The race to field a sixth-generation fighter jet is on. Even though fifth-generation aircraft are still relatively new—and mostly unattainable to the majority of industrialized nations—the world’s leading nations are forging ahead on the next generation of fighter aircraft, reflecting concerns that fifth-generation advantages are already eroding.

While the technical specifics of a sixth-generation platform remain undefined, what’s clear is that only a select few nations have a realistic shot at developing such an aircraft. Whoever gets there first will likely enjoy a strategic advantage.

No formal definition yet exists for a sixth-generation fighter, but it is generally thought to include aircraft entering service from the late 2020s into the 2040s. No sixth-generation aircraft yet exist; the first one to enter service is likely to be the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which has several working prototypes and is expected to be introduced by 2027.

Common traits of sixth-gen aircraft include:

The development emphasis will shift from pure performance to information dominance. The pilot’s role will in turn shift from dogfighting athlete to more of a mission commander, whose survival will rely upon enhanced situational awareness and broader network integration.

Here are the nations involved in the........

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