China's sixth-generation fighter jet J-36 could be a thing of past; 7th-generation fighter being worked upon by…

Fifth-generation jets are the hot topic.

New Delhi: Fighter jets have come a long way since the culmination of the World War 2 where America proved its aerial combat superiority. The USA was always ahead of others as it introduced bombers in 1920s.

Lately, there has been a rivalry, a competition among major powers like the United States, Russia, China, and India to constantly develop better versions of the fighters already in operation.

The fifth-generation jets are the hot topic. These aircraft are highly advanced and more lethal than their predecessors and many countries want their shares of these machines.

Amidst this rush, China, on December 26, test flew two technology demonstrator aircraft, the Chengdu J-36 which are unofficially termed 6th-generation fighters.

In a matter of 3-4 days, the murmurs about 7th generation fighter jets have started and the probable features are already being discussed.

These features of the 7th generation fighter plane include Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), just like a helicopter. This facility will spare the effort to find a runway at places where there aren't many or any.

Other features that a few militaries and defence experts foresee include unmatched stealth, hypersonic weapons, autonomous flight capabilities, capability to operate at near-space altitudes, incorporate Artificial Intelligence, and a lot more, including the designs using 4D printing to create lighter, more durable parts.

They also want a 7th generation aircraft with versatility in anti-satellite missions and space warfare.

With this leap it is not a crime to go for wishful thinking as it is not before 2030 that analysts expect a fully prepared and operational 6th generation plane prototype.

This gives a bracket of 5-6 years thence somewhere in middle or late 2030s for the same prototype of a 7th generation aircraft.

Futuristic it may sound but many militaries must be working on these two post-5th generation jets. Planning for the future is a must, and it has to consider and imbibe extraordinary stealth technological advancements and an all hypersonic weapon system.

Better and more powerful engines should provide Mach 3 speeds, above 3500 kmh.

If we go back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, then the USA under President Dwight D. Eisenhower created Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 1958 for military research and development.

DARPA is already on it and it could churn out both 6th and 7th generation defence pieces.

Russia, China, and North Korea have displayed their military might in the past two decades and they can challenge the USA and NATO.

Imagine a scenario where the US bases in the Pacific and South Asia region are attacked then the USAF will not have much time to take to the skies. That is why the emphasis on VTOL.

We can go up to this level but do we really need to, given the drones of numerous types and different uses. They are the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) so that no human life is at risk.

This is very much like "Top Gun: Maverick" and its mentioning the art of dogfight. It involves people operating these warbirds. With the risk factor so high, what is the need to go for fighter jets? Let the UAVs do the job and leap from generation to the other.