighter. These include Moscow's apparent inability to equip the jets with stealth-capable engines and closely situated body panels that would effectively reduce its radar signature.

Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank, informed the outlet that the lack of deployment of the jets in the Ukraine war "suggests that they do not have confidence in the claimed stealth properties of the jet."

China's Chengdu-J20

According to Business Insider, the Chengdu-J20 was commissioned into service in 2017 following its inaugural flight in 2011. While China's Chengdu J-20 is classified as a fifth-generation fighter, Simple Flying notes that the US does not appear overly concerned about it.

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Teal Group, suggested to Wired that this might be due to deficiencies in its stealth technology. The outlet cited General Kenneth Wilsbach, the head of Pacific Air Forces at USAF, in 2023, remarking that the Chengdu J-20 is not regarded as a 'dominant craft' compared to US fighters.

He highlighted that the Chengdu J-20 had replicated technology from both the F-22 and F-35. Business Insider reports that China is estimated to possess over 200 J-20s and is preparing various upgrades for the aircraft, including the utilization of domestically-produced WS-15 engines.

"The J-20 engines have been a significant challenge, but I think they're indicative of larger issues within the Chinese defense industry," stated Mike Dahm, a former US Navy intelligence officer. "Despite China's technological advancements, they still lag behind the West in high-end manufacturing techniques, whether it's engines, low-observable materials, or metallurgy." "Precision manufacturing," he added, "plays a crucial role in stealth and fifth-generation aircraft capabilities."

Turkey's Kaan

According to Bloomberg, Turkey's own fifth-generation fighter jet, known as Kaan, is being developed. The jet, a collaboration between Turkish Aerospace Industries and BAE Systems from the UK, had its first test flight in February. State broadcaster TRT was quoted by the outlet as stating that the Kaan was launched from the country's capital Ankara and remained airborne for a little over 10 minutes.

Turkey was denied access to the F-35s in 2019 after it had purchased S-400 air defense missiles from Russia. However, the Kaan is not expected to be ready for action anytime soon. According to Bloomberg, the fifth-generation fighter will 'take years' to be prepared for combat.

The biggest challenge remains finding and acquiring an engine for the craft. The outlet reported in December that Turkey was aiming to locally manufacture GE Aerospace's F110 engines.

Why does India need them?

India's need to bolster its air defenses against China and Pakistan is underscored by the current aircraft strengths of these nations. Beijing currently possesses 3,304 aircraft, while India and Pakistan have 2,296 and 1,434 aircraft respectively. The Indian Air Force finds itself in need of an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with India also aiming to enhance self-reliance in the defense sector.

It's worth noting that while India endeavors to strengthen its air force and retire aging aircraft, the process of receiving deliveries of fighter jets and other equipment is time-consuming. Once India acquires these fifth-generation fighters, it will join an extremely exclusive club that includes the US, Russia, and China.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has also granted in-principle approval to procure 34 Dhruv advanced light helicopters for the Coast Guard and the Indian Army. The approval for the AMCA project is described as extremely crucial by sources. India has been engaged in the ambitious AMCA project to develop a medium-weight deep penetration fighter jet with advanced stealth features to enhance its air power capabilities.

The estimated initial development cost of the project is around Rs 15,000 crore. Under the plan, five prototypes of the AMCA will be jointly built by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with support from private industries.

India's confidence in the development of the AMCA received a significant boost following the successful development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Manufactured by the state-run aerospace behemoth HAL, the Tejas aircraft serves as a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support missions, with reconnaissance and anti-ship operations as its secondary roles.

The Indian Air Force is also in the process of procuring 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). In April 2019, an RFI (Request for Information) was issued by the IAF to acquire 114 jets at a cost of around $18 billion, marking one of the world's largest military procurement programs in recent years.