Fifth-generation fighter
The fifth-generation fighter represents the pinnacle of modern air combat technology, a class of aircraft designed to dominate the skies through unparalleled stealth, sensor integration, and digital prowess. These aren't just faster jets; they are flying supercomputers engineered to see without being seen, and act with decisive intelligence. Understanding them reveals how warfare has fundamentally transformed in the 21st century and hints at what future air power might look like. Fifth-generation fighters are defined by their combination of stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, and extensive sensor fusion, giving them a decisive edge. These aircraft are essentially 'software-defined,' relying heavily on complex integrated systems for everything from flight control to battlefield awareness. Only a handful of nations currently operate these highly advanced combat aircraft, with others in various stages of development or planning for future generations.
AI Summary
The fifth-generation fighter represents the pinnacle of modern air combat technology, a class of aircraft designed to dominate the skies through unparalleled stealth, sensor integration, and digital prowess. These aren't just faster jets; they are flying supercomputers engineered to see without being seen, and act with decisive intelligence. Understanding them reveals how warfare has fundamentally transformed in the 21st century and hints at what future air power might look like.
- Fifth-generation fighters are defined by their combination of stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, and extensive sensor fusion, giving them a decisive edge.
- These aircraft are essentially 'software-defined,' relying heavily on complex integrated systems for everything from flight control to battlefield awareness.
- Only a handful of nations currently operate these highly advanced combat aircraft, with others in various stages of development or planning for future generations.
Defining the Fifth Generation
In the realm of military aviation, 'fifth-generation fighter' isn't just a number—it's a classification for the most advanced combat aircraft currently in operation. These jets embody major technological leaps developed in the early 21st century, fundamentally changing how air battles are fought. While no single definition is universally agreed upon, a core set of characteristics sets them apart.
At their heart, fifth-generation fighters are built around a handful of groundbreaking capabilities. These allow them to operate with unparalleled effectiveness in contested airspace.
Feature Description Stealth Minimized radar cross-section LPIR Low-probability-of-intercept radar Supercruise Sustained supersonic flight without afterburners Advanced Avionics Highly integrated digital systems Sensor Fusion Consolidated battlefield view Networking Real-time data sharing Situational Awareness Comprehensive understanding of the battlespace C3 Capabilities Command, Control, and Communications
As of late 2024, only a few aircraft truly meet this demanding classification and are combat-ready. These include the United States' F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, China's Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35, and Russia's Sukhoi Su-57. Several other nations are actively developing their own fifth-generation designs, hoping to join this elite club.
Hallmarks of a Next-Gen Fighter
The characteristics of a fifth-generation fighter are a deliberate departure from their predecessors. Fourth-generation fighters, while impressive, often prioritized pure maneuverability and close-range dogfighting. Fifth-generation jets, however, shift the focus dramatically towards stealth and information dominance.
Foremost among these traits is stealth. Every aspect of a fifth-gen fighter's design—from its angular airframe, smooth surfaces, and canted vertical tails to the use of advanced composite materials—aims to minimize its radar cross-section. Crucially, all munitions are carried in internal weapon bays, preventing external pylons from compromising their low observability.
Beyond stealth, these aircraft boast exceptional performance. Many feature supercruise, the ability to maintain supersonic speeds for extended periods without relying on fuel-guzzling afterburners. Coupled with advanced aerodynamics and often thrust vectoring, which can direct engine exhaust for extreme agility, they can outmaneuver and outrun adversaries.
The Software-Defined Aircraft
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of a fifth-generation fighter isn't its physical form, but its digital brain. These aircraft are essentially flying supercomputers, with vast amounts of processing power dedicated to integrating all onboard and networked sensors into a single, cohesive view of the battlespace. This is known as sensor fusion.
Unlike older jets that had separate systems for each sensor, fifth-gen fighters use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) main processors to directly control and merge data. This creates a unified picture for the pilot, displaying threats, friendlies, and targets with unprecedented clarity. The F-22, for instance, gained Synthetic Aperture Radar capability through a software upgrade, highlighting this flexibility.
However, this advanced integration comes with its own challenges. The sheer complexity of these software systems can lead to unforeseen glitches or 'software crises,' causing delays and sometimes even contributing to accidents. A malfunction in the flight control system, for example, caused the first production Su-57 to crash in 2020.
