Within the next few years, we will begin work on the sixth generation [fighter] capabilities necessary for future air dominance.” The Secretary of the Air Force, Michael B. Donley, and the USAF Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, issued that statement in an April 13 Washington Post article.

“在未來(lái)幾年內(nèi)，我們將開(kāi)始研發(fā)確保未來(lái)空中優(yōu)勢(shì)所需的第六代[戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)]能力?！?美國(guó)空軍部長(zhǎng)邁克爾·B·唐利和空軍參謀長(zhǎng)諾頓·A·施瓦茨將軍在4月13日的一篇《華盛頓郵報(bào)》文章中發(fā)表了這一聲明。

The Air Force may have to move a little faster to develop that next generation fighter. While anticipated F-22 and F-35 inventories seem settled, there won’t be enough to fix shortfalls in the fighter fleet over the next 20 years, as legacy fighters retire faster than fifth generation replacements appear.

然而，空軍可能需要加快第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的研發(fā)步伐。目前雖然F-22和F-35的計(jì)劃庫(kù)存似乎已經(jīng)確定，但在未來(lái)20年內(nèi)，這些數(shù)量不足以彌補(bǔ)戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)機(jī)隊(duì)的缺口，因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)役戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的退役速度比第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的補(bǔ)充速度更快。

The Air Force will have to answer a host of tough questions about the nature of the next fighter.

空軍需要回答一系列關(guān)于下一代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)性質(zhì)的關(guān)鍵問(wèn)題。
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Should it provide a true “quantum leap” in capability, from fifth to sixth generation, or will some interim level of technology suffice? When will it have to appear? What kinds of fighters will potential adversaries be fielding in the next 20 years? And, if the program is delayed, will a defense industry with nothing to work on in the meantime lose its know-how to deliver the needed system

它是否應(yīng)該實(shí)現(xiàn)從第五代到第六代的真正“跨越式”能力提升，還是某種過(guò)渡性的技術(shù)水平就足夠？何時(shí)需要這款戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)問(wèn)世？未來(lái)20年內(nèi)潛在對(duì)手將裝備何種戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)？如果研發(fā)計(jì)劃推遲，國(guó)防工業(yè)在此期間沒(méi)有新項(xiàng)目可做，是否會(huì)失去研發(fā)所需的技術(shù)能力？

What seems certain is that more is riding on the Air Force’s answers than just replacing worn-out combat aircraft.

可以確定的是，空軍的答案關(guān)系的不僅僅是替換老化的作戰(zhàn)飛機(jī)，這背后有更深遠(yuǎn)的意義。

Initial concept studies for what would become the F-22 began in the early 1980s, when production of the F-15 was just hitting its stride. It took 20 years to go from those concepts to initial operational capability. Industry leaders believe that it will probably take another 20 years to field a next generation fighter.

F-22的初步概念研究始于20世紀(jì)80年代初，當(dāng)時(shí)F-15的生產(chǎn)剛進(jìn)入高峰期。從最初的概念到具備初始作戰(zhàn)能力花了20年時(shí)間。業(yè)內(nèi)人士認(rèn)為，下一代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的研發(fā)和部署可能也需要20年時(shí)間。

That may be late to need. By 2030, according to internal USAF analyses, the service could be as many as 971 aircraft short of its minimum required inventory of 2,250 fighters. That assumes that all planned F-35s are built and delivered on time and at a rate of at least 48 per year. The shortfall is due to the mandatory retirement of F-15s and F-16s that will have exceeded their service lives and may no longer be safe to fly.

但這可能會(huì)錯(cuò)過(guò)需求時(shí)機(jī)。根據(jù)美國(guó)空軍內(nèi)部分析，到2030年，空軍可能會(huì)比最低需求的2,250架戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)短缺多達(dá)971架。這還是假設(shè)所有計(jì)劃中的F-35都能按時(shí)生產(chǎn)并以每年至少48架的速度交付。短缺的原因是F-15和F-16達(dá)到服役壽命后必須退役，屆時(shí)可能已不再適合飛行，存在安全隱患。

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has set the tone for the tactical aviation debate. He opposed the F-22 as being an expensive, “exquisite” solution to air combat requirements, and has put emphasis on the less costly F-35 Lightning II instead. He considers it exemplary of the kind of multirole platforms, applicable to a wide variety of uses, that he believes the US military should be buying in coming years. He and his technology managers have described this approach as the “75 percent” solution.

