“It is difficult to predict the future right now but some sort of evolution from the 5th gen is inevitable. It could turn out that we will end with a 5+ generation as we now have the 4+ aircraft before we jump straight into the sixth generation.”

Sébastien Roblin holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing, and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring.

This article first appeared in September 2019.

Image: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Brock