# stealth fighters
Latest news and articles about stealth fighters
Total: 4 articles found
US Proposes 'F‑22 2.0' Overhaul to Remedy Range and Sensor Shortfalls Ahead of Great‑Power Air Competition
Lockheed Martin unveiled an F‑22 '2.0' upgrade concept aimed at fixing two key limitations of the Raptor: limited range and the lack of an internal IRST sensor. The US Air Force plans to upgrade its entire fleet to preserve the platform’s edge against evolving fifth‑generation threats, but technical, fiscal and fleet‑size constraints will shape the programme’s ultimate impact.
Why the U.S. Is Dressing Its ‘Aggressors’ as Chinese Fifth‑Gen Fighters
U.S. and U.K. forces used F‑35Bs to simulate Chinese fifth‑generation fighters during a Red Flag exercise at Nellis, part of a broader effort by the reactivated 65th “Invaders” squadron to model J‑20/J‑35 tactics. The practice underscores Washington’s shift to China‑focused high‑end training while highlighting the limits of surrogate aircraft in fully reproducing adversary capabilities.
Seoul and Abu Dhabi Explore Joint KF-21EX Project — A Test of South Korea’s Bid to Break Western Weapon Monopolies
South Korea and the UAE signed a defence cooperation memorandum that opens the door to jointly developing a stealth‑enhanced KF-21EX fighter. The deal reflects the UAE’s desire to diversify weapon suppliers and Seoul’s ambition to break into higher tiers of the global fighter market, but the project faces major technical, export-control and competitive hurdles.
China’s New 300 km Air-to-Air Missile Sharpens J-20’s Reach and Shifts BVR Calculus
A leaked paper outlines the PL-16, a compact Chinese air‑to‑air missile with an asserted 300 km range designed for internal carriage on fifth‑generation fighters. By trading extreme size for fit and firepower density, the PL-16 promises to extend the J‑20’s BVR reach and complicate regional air‑defense and coalition targeting strategies.