Despite the hurdles, the software-defined nature offers immense upgrade potential. New capabilities can be added with mere code updates, from enhancing sensor performance to potentially controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the future. This adaptability ensures these aircraft can evolve with emerging threats.
Unparalleled Situational Awareness
The ultimate goal of combining stealth with advanced sensors and secure communications is to achieve overwhelming situational awareness. This allows fifth-generation fighters to detect and engage targets long before those targets are even aware of their presence. It's a game of hide-and-seek where one side is virtually invisible and all-seeing.
This comprehensive sensor fusion can even provide a battlefield view superior to traditional Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which may be forced further from the front lines by advanced threats. The pilot in a fifth-gen fighter essentially becomes a tactical commander, with direct, real-time control and understanding of the unfolding battle.
Yet, even with advanced displays, a single pilot can face information overload from the sheer volume of data produced by sophisticated Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and other sensors. Researchers are exploring 'track-before-detect' algorithms, which use probability theory to identify targets that no single sensor could definitively pick up alone, by fusing faint traces from multiple sources.
To manage this deluge of information, the onboard computers intelligently filter and present data. They constantly compare observed data against preloaded threat libraries, ensuring that pilots are only shown the most relevant information about known enemy capabilities, preventing distraction from insignificant contacts.
The Combat Cloud Concept
Looking ahead, military strategists envision these fighters operating within a 'combat cloud.' This concept involves multiple fifth-generation aircraft, along with future unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), sharing information seamlessly across a secure, resilient network. Imagine an F-35 commanding a swarm of UCAVs armed with missiles, acting as its airborne arsenal.
A Global Race to Dominance
The development of fifth-generation fighters has been a complex, multi-decade endeavor, costing billions and pushing the boundaries of engineering. The journey began with ambitious prototypes and concept demonstrators, evolving into the formidable machines we see today. It's a testament to global aerospace innovation and strategic competition.
The American Pioneers
The United States led the charge, with early programs like the Advanced Tactical Fighter producing prototypes such as the Lockheed YF-22 and Northrop YF-23 in 1990. These efforts culminated in the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which entered service in 2005 as the world's first operational fifth-generation fighter, designed for air superiority.
Following the F-22, the Joint Strike Fighter program yielded the versatile Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. This aircraft, with its three variants (F-35A, F-35B, F-35C), offers multirole capabilities and entered service starting in 2015. It represents a significant commitment to advanced air power across multiple branches of the U.S. military and its allies.
Lockheed Martin's definition of 'fifth-generation'—emphasizing advanced stealth, extreme performance, information fusion, and sustainment—has been influential, though not without controversy. Competitors like Boeing and Eurofighter, and even some commentators, have pointed out that the F-35, for example, lacks supercruise, a trait often associated with advanced modern fighters, sparking debates about what truly qualifies a jet for this elite category.
China's Rapid Ascent
China rapidly emerged as a formidable player in the fifth-generation arena. Western intelligence tracked their J-XX program for years, which led to the unveiling of the Chengdu J-20. This sleek, twin-engine stealth fighter made its first flight in 2011 and officially entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2017, becoming the first operational stealth fighter outside the U.S.
Not content with one, China also developed the Shenyang J-35, a smaller, carrier-capable stealth fighter. First flown in 2012 as the FC-31, its production version, the J-35, was officially introduced in 2025, further solidifying China's position as a major power in advanced air combat technology. Both the J-20 and J-35 are classified as fifth-generation by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Russia's Stealth Ambitions
Russia's path to a fifth-generation fighter began in the late 1980s, with technology demonstrators like the Mikoyan Project 1.44 and the forward-swept wing Su-47. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, funding issues caused delays, but the ambition remained.
The PAK FA program eventually selected Sukhoi's T-50 design, which evolved into the Sukhoi Su-57. This twin-engine stealth fighter made its maiden flight in 2010 and entered service with the Russian Air Force in December 2020, intended to replace older MiG-29s and Su-27s. Russia is also exploring future concepts like the MiG-41 interceptor and the lighter, export-focused Su-75 Checkmate.
The Global Pursuit Continues
The race for fifth-generation capabilities isn't confined to these three nations. Several other countries are investing heavily in developing their own advanced stealth fighters, recognizing the strategic importance of this technology.
