Baker, David Fifth Generation Fighters. The World's Most dangerous Combat Aircraft

Key drivers to a fifth destination for future world fighter forces. In time, all fighters will have qualities that deceive, evade, confuse, lock-on to a target and kill it - without being seen, heard or detected There is no place to hide and when the fourth generation know they are under attack - they are already dead. Fighter forces around the world seek the best that technology can provide - pilots need to put themselves outside their cockpit, peering far beyond visual range, leaving the aircraft to keep them out of harms way while they manage the mission. Beyond the horizon where enemies lurk in dark skies and dangerous places, weaponised platforms seek them out and neutralise their effect. Net-centric warfare and sensor fusion takes the fight into the very heart of the weapons systems computer, apportioning missiles to discriminated targets, tracking up to 100 hostiles and downing many beyond visual range, before they see their predator, a prey unprotected and vulnerable. Future fighters will connect to satellites in space for information about enemy air assets, control swarms of unmanned combat air vehicles and plan the end-game for an air battle that has yet to begin.

Beyond the horizon, where enemies lurk in dark skies and dangerous locations, armed platforms seek them out and neutralise their effects. Networked warfare and sensor fusion will bring the fight into the heart of the weapon systems' computer, dispersing missiles to myriad targets, tracking up to 100 enemies and destroying them beyond visual range before they can even sense their destroyer. Future fighters will link up with satellites in space to gather intelligence on enemy air forces, control swarms of unmanned combat aircraft and plan the endgame for a dogfight that has yet to begin.