Stealth Technology

The US Navy and the Air Force will need better stealth technology to mask aircraft and ships from enemy radars.   Both services are conducting early developmental work into the next generation of fighters that will supplement or replace the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II.  The Air Force’s F-X fighter will need better and more advanced stealth than the F-22 currently offers to survive in a future conflict.

Lockheed Martin's F-X concept for a sixth-generation aircraft

The Navy has been slow in adopting stealth relying more on electronic warfare platforms like the Boeing EA-18G Growler.  The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II carrier variant is the Navy’s first production carrier stealth fighter. The Navy’s F/A-XX program is scheduled to enter the fleet around 2030 to replace the United States Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Boeing's F/A-XX concept for a sixth-generation aircraft