Turkey's TAI TF-X Kaan, a twin-engine stealth air superiority fighter, represents a significant national effort. After years of development, its first prototype made an impressive 13-minute maiden flight in February 2024, aiming to replace the Turkish Air Force's aging F-16 fleet and potentially for export.
India is independently developing the HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a twin-engine supermaneuverable stealth multirole fighter. A prototype is currently under construction, with a first flight expected around 2025. This homegrown effort follows India's withdrawal from a joint project with Russia on a Su-57 derivative, citing unmet requirements.
Japan, after being denied F-22 exports by the U.S. Congress, embarked on its own stealth demonstrator, the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin. First flown in 2016, this project provided valuable data. Japan has now signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a more ambitious sixth-generation fighter, the Mitsubishi F-X, potentially with international partners.
Even South Korea, with its KF-21 Boramae, initially categorized as a 4.5 generation fighter, is planning enhancements under the KF-21EX program. These upgrades will include internal weapon bays, signaling an intent to transition the aircraft into a full fifth-generation platform in the future.
The Future of Air Combat
The fifth-generation fighter has redefined air warfare, prioritizing information and stealth over raw speed and traditional maneuverability. The F-22, F-35, J-20, J-35, and Su-57 stand as symbols of this new era. As these aircraft continue to evolve through software upgrades and new capabilities, they lay the groundwork for even more advanced, potentially autonomous, sixth-generation systems that will shape the skies for decades to come.
Article
Fifth-generation fighter
A fifth-generation fighter is a jet fighter aircraft classification which includes major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century. As of 2025, these are the most advanced fighters in operation. The characteristics of a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed upon, and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all; however, they typically include stealth, low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR), agile airframes with supercruise performance, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battlespace for situational awareness and C3 (command, control and communications) capabilities.
As of December 2025, the combat-ready fifth-generation fighters are the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in December 2005; the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, which entered service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in July 2015; the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35A, which are both in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) beginning in March 2017 and September 2025 respectively; Shenyang J-35, which entered service with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in September 2025; and the Sukhoi Su-57, which entered service with the Russian Air Force (VVS) on 25 December 2020. Other national and international projects are in various stages of development.
Characteristics
Fifth-generation fighter
The emerging generation of advanced fighter aircraft in the first decades of the 21st century has come to be known as the fifth generation. The defining characteristics of such a fifth-generation fighter are not universally agreed upon, and not every fifth-generation type necessarily has them all. Some generation counts include more than five leading up to the emerging new generation.
The Su-57 and F-35 at Aero India 2025.
Whereas previous fourth-generation fighters emphasized maneuverability and close-range dogfighting, typical fifth-generation characteristics include:
• Stealth, with munitions stored internally. • High maneuverability, which tends to include short-field capabilities. • Supercruise, i.e. prolonged supersonic cruise without the use of reheat. • Advanced avionics, including low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR). • Networked data fusion, enabling situation awareness on the battlefield. • Multirole capabilities, such as battlefield C3 (command, control and communications).
In order to minimize their radar cross-section (RCS), most fifth-generation fighters use chines instead of standard leading edge extensions and lack canards, though the Sukhoi T-50 has engine intake extensions that seem to function somewhat like canards, and the Chengdu J-20 designers have chosen the agility enhancements of canards in spite of their poor stealth characteristics. They all have twin canted vertical tails (similar to a V-tail) also to minimize side RCS. Most fifth-generation fighters with supermaneuverability achieve it through thrust vectoring.
They all have internal weapon bays in order to avoid high RCS weapon pylons, but they all have external hardpoints on their wings for use on non-stealthy missions, such as the external fuel tanks the F-22 carries when deploying to a new theater.
All fifth-generation fighters have a high percentage of composite materials, in order to reduce RCS and weight.
Software-defined aircraft
All revealed fifth-generation fighters use commercial off-the-shelf main processors to directly control all sensors to form a consolidated view of the battlespace with both onboard and networked sensors, while previous-generation jet fighters used federated systems where each sensor or pod would present its own readings for the pilot to combine in their own mind a view of the battlespace. The F-22A was physically delivered without synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or situation awareness infra-red search and track. It will gain SAR later through software upgrades. However, any flaw in these complex software systems can disable supposedly unrelated aircraft systems, and the complexity of a software-defined aircraft can lead to a software crisis with additional costs and delays. By the end of 2013, the biggest concern with the F-35 program was software, especially the software required for data fusion across the many sensors.
