{"id":42641,"date":"2018-07-13T13:37:23","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T13:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/13\/allies-plans-for-new-fighter-jet-technology-a-boon-for-us-air-force-chief-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:52:47","slug":"allies-plans-for-new-fighter-jet-technology-a-boon-for-us-air-force-chief-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/2018\/07\/13\/allies-plans-for-new-fighter-jet-technology-a-boon-for-us-air-force-chief-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Allies’ plans for new fighter jet technology a boon for US Air Force, chief says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON \u2014 Numerous European countries are laying the groundwork for domestically prouduced, next-generation fighter jets, but the U.S. Air Force isn\u2019t feeling left out by the emerging partnerships \u2014 in fact, its top general says<\/a> the different projects could end up fueling a step change in technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competition between potential aircraft designers will be pivotal to spur innovation and \u201cto get the best solution to the complex challenges we face,\u201d said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein in an exclusive July 10 interview with Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not at all concerned by the fact that we might have alternative solutions being put forward by England, France, Germany, you name it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat to me is all for the good because it produces the competitive environment that you need for innovation to occur.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goldfein\u2019s comments came days before a meeting of international air chiefs and the Royal International Air Tattoo, which kicks off this Friday at Royal Air Force Fairford in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more from Royal International Air Tattoo 2018 here!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During either RIAT or the Farnborough Airshow, which starts next week, the United Kingdom is expected to lay out<\/a> a road map for a fighter jet that could be fielded in the 2040s to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Germany and France have decided to partner<\/a> on their own Future Combat Air System<\/a> to replace the Typhoon and Dassault Rafale. Officials have said the program would be opened to other countries further down the line, but French and German defense firms such as Airbus, Dassault, Thales, MBDA and Safran are expected to pick up major work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the reveal of the new National Defense Strategy earlier this year, U.S. Air Force leaders have been loathe to comment on its next fighter jet \u2014 alternately called Next Generation Air Dominance and also known as Penetrating Counter Air. Leadership has instead promoted a vague \u201cfamily of systems\u201d that would be developed by the service to preserve air superiority into the 2030s.<\/p>\n\n\n\t