防部長(zhǎng)羅伯特·M·蓋茨為戰(zhàn)術(shù)航空領(lǐng)域的討論定下了基調(diào)。他反對(duì)F-22，認(rèn)為其昂貴且過(guò)于“精致”，無(wú)法滿足實(shí)際空戰(zhàn)需求。他更強(qiáng)調(diào)成本較低的F-35“閃電II”，認(rèn)為它是多用途平臺(tái)的典范，可以廣泛應(yīng)用于各種任務(wù)，是未來(lái)美軍應(yīng)該采購(gòu)的機(jī)型。他和技術(shù)團(tuán)隊(duì)將這一理念稱(chēng)為“75%的解決方案”。

Gates has also forecast that a Russian fifth generation fighter will be operational in 2016—Russia says it will fly the fighter this year—and a Chinese version just four years later. Given that US legacy fighters are already matched or outclassed by “generation four-plus-plus” fighters, if Russia and China build their fifth generation fighters in large numbers, the US would be at a clear airpower disadvantage in the middle of the 2020s. That’s a distinct possibility, as both countries have openly stated their intentions to build world-class air fleets. If they do, the 75 percent solution fails.

蓋茨還預(yù)測(cè)，俄羅斯的第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)將在2016年投入使用——俄羅斯聲稱(chēng)該戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)今年就會(huì)試飛——而中國(guó)版本將在四年后服役?？紤]到美國(guó)現(xiàn)役戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)已經(jīng)被“第四代++”戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)匹敵甚至超越，如果俄羅斯和中國(guó)大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)，美國(guó)在2020年代中期的空中力量?jī)?yōu)勢(shì)將明顯下降。這種情況很可能發(fā)生，因?yàn)閮蓢?guó)都公開(kāi)表示要打造世界一流的空中力量。如果真如此，“75%的解決方案”將難以奏效。

What You See Is What You Get

所見(jiàn)即所得

The Air Force declined to offer official comment on the status of its sixth generation fighter efforts. Privately, senior leaders have said they have been waiting to see how the F-22 and F-35 issues sorted out before establishing a structured program for a next generation fighter.

空軍拒絕對(duì)其第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的研發(fā)進(jìn)展發(fā)表正式評(píng)論。但私下里，高層領(lǐng)導(dǎo)表示，他們?cè)谥贫ㄏ乱淮鷳?zhàn)斗機(jī)的正式計(jì)劃之前，一直在等待F-22和F-35相關(guān)問(wèn)題的解決。

The Air Force has a large classified budget, but it seems there is no “black” sixth generation fighter program waiting in the wings. A senior industry official, with long-term, intimate knowledge of classified efforts, said the F-22 wasn’t stopped at 187 aircraft because a secret, better fighter is nearly ready to be deployed. He said, “What you see is what you get.”

盡管空軍擁有大規(guī)模的機(jī)密預(yù)算，但似乎沒(méi)有所謂的“黑色項(xiàng)目”正在秘密研發(fā)第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)。一位對(duì)機(jī)密項(xiàng)目有長(zhǎng)期深入了解的資深業(yè)內(nèi)人士表示，F(xiàn)-22停產(chǎn)于187架并不是因?yàn)橐豢罡冗M(jìn)的戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)即將部署。他坦言：“你看到的就是現(xiàn)狀。”

That opinion was borne out in interviews with the top aeronautic technologists of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the three largest remaining US airfrxrs. They said they were unaware of an official, dedicated Air Force sixth generation fighter program and are anxiously waiting to see what capabilities the service wants in such a fighter.

這一觀點(diǎn)在對(duì)波音、洛克希德·馬丁和諾斯羅普·格魯曼這三家美國(guó)最大的飛機(jī)制造商的頂級(jí)航空技術(shù)專(zhuān)家的采訪中得到了驗(yàn)證。他們表示，并不知曉空軍有任何官方的專(zhuān)門(mén)第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)計(jì)劃，并且正焦急地等待空軍明確這一戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)應(yīng)具備的能力要求。

The possibilities for a sixth generation fighter seem almost the stuff of science fiction.

第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的可能性幾乎像是科幻小說(shuō)中的情節(jié)。
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It would likely be far stealthier than even the fifth generation aircraft. It may be able to change its shape in flight, “morphing” to optimize for either speed or persistence, and its engines will likely be retunable in-flight for efficient supersonic cruise or subsonic loitering.