Sukhoi calls their expert system for sensor fusion the artificial intelligence of the Su-57. Flight tests of their integrated modular avionics started in 2017 on a fiber optic networked multicore processor system. The system is not without faults. In December 2020, a malfunction with the computer flight control system caused the first production Su-57 to crash.
An automatic software response to an overheat condition apparently has contributed to a crash of an F-22. Issues with the avionics also contributed to an F-35A crash in 2020.
The F-35 uses software-defined radio systems, in which common middleware controls field-programmable gate arrays. Col. Arthur Tomassetti has said that the F-35 is a "software intensive airplane and software is easy to upgrade, as opposed to hardware".
In order to ease the addition of new software features, the F-35 has adopted a kernel and application separation of security responsibilities.
Steve O'Bryan of Lockheed Martin has said that the F-35 may gain the ability to operate UAVs through a future software upgrade. The USN is already planning to place its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system under the control of a manned aircraft, to act as a flying missile magazine.
Situational awareness
The combination of stealthy airframes, stealthy sensors, and stealthy communications is designed to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage other aircraft before those targets are aware of their presence. Lt. Col. Gene McFalls of the USAF has said that sensor fusion will feed into inventory databases to precisely identify aircraft at a distance.
Sensor fusion and automatic target tracking are projected to give the fifth-generation jet fighter pilot a view of the battlespace superior to that of legacy AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft that may be forced back from the front lines by increasing threats. Therefore, tactical control could be shifted forwards to the pilots in the fighters. Michael Wynne, former Secretary of the United States Air Force, has suggested elimination of the Boeing E-3 Sentry and Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS in favor of more F-35s, simply because so much effort is being made by the Russians and Chinese to target these platforms that are built to commercial airliner standards.
However, the more powerful sensors, such as AESA radar which is able to operate in multiple modes at the same time, may present too much information for the single pilot in the F-22, F-35 and Su-57 to adequately use. The Sukhoi/HAL FGFA offered a return to the two-seat configuration common in fourth generation strike fighters, but this was rejected over cost concerns.
There is ongoing research to apply track-before-detect across sensor fusion in the core CPU to allow fifth-generation fighters to engage targets that no single sensor has by itself detected. Probability theory is used to determine "what data to believe, when to believe and how much to believe".
These sensors produce too much data for the onboard computers to fully process so sensor fusion is achieved by comparing what is observed against preloaded threat libraries that contain known enemy capabilities for a given region. Items that do not match known threats are not even displayed.
Combat cloud
Gilmary M. Hostage III has suggested that fifth-generation jet fighters will operate together in a "combat cloud" along with future unmanned combat aircraft, and Michael Manazir has suggested that this might come as quickly as loading a UCLASS with AMRAAMs to be launched at the command of an F-35.
History
Fifth-generation fighter
<table><thead><tr><th>2005</th><th>F-22A Raptor</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>F-35B Lightning II</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>F-35A Lightning II</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Chengdu J-20</td></tr><tr><td>F-35I "Adir" Lightning II</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>F-35C Lightning II</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Sukhoi Su-57</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Chengdu J-20A</td></tr><tr><td>Chengdu J-20S</td></tr><tr><td>Shenyang J-35</td></tr><tr><td>Shenyang J-35A</td></tr><tr><td>TBA</td><td>KF-21EX</td></tr><tr><td>TAI TF-X Kaan</td></tr><tr><td>Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate</td></tr><tr><td>HAL AMCA</td></tr></tbody></table>
United States
Before the introduction of stealth technology, bomb bays were mostly used by dedicated bomber aircraft; in fighters and attack airplanes bombs and rockets were hung from the wings or fuselage on pylons. Notable exceptions are the F-101, F-102 and F-106 interceptor aircraft, all of which had bays used to store missiles, or other weapons stores.
Prototypes and concept demonstrators built by American manufacturers included the Lockheed YF-22 – 1990 (2 built), Northrop YF-23 – 1990 (2 built) for the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, Boeing Bird of Prey – 1996 (1 built), McDonnell Douglas X-36 – 1997 (2 scale models built), the Lockheed Martin X-35 – 2000 (2 built) and Boeing X-32 – 2001 (2 built) for the Joint Strike Fighter program.
