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Projecting the Capabilities of Future Fighter Jets

Posted August 15, 2014 12:00 AM by Engineering360 eNewsletter

Naturally, one would expect the latest and greatest technologies to be incorporated into the design of next-generation military fighter jets. It's just a testament of how far some technologies have advanced when the explorations include 3D printing and self-healing materials. The truth is that additive manufacturing has progressed so much that the "what might be" list includes on-board 3D printers so that drones could be built while the fighter is in flight. Also, since fighters sustain damage, why not components made from self-healing materials? Here are a few projections that BAE Systems makes for jets that won't fly until 2040.


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Guru
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#1

Re: Projecting the Capabilities of Future Fighter Jets

08/15/2014 10:30 PM

Won't be needed.

Cockroaches can't fly fighter jets.

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Guru

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#2

Re: Projecting the Capabilities of Future Fighter Jets

08/15/2014 11:08 PM

"jets that won't fly until 2040"- about the time the F35 actually enters service??

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Guru
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#3

Re: Projecting the Capabilities of Future Fighter Jets

08/18/2014 3:43 PM

I think Norm Augustine has the best prediction:

"In the year 2054, the entire defense budget will purchase just one aircraft. This aircraft will have to be shared by the Air Force and Navy 3-1/2 days each per week except for leap year, when it will be made available to the Marines for the extra day."

He also thought that software, like entropy, always increases. Further, software weighs nothing and weight is a critical limitation on aircraft. Therefore future aircraft costs will be dominated by software.

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