它的隱身性能可能遠(yuǎn)超第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)?；蛟S能夠在飛行中改變外形，通過(guò)“變形”來(lái)優(yōu)化速度或續(xù)航能力；其發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)可能也能在飛行中重新調(diào)整，以實(shí)現(xiàn)高效的超音速巡航或低速盤(pán)旋。

The sixth generation fighter will likely have directed energy weapons—high-powered microwaves and lasers for defense against incoming missiles or as offensive weapons themselves. Munitions would likely be of the “dial an effect” type, able to cause anything from impairment to destruction of an air or ground target.

第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)可能會(huì)裝備定向能武器，例如高能微波和激光，用于防御來(lái)襲導(dǎo)彈，甚至直接作為攻擊性武器。其彈藥可能屬于“效果可調(diào)”類(lèi)型，可根據(jù)需求對(duì)空中或地面目標(biāo)造成從干擾到摧毀的各種效果。

Materials and microelectronics technologies would combine to make the aircraft a large integrated sensor, possibly eliminating the need for a nose radar as it is known today. It would be equipped for making cyber attacks as well as achieving kinetic effects, but would still have to be cost-effective to make, service, and modify.

材料和微電子技術(shù)的結(jié)合可能會(huì)使第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)成為一個(gè)大型一體化傳感器，或許無(wú)需像今天這樣安裝機(jī)鼻雷達(dá)。同時(shí)，該戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)將具備實(shí)施網(wǎng)絡(luò)攻擊的能力，不僅能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)動(dòng)能打擊，還需要具備成本效益，以便于制造、維護(hù)和改裝。

Moreover, the rapid advancement of unmanned aircraft technologies could, in 20 years or so, make feasible production of an autonomous robotic fighter. However, that is considered less likely than the emergence of an uninhabited but remotely piloted aircraft with an off-board “crew,” possibly comprising many operators.

此外，無(wú)人機(jī)技術(shù)的快速發(fā)展可能在未來(lái)20年左右使生產(chǎn)完全自主的機(jī)器人戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)成為可能。然而，更有可能的是出現(xiàn)一種無(wú)人但由遠(yuǎn)程操控的飛機(jī)，其“機(jī)組”可能由多個(gè)操作員組成，在地面或其他平臺(tái)上遠(yuǎn)程控制。
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Not clear, yet, is whether the mission should be fulfilled by a single, multirole platform or a series of smaller, specialized aircraft, working in concert.

目前尚不明確，這種任務(wù)是應(yīng)由單一的多用途平臺(tái)完成，還是通過(guò)一系列更小型、專(zhuān)用的飛機(jī)協(xié)同完成。

“I think this next round [of fighter development] is probably going to be dominated by ever-increasing amounts of command and control information,” said Paul K. Meyer, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Programs and Technology Division.

諾斯羅普·格魯曼公司高級(jí)項(xiàng)目與技術(shù)部門(mén)副總裁兼總經(jīng)理保羅·K·邁耶說(shuō)道：“我認(rèn)為下一輪[戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)研發(fā)]可能會(huì)被不斷增加的指揮與控制信息所主導(dǎo)?！?/b>

Meyer forecast that vast amounts of data will be available to the pilot, who may or may not be on board the aircraft. The pilot will see wide-ranging, intuitive views of “the extended world” around the aircraft, he noted. The aircraft will collect its own data and seamlessly fuse it with off-board sensors, including those on other aircraft. The difference from fifth generation will be the level of detail and certainty—the long-sought automatic target recognition.

邁耶預(yù)測(cè)，飛行員（無(wú)論是否在機(jī)上）將能夠獲取海量數(shù)據(jù)，并直觀地看到飛機(jī)周?chē)皵U(kuò)展世界”的廣泛視圖。他指出，這種飛機(jī)將自行采集數(shù)據(jù)，并與來(lái)自其他平臺(tái)（包括其他飛機(jī)）的傳感器數(shù)據(jù)無(wú)縫融合。與第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的不同之處在于，第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的數(shù)據(jù)精細(xì)度和確定性將達(dá)到新的高度——實(shí)現(xiàn)長(zhǎng)期追求的自動(dòng)目標(biāo)識(shí)別功能。

Directed Energy Weapons

定向能量武器

Embedded sensors and microelectronics will also make possible sensor arrays in “l(fā)ocations that previously weren’t available because of either heat or the curvature of the surface,” providing more powerful and comprehensive views of the battlefield, Meyer noted. Although the aircraft probably won’t be autonomous, he said, it will be able to “l(fā)earn” and advise the pilot as to what actions to take—specifically, whether a target should be incapacitated temporarily, damaged, or destroyed.