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
Previous-generation radar low observable (LO) aircraft, also referred to as stealth aircraft, such as the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber and Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk ground attack aircraft were not designed for air to air combat, lacking the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, low probability of intercept (LPI) data networks, aerial performance, and air-to-air weapons necessary to engage other aircraft. In the early 1970s, various American design projects identified stealth, speed, and maneuverability as key characteristics of a next-generation air-to-air combat aircraft. This led to the Request for Information for the Advanced Tactical Fighter project in May 1981, which resulted in the F-22.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
The USMC is leveraging the USAF's experience with "fifth-generation air warfare" in the F-22, as they develop their own tactics for the F-35.
According to Lockheed Martin in 2004, the only fifth-generation jet fighter then in operational service was their own F-22 Raptor. Lockheed Martin uses "fifth-generation fighter" to describe the F-22 and F-35 fighters, with the definition including "advanced stealth", "extreme performance", "information fusion" and "advanced sustainment". For unknown reasons, their definition no longer includes supercruise capability, which has typically been associated with the more advanced modern fighters, but which the F-35 lacks. Lockheed Martin attempted to trademark the term "5th generation fighters" in association with jet aircraft and structural parts thereof, and has a trademark for a logo with the term.
The definition of the term fifth-generation fighter from Lockheed Martin has been criticized by companies whose products do not conform to these particular specifications, such as Boeing and Eurofighter, and by other commentators such as Bill Sweetman: "it is misleading to portray the F-22 and F-35 as a linear evolution in fighter design. Rather, they are a closely related pair of outliers, relying on a higher level of stealth as a key element of survivability – as the Lockheed YF-12 and Mikoyan MiG-25, in the 1960s, relied on speed and altitude."
The United States Navy and Boeing have placed the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in a "next generation" fighter category along with the F-22 and F-35, as the Super Hornet has a "fifth-generation" AESA radar, modest radar cross-section (RCS) reductions and sensor fusion. A senior USAF pilot has complained about fifth-generation claims for the Super Hornet: "The whole point to fifth generation is the synergy of stealth, fusion and complete situational awareness. The point about fifth-generation aircraft is that they can do their mission anywhere – even in sophisticated integrated air defense [IADS] environments. If you fly into heavy IADS with a great radar and sensor fusion, but no stealth, you will have complete situational awareness of the guy that kills you." Michael "Ponch" Garcia of Raytheon has said that the addition of their AESA radars to the Super Hornet provides "90 percent of your fifth-generation capability at half the cost." Additionally, a top Boeing official has called their newest 4.5 generation fighters "stealth killers".
China
Chengdu J-20, introduced in 2017
China has two stealth fighter aircraft, Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35, both classified as fifth-generation fighter by United States Department of Defense and Defense Intelligence Agency.
By the late 1990s, several Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, grouped under the program codename J-XX or XXJ, were identified by western intelligence sources. PLAAF officials have confirmed the existence of such a program, which they estimated would enter service between 2017 and 2019. By late 2010, two prototypes of the Chengdu J-20 had been constructed and were undergoing high-speed taxi trials. The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011. On 26 December 2015, a new J-20 with serial number 2101 was seen leaving its Chengdu Aviation Corporation factory. It is believed to be the first of the low rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft. 2101 conducted its maiden flight on 18 January 2016.
The J-20 officially entered training unit service in March 2017, becoming the first operational stealth fighter outside of the United States and in Asia. The J-20 underwent testing and exercises in late 2017, and was inducted into PLAAF combat units in 2018.
Another stealth fighter design from SAC started to circulate on the internet in September 2011. In June 2012, photos about a possible prototype of F-60 being transferred on highway began to emerge on the internet. This aircraft was named Shenyang FC-31 later, and made its maiden flight on 31 October 2012. Serial production version of the FC-31 was dubbed as Shenyang J-35.
On 3 September 2025, China officially debuted Shenyang J-35A for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Shenyang J-35 for People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), while PLAAF also received the upgraded Chengdu J-20A and J-20S variants, as reported by Chinese state media China Daily.
Russia
Sukhoi Su-57 prototype of the Russian Air Force
A static prototype of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate at the MAKS Airshow 2021
Technology demonstrators included the Mikoyan Project 1.44 – 1998 (1 built) and Su-47 – 1997 (1 built).
