With China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) rapidly modernizing and showcasing potential 6th-generation fighter capabilities, the U.S. Air Force faces a critical question: will current 5th-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35 be enough to maintain dominance in the Pacific? The PLA’s growing air capabilities and the vast expanse of the Pacific theater present new challenges for U.S. forces, particularly in terms of range and operational reach.
While the F-35 fleet is expanding in the U.S. and among its Pacific allies like Japan and South Korea, a recently published essay by the U.S. Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) highlights potential limitations. Platforms like the F-35, designed with European theaters in mind, may lack the range and payload capacity needed to face a fast-modernizing Chinese military.
The question of a long-range 6th-generation fighter for the Pacific, potentially part of the U.S.’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, remains under consideration. U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has hinted at the need for a manned, stealthy 6th-gen fighter capable of meeting the complex requirements of the Pacific. However, budget constraints and evolving defense strategies may shape the final decision.
China’s proximity to Taiwan and its land-launched 5th-gen J-20 fighters present clear tactical advantages. The U.S. and its allies must rethink air superiority strategies, possibly relying on forward-positioned carriers, longer-range precision weaponry, and unmanned systems to maintain an edge. Kendall’s vision for a 6th-gen fighter, combined with collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), could be the solution to addressing these range and mass challenges in the Pacific.
With tensions rising and China racing ahead in military advancements, the U.S. may soon need to decide whether a 6th-gen fighter tailored for the Pacific theater is crucial to maintaining air dominance in the region.