嵌入式傳感器和微電子技術(shù)還將使傳感器陣列能夠安裝在“由于熱量或表面曲率而以往無(wú)法利用的位置”，從而提供更強(qiáng)大、更全面的戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)視圖，邁耶指出。盡管飛機(jī)可能不會(huì)實(shí)現(xiàn)完全自主，他表示，它將具備“學(xué)習(xí)”能力，并能夠向飛行員提供建議，包括是否應(yīng)暫時(shí)使目標(biāo)失效、造成損傷，還是徹底摧毀。

Traditional electronics will probably give way to photonics, said Darryl W. Davis, president of Boeing’s advanced systems division.

波音公司先進(jìn)系統(tǒng)部門(mén)總裁達(dá)里爾·W·戴維斯表示，傳統(tǒng)電子技術(shù)可能會(huì)被光子技術(shù)所取代。

“You could have fewer wires,” said Davis. “You’re on a multiplexed, fiber-optic bus … that connects all the systems, and because you can do things at different wavelengths of light, you can move lots of data around airplanes much faster, with much less weight in terms of … wire bundles.”

戴維斯說(shuō)道：“你可以減少電纜的使用，你會(huì)使用多路復(fù)用光纖總線……它連接著所有系統(tǒng)，且由于你可以在不同的光波長(zhǎng)下進(jìn)行操作，你可以更快地在飛機(jī)上傳輸大量數(shù)據(jù)，同時(shí)減少電纜捆綁的重量?！?/b>

Fiber optics would also be resistant to jamming or spoofing of data and less prone to cyber attack.

光纖還具有抗干擾、抗數(shù)據(jù)欺騙的能力，并且不易受到網(wǎng)絡(luò)攻擊。

A “digital wingman” could accompany the main fighter as an extra sensor-shooter smart enough to take verbal instructions, Meyer forecasted.

邁耶預(yù)測(cè)，一架“數(shù)字副翼”可以與主戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)一起飛行，作為一個(gè)額外的傳感器和射手，足夠智能，能夠接受口頭指令。

Directed energy weapons could play a big role in deciding how agile a sixth generation fighter would have to be, Meyer noted. “Speed of light” weapons, he added, could “negate” the importance of “the maneuverability we see in today’s fashionable fighters.” There won’t be time to maneuver away from a directed energy attack.

邁耶還指出，定向能武器可能在決定第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)需要具備多大機(jī)動(dòng)性方面起到重要作用。他補(bǔ)充說(shuō)，“光速”武器可能會(huì)“消除”今天流行戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)所強(qiáng)調(diào)的“機(jī)動(dòng)性”。面對(duì)定向能攻擊時(shí)，飛行員將沒(méi)有時(shí)間進(jìn)行機(jī)動(dòng)規(guī)避。

Pulse weapons could also fry an enemy aircraft’s systems—or those of a ground target. Based on what “we have seen and we make at Northrop Grumman,” Meyer said, “in the next 20 years … that type of technology is going to be available.”

脈沖武器還可以摧毀敵方飛機(jī)的系統(tǒng)，或擊中地面目標(biāo)。邁耶表示，基于“我們?cè)谥Z斯羅普·格魯曼看到的技術(shù)”，在未來(lái)20年內(nèi)，這類(lèi)技術(shù)將會(huì)問(wèn)世。

With an appropriate engine—possibly an auxiliary engine—on board to provide power for directed energy weapons, there could be an “unlimited magazine” of shots, Meyer said.

邁耶表示，如果配備合適的發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)——可能是輔助發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)——為定向能武器提供動(dòng)力，那么可以實(shí)現(xiàn)“無(wú)限彈藥”供給。

Hypersonics—that is, the ability of an air vehicle to travel at five times the speed of sound, or faster—has routinely been suggested as an attribute of sixth generation fighters, but the industry leaders are skeptical the capability will be ready in time.

高超音速——即飛行器能夠以音速五倍或更高的速度飛行——通常被認(rèn)為是第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的一個(gè)特征，但業(yè)內(nèi)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者對(duì)這一能力能否按時(shí)實(shí)現(xiàn)持懷疑態(tài)度。

While there have been some successes with experimental hypersonic propulsion, the total amount of true hypersonic flying time is less than 15 minutes, and the leap to an operational fighter in 20 years might be a leap too far.