In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union outlined the need for a next-generation aircraft to replace its fourth-generation jet fighters, the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27, in front line service. To meet the characteristics for the next-generation aircraft, work was underway on two aircraft projects: the twin-engined delta canard Sukhoi Su-47 with forward-swept wings and the Mikoyan Project 1.44. However, due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and lack of funds, both remained only as technology demonstrators.
After 2000, the Russian Defence Ministry initiated a new fighter competition known as "PAK FA" (Russian: ПАК ФА, short for: Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации, romanized: Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, lit. ''Prospective aeronautical complex of front-line air forces'') to develop a next-generation fighter for the Russian Air Force, with Sukhoi and MiG as the main competitors. Sukhoi came up with its heavier, two-engine T-50 proposal (now Sukhoi Su-57) while Mikoyan proposed a light, single-engine Mikoyan LMFS design, based on the former MiG-1.44 project. Sukhoi won the competition and in 2002, it was selected to lead the development of Russia's next-generation fighter based on the T-50 design. Later development of the multirole Mikoyan LMFS were continued from MiG funding. However Mikoyan LMFS program was also cancelled and replaced by similar Sukhoi Checkmate program.
Russia's first fifth-generation aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-57, will replace its aging MiG-29s and Su-27s. The Su-57 first flew on 29 January 2010. The first production Su-57 was delivered to the Russian Air Force on 25 December 2020.
The Mikoyan PAK DP is another proposed fifth-generation fighter, being developed to replace the MiG-31. The project began in 2010, and "According to Russian news reports, the MiG-41 will be equipped with stealth technology, reach a speed of Mach 4–4.3, carry anti-satellite missiles, and be able to perform tasks in Arctic and near-space environments."
Russia unveiled a prototype of the single-engine Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate Light Tactical Aircraft in July 2021 at the biennial MAKS (air show), with maiden flight initially expected in 2023 (subsequently delayed to at least 2024). The fighter is mainly designed for export and is expected to be less costly than 2-engine competitors.
Turkey
TAI TF-X Kaan prototype during the runway tests at TAI's facilities in Ankara, on March 17, 2023
The TAI TF-X Kaan, or in Turkish as Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU, National Combat Aircraft), is a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather, fifth generation air superiority fighter in development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and BAE Systems as its sub-contractor. The TF-X is planned to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Turkish Air Force and to be exported to foreign states.
Taxiing and ground running tests of the prototype began two days before the scheduled roll-out, on March 16, 2023. It was officially given the name "Kaan" on May 1, 2023.
On 21 February 2024, the first Kaan prototype took its 13-minute maiden flight, taking off from Mürted Airfield Command in Ankara, Turkey. This prototype uses General Electric F110 engines, also used in the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
South Korea
In June 2024, KAI announced plans to add internal weapon bays to its 4.5 generation KF-21 Boramae, as part of its KF-21EX 5th generation enhancement programme.
India
India is independently developing a twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable stealth multirole fighter, called the HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is being developed and designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and will be manufactured by a SPV with initial prototypes produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. As of 2025, the AMCA prototype was under construction, with a first flight of the prototype expected by 2028.
In early 2018, India pulled out of the parallel project called FGFA, a fifth-generation derivative of the Sukhoi Su-57, which it alleged did not meet requirements for stealth, combat avionics, radars and sensors by that time. The completed FGFA was to include 43 improvements over the Su-57, including stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, networking and combat avionics.
Sweden
Saab's Flygsystem 2020 is a program to develop a fifth generation fighter.
Japan
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin demonstrator
Japan developed a prototype of a stealth jet fighter called the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin, previously referred to as the ATD-X. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing F-22 fighters for their own forces. However the U.S. Congress had banned the exporting of the aircraft in order to safeguard secrets of the aircraft's technology such as its extensive use of stealth; this rejection necessitated Japan's development of its own modern fighter, to be equipped with stealth features and other advanced systems.
A mock-up of the X-2 Shinshin was constructed and used to study the radar cross section in France in 2009. The first prototype rolled out in July 2014 and the aircraft made its first flight on 22 April 2016. By July 2018, Japan had gleaned sufficient information, and decided that it would need to bring on international partners to complete this project. Several companies have responded.
Japan has signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a sixth-generation fighter called Mitsubishi F-X.
