The world’s leading aerospace powers are currently developing sixth-generation fighter aircraft. But what will these next-generation combat systems actually look like? Sergey Bibikov, the Deputy Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, has provided valuable insights into the evolution of fighter aircraft. He elucidated the potential differences between sixth-generation platforms and today’s fifth-generation fighters. In an episode of the Moscow Aviation Institute’s specialist podcast ‘How Does It Work?’, released on November 6, 2026, Bibikov addressed the technological requirements of fifth-generation aircraft, their combat effectiveness, and the emerging concept of sixth-generation aviation systems.
The Evolution of the Modern Fighter Aircraft
Fighter aircraft, a distinct category of military aviation, were developed with the primary objective of engaging and destroying hostile aircraft. Nevertheless, their operational function began to expand almost immediately, as fighters were increasingly used against ground and naval targets. This trend was notably clear during the Second World War and has persisted in later generations of combat aircraft.
The growing complexity and cost of military aviation have gradually blurred the traditional boundaries between fighters and bombers. From the fourth generation onward, fighter aircraft developed progressively more advanced multirole capabilities, enabling them to execute air superiority missions in addition to precision assaults against maritime and ground targets.
Bibikov said that a contemporary fighter should no longer be perceived as a mere aircraft. It is a comprehensive aviation complex that includes the aircraft and a vast network of supporting systems facilitating its operation both on the ground and in flight. Its efficacy depends on the integration of other military assets, weapons, sensors, and onboard electronics, in addition to flight performance.
Why Fifth-Generation Fighters Were Developed
The emergence of fifth-generation fighters was driven by a changing understanding of future air warfare. Western military experts initiated the development of a new aerial combat concept in the late 1970s, which necessitated combat aircraft requiring significantly different capabilities.
The fifth-generation fighter was ultimately influenced by several requirements. These included the capacity to maintain supersonic cruising flight without afterburners while carrying a standard combat payload, advanced integrated avionics, and reduced radar and infrared signatures compared to fourth-generation aircraft.
The introduction of multifunctional onboard electronic systems incorporating active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology and open architecture was another defining requirement. The technological foundation of the fifth generation was established by the combination of these characteristics.
Fifth-generation fighters include the Russian Su-57, American F-22, and Chinese J-20 and J-35. Meanwhile, Turkey, Japan, India, and South Korea are each conducting their own initiatives to create sophisticated combat aircraft.
What Makes Fifth-Generation Aircraft Different?
The differences between fourth- and fifth-generation fighters are not limited to their engines and electronics. Their aerodynamic and design requirements are fundamentally different, as evidenced by their external configurations.
Bibikov emphasized the internal arrangement of weapons, the positioning of lifting surfaces, the differences in wing sweep angles, and the shape of the fuselage. The requirements for sustained supersonic cruising and reduced radar visibility are closely associated with these design choices.
Internal weapons bays, in particular, contribute to the aircraft’s low-observable characteristics by preventing the external carriage of weapons that would increase radar reflectivity. Thus, the aerodynamic configuration centers on a combination of stealth, speed, and combat effectiveness, rather than conventional flight performance alone.
Is the exorbitant cost of fifth-generation fighters justified?
The massive development costs associated with fifth-generation fighters have sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding their use in contemporary conflicts.
Bibikov advised against drawing definitive conclusions about their efficacy from present military operations. He contended that fifth-generation aircraft were primarily designed for large-scale conflicts necessitating extensive collaboration among various military forces and assets.
In such situations, their primary objective would be to outclass enemy aircraft through a combination of flight performance, stealth, and sophisticated onboard systems, while simultaneously achieving air superiority at the operational and tactical levels.
Reduced observability is particularly significant because it can influence the distance at which an enemy can detect an aircraft and the range at which opposing forces can deploy guided missiles against it.
Bibikov argues that contemporary conflicts like Russia’s operation in Ukraine and the US-Israeli campaign against Iran do not reflect the large-scale warfare for which fifth-generation aviation systems were designed. As a result, their operational experience in these conflicts is insufficient to provide a comprehensive evaluation of their intended capabilities.
However, he emphasized that fifth-generation aircraft have already been involved in military operations. The Su-57, a Russian aircraft, has exhibited its capabilities during the conflict in Ukraine, while the F-35, an American aircraft, has been extensively used in Middle Eastern operations.
Despite the F-35’s non-traditional status as a fighter in the classical sense, its extensive multirole capabilities justify its classification as a fifth-generation aviation system. The significance of integrated information exchange in contemporary warfare is further illustrated by its operations in conjunction with other Israeli military assets. Bibikov regards this operational experience as evidence that the investment in fifth-generation aviation systems can be justified.
Russia’s Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme: Defining the Concept
The United States, China, and Europe are currently developing sixth-generation fighters. Although Bibikov stated that the immediate priority is defining the operational concept and establishing the corresponding tactical and technical requirements, Russia is also working toward the next generation.
This stage is particularly significant because the experience gained from fifth-generation aircraft is insufficient to conduct a thorough evaluation of their operational efficacy. Accordingly, developers must take into account lessons learned from other aviation systems currently in use in contemporary conflicts, as well as the latest advancements in science and technology.
Bibikov emphasized that the predictions regarding sixth-generation aircraft rely on publicly available information, expert assessments, and emerging technological trends. These technologies comprise those currently in development and those that have undergone testing.
A sixth-generation fighter is expected to be an integrated system of multiple aerial platforms connected through a unified information network, rather than a single aircraft.
This network would facilitate coordinated operations against airborne, land, and maritime targets by connecting various aircraft, ground-based command centers, and other aviation systems. It is envisioned that artificial intelligence will be instrumental in coordinating operations, distributing combat tasks, and managing information.
Manned Fighters and Unmanned Loyal Wingmen
One of the defining characteristics of the sixth-generation concept will likely be cooperation between manned aircraft and multiple unmanned aerial vehicles of different sizes.
Bibikov believes that piloted multirole platforms could operate from relatively secure locations, acting as command and control aircraft responsible for the management of missions and the distribution of targets among the participating platforms.
In contrast, unmanned aircraft would be responsible for a wider variety of operational responsibilities, such as reconnaissance, target designation, guidance, and direct engagement with hostile targets. These aircraft would serve as “loyal wingmen,” collaborating with their manned counterparts.
Unmanned combat aircraft have already been proven to be effective in contemporary conflicts, rendering them a critical element of future air warfare.
The concept of a loyal wingman is currently garnering significant international attention. Development has advanced to the flight testing of technology demonstrators in the United States, which includes systems that integrate artificial intelligence to manage unmanned aircraft.
Nevertheless, there are major questions regarding the configuration of the manned platform. There is ongoing debate among experts regarding the necessity of direct weapons-engagement capabilities, the appropriate size, the onboard systems that should be included, and the necessity of a crew.
It is interesting that developers frequently release conceptual images that show these future manned platforms with design characteristics that resemble fifth-generation fighters. This implies that certain components of the current fighter configuration may continue to be relevant despite the fundamental transformation of the overall combat architecture.
In conclusion,
It is probable that the transition from fifth- to sixth-generation aviation will entail a transition from increasing sophistication in individual aircraft to interconnected combat systems. Artificial intelligence, unmanned loyal wingmen, and network-centric operations could define the next generation, despite the remaining importance of stealth, supersonic performance, and advanced avionics. Ultimately, the sixth-generation fighter will be an integrated system, not a single aircraft, as Bibikov emphasized.