盡管高超音速推進(jìn)實(shí)驗(yàn)取得了一些成功，但真正的高超音速飛行時(shí)間總共不到15分鐘，且要在20年內(nèi)實(shí)現(xiàn)高超音速戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的服役，可能是一個(gè)過(guò)于艱巨的挑戰(zhàn)。

“It entails a whole new range of materials development, due to … sensors, fuzes, apertures, etc.,” Meyer noted, “all of which must operate in that intense heat environment at … Mach 5-plus.”

邁耶指出，“這需要全新的材料開(kāi)發(fā)，因?yàn)椤瓊鞲衅?、引信、開(kāi)口等部件必須在Mach 5以上的高溫環(huán)境中工作。”

Still, “it is indeed an option that we would consider” because targets will be fleeting and require quick, surgical strikes at great distances. However, such an approach would probably be incompatible with a loitering capability.

盡管如此，他表示，“這確實(shí)是我們會(huì)考慮的選項(xiàng)”，因?yàn)槟繕?biāo)通常是短暫的，需要在極大距離上進(jìn)行快速、精準(zhǔn)的打擊。然而，這種方法可能與滯空能力不兼容。

Davis said he thinks hypersonics “will start to show up in sixth generation,” but not initially as the platform’s power plant, but rather in the aircraft’s kinetic munitions.

戴維斯表示，他認(rèn)為高超音速技術(shù)“將開(kāi)始出現(xiàn)在第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)中”，但最初不會(huì)作為平臺(tái)的動(dòng)力系統(tǒng)，而是作為飛機(jī)的動(dòng)能彈藥。

“I think it will start with applications to weapons,” Davis said. And they may not necessarily be just weapons but “high-speed reconnaissance platforms for short missions on the way to the target.”

“我認(rèn)為它將首先應(yīng)用于武器，”戴維斯說(shuō)。而且這些應(yīng)用不一定僅限于武器，也可能是“用于短程任務(wù)的高速偵察平臺(tái)，前往目標(biāo)的途中。”

Because of the extreme speed of hypersonic platforms and especially directed energy weapons, Davis thinks it will be critical to have “persistent eyes on target” because speed-of-light weapons can’t be recalled “once you’ve pulled the trigger,” and even at hypersonic speed, a target may move before the weapon arrives. That would suggest a flotilla of stealthy drones or sensors positioned around the battlefield.

由于高超音速平臺(tái)，特別是定向能武器的極端速度，戴維斯認(rèn)為，必須確?！俺掷m(xù)的目標(biāo)監(jiān)視”，因?yàn)楣馑傥淦髟凇翱蹌?dòng)扳機(jī)”后無(wú)法撤回，即使是高超音速武器，目標(biāo)也可能在武器到達(dá)之前已經(jīng)移動(dòng)。這暗示著需要一支隱形無(wú)人機(jī)或傳感器編隊(duì)，部署在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)周?chē)?/b>
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Not only will hypersonics require years more work, Davis said it must be combined with other, variable-cycle engines that will allow an aircraft to take off from sea level, climb to high altitude, and then engage a hypersonic engine. Those enabling propulsion elements are not necessarily near at hand in a single package.

戴維斯還表示，高超音速技術(shù)不僅需要更多年的研發(fā)，還必須與其他可變循環(huán)發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)相結(jié)合，這些發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)能夠讓飛機(jī)從海平面起飛、爬升至高空，然后使用高超音速發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)。這些支持性推進(jìn)技術(shù)目前并不容易整合成一個(gè)完整的系統(tǒng)。

The sixth generation fighter, whatever it turns out to be, will still be a machine and will need to be serviced, repaired, and modified, according to Neil Kacena, deputy director of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works advanced projects division. He is less confident that major systems such as radar will be embedded in the aircraft skin.

第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)，無(wú)論最終形態(tài)如何，仍然是一臺(tái)機(jī)器，需要進(jìn)行維護(hù)、修理和改裝，洛克希德·馬丁公司“臭鼬工廠”先進(jìn)項(xiàng)目部門(mén)副主任尼爾·卡塞納表示。他對(duì)于將雷達(dá)系統(tǒng)嵌入機(jī)體外殼的技術(shù)持較為謹(jǐn)慎的態(tài)度。

“If the radar doesn’t work, and now you have to take the wing off, … then that may not be the technology that will find its way onto a sixth gen aircraft,” he said. In designing the next fighter, life cycle costs will be crucial, and so practical considerations will have to be accommodated.

他說(shuō)：“如果雷達(dá)出現(xiàn)故障，而你還得拆掉機(jī)翼……那么這可能不是能夠應(yīng)用于第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的技術(shù)。”在設(shè)計(jì)下一代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)時(shí)，生命周期成本將是至關(guān)重要的，因此必須考慮到實(shí)際操作中的各種因素。

Toward that end, he said, Lockheed Martin is working on new composite manufacturing techniques that use far fewer fasteners, less costly tooling, and therefore lower start-up and sustainment costs. It demonstrated those technologies recently on the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft program.

為此，他表示，洛克希德·馬丁正在開(kāi)發(fā)新的復(fù)合材料制造技術(shù)，這些技術(shù)使用的緊固件更少，工具成本更低，因此啟動(dòng)和維持成本也更低。該公司最近在先進(jìn)復(fù)合材料貨運(yùn)飛機(jī)項(xiàng)目中展示了這些技術(shù)。
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Given the anticipated capabilities of the Russian and Chinese fifth generation fighters, when will a sixth generation aircraft have to be available

鑒于俄羅斯和中國(guó)第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)預(yù)計(jì)的能力，第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的可用時(shí)間將何時(shí)到來(lái)？

Davis said the Air Force and Navy, not industry, will have to decide how soon they need a new generation of fighters. However, “if the services are thinking they need something in 2020” when foreign fifth generation fighters could be proliferating in large numbers, “we’re going to have to do some things to our existing generation of platforms,” such as add the directed energy weapons or other enhancements.

戴維斯表示，空軍和海軍而非工業(yè)界將決定何時(shí)需要新一代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)。然而，“如果軍方認(rèn)為在2020年需要某種戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)”，即當(dāng)外國(guó)第五代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)可能大規(guī)模擴(kuò)散時(shí)，“我們將不得不對(duì)現(xiàn)有平臺(tái)做出一些改進(jìn)”，例如添加定向能量武器或其他增強(qiáng)功能。

Kacena agreed, saying that Lockheed Martin has “engaged with both services and supplied them data and our perspectives” about the next round of fighter development. If the need exists to make a true quantum leap, then sixth generation is the way to go, but, “if it’s driven by the reduction in force structure [and] … the equipment is just getting old and worn out in that time frx, then [we] may very well be on a path of continuous improvement of fifth generation capabilities.” Lockheed Martin makes both the F-22 and F-35.

卡塞納同意這一觀點(diǎn)，并表示洛克希德·馬丁公司已經(jīng)“與空軍和海軍進(jìn)行接洽，提供了數(shù)據(jù)和我們的觀點(diǎn)”，以支持下一輪戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)發(fā)展。如果確實(shí)需要實(shí)現(xiàn)真正的質(zhì)的飛躍，那么第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)是解決方案，但“如果需求僅僅是因?yàn)檐娛铝α恳?guī)模縮減，設(shè)備在那個(gè)時(shí)間段已經(jīng)老化和磨損，那么我們可能會(huì)走上一條持續(xù)提升第五代能力的道路。”洛克希德·馬丁公司制造了F-22和F-35兩款戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)。

He said the company’s goal is to find the knee in the curve where “you get them the most bang for the buck without an 80 to 90 percent solution. Something that doesn’t take them beyond the nonlinear increase in cost.”

他說(shuō)，該公司的目標(biāo)是找到曲線的拐點(diǎn)，在這個(gè)點(diǎn)上，“他們能夠以最少的投入獲得最大的回報(bào)，而不是80%到90%的解決方案。這樣做可以避免讓成本呈非線性增長(zhǎng)?！?/b>

Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance and a fighter pilot, said the next fighter generation may well have characteristics fundamentally different from any seen today, but he urged defense decision-makers to keep an open mind and not ignore hard-learned lessons from history.

空軍情報(bào)-監(jiān)視-偵察副參謀長(zhǎng)、大校飛行員大衛(wèi)·A·德普?qǐng)D拉中將表示，下一代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)可能會(huì)具備今天尚未見(jiàn)過(guò)的根本不同的特性，但他呼吁國(guó)防決策者保持開(kāi)放的心態(tài)，不能忽視從歷史中吸取的寶貴教訓(xùn)。

Although great strides have been made in unmanned aircraft, said Deptula, “we have a long way to go to achieve the degree of 360-degree spherical situation awareness, rapid assimilation of information, and translation of that information into action that the human brain, lixed with its on