Comparison of 5th-generation fighters in service
Fifth-generation fighter
<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>F-22</th><th>F-35A</th><th>F-35B</th><th>F-35C</th><th>Su-57</th><th>J-20</th><th>J-35</th><th>J-35A</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Country</td><td> USA</td><td> USA</td><td> USA</td><td> USA</td><td> Russia</td><td> China</td><td> China</td><td> China</td></tr><tr><td>Maiden flight</td><td>1997</td><td>2006</td><td>2008</td><td>2010</td><td>2010</td><td>2011</td><td>2021</td><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td>Entered service</td><td>2005</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2019</td><td>2020</td><td>2017</td><td>2025</td><td>2025</td></tr><tr><td>Number built</td><td>195</td><td>354+</td><td>108+</td><td>38+</td><td>42</td><td>300</td><td>57</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Length, meters</td><td>18.92 m (62 ft 1 in)</td><td>15.67 m (51 ft 5 in)</td><td>15.61 m (51 ft 3 in)</td><td>15.67 m (51 ft 5 in)</td><td>20.1 m (65 ft 11 in)</td><td>21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)</td><td>17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)</td><td>17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)</td></tr><tr><td>Wingspan</td><td>13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)</td><td>10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)</td><td>10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)</td><td>13.1 m (43 ft 0 in)</td><td>14.1 m (46 ft 3 in)</td><td>13.01 m (42 ft 8 in)</td><td>11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wing Area, sq. meters</td><td>78.04</td><td>42.7</td><td>42.7</td><td>62.1</td><td>78.8</td><td>73</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Empty Weight, kg</td><td>19,700</td><td>13,300</td><td>14,700</td><td>15,800</td><td>18,500</td><td>17,000</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Loaded Weight, kg</td><td>29,410</td><td>22,470</td><td>21,770</td><td>25,900</td><td>29,270</td><td>25,000</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Max Weight, kg</td><td>38,000</td><td>31,800</td><td>27,300</td><td>31,800</td><td>35,000</td><td>37,000</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Thrust vectoring</td><td>2D</td><td>none</td><td>STOVL</td><td>none</td><td>3D</td><td>none/3D</td><td>none</td><td>none</td></tr><tr><td>Takeoff-Landing</td><td>CTOL</td><td>CTOL</td><td>STOVL</td><td>CATOBAR</td><td>CTOL</td><td>CTOL</td><td>CATOBAR</td><td>CTOL</td></tr><tr><td>Max speed, Mach</td><td>2.25</td><td>1.6</td><td>1.6</td><td>1.6</td><td>2.0</td><td>2.0</td><td>1.8</td><td>1.8</td></tr><tr><td>Cruise speed, Mach</td><td>1.76</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1.3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ferry range, km</td><td>3,220</td><td>2,220</td><td>1,670</td><td>2,520</td><td>3,500</td><td>5,500</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ceiling</td><td>20,000 m (66,000 ft)</td><td>15,000 m (49,000 ft)</td><td>15,000 m (49,000 ft)</td><td>15,000 m (49,000 ft)</td><td>20,000 m (66,000 ft)</td><td>20,000 m (66,000 ft)</td><td>16,000 m (52,000 ft)</td><td>16,000 m (52,000 ft)</td></tr><tr><td>Engines</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Dry thrust, kN</td><td>232</td><td>125</td><td>125</td><td>125</td><td>176.6</td><td>172</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Afterburn. Thrust, kN</td><td>312</td><td>191</td><td>191</td><td>191</td><td>294.2</td><td>294</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Thrust/weight ratio</td><td>1.08</td><td>0.87</td><td>0.9</td><td>0.75</td><td>1.02</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Radar cross section</td><td>0.0001</td><td>0.005–0.3</td><td>0.005–0.3</td><td>0.005–0.3</td><td>0.1–0.3</td><td>0.001—0.005</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gun(s)</td><td>20mm</td><td>25mm</td><td>None</td><td>None</td><td>30mm</td><td>None</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Int/Ext hardpoints</td><td>8/4</td><td>6/6</td><td>4/6</td><td>6/6</td><td>6/6</td><td>8/4</td><td>6/6</td><td>6/6</td></tr><tr><td>Radar</td><td>XBand</td><td>XBand</td><td>XBand</td><td>XBand</td><td>X + LBand</td><td>XBand</td><td>XBand</td><td>Xband</td></tr><tr><td>Radar range target</td><td>240 km</td><td>150 km</td><td>150 km</td><td>150 km</td><td>Unknown</td><td>Unknown</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>