France Launches Development of Its Own 6th-Generation Fighter and ‘Super Rafale’

[u/Interesting-Cat7307]

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/france-launches-development-of-its-own-6th-generation-fighter-and-super-rafale/

[u/let_me_atom]

Does France have access to sufficiently advanced stealth technology for a true 6th gen fighter?

Edit: The downvotes are funny. The French are so tetchy, it was a genuine question 😂.

[u/Poglosaurus → u/let_me_atom]

They already built the neuron. It's a drone but it's almost as big as rafale. What I really hope is that they can achieve it without the same hasle with the paint as the american. They have considerably more logistical means than France and keeping the f35 in the air at full capacity is hard even for them. 

[u/Nearby-Chocolate1840 → u/Poglosaurus]

"keeping the f35 in the air at full capacity is hard even for them"

You're confusing the f35 with the f22, which legitimately is a maintainence nightmare due to its delicate (but extremely effective -- moreso than the f35's) radar absorbant coating.

The f35 is only about 5% more expensive maintainence wise than the f15 at this point.

[u/Poglosaurus → u/Nearby-Chocolate1840]

confusing f35 with the f22

I Dont think so.

It's just that most time there is no issue letting it fly with compromise stealth capacities. If it's mission critical they need a fresh coat of paint. And that can't be done everywhere.

The situation is not as dire as with the F22 but it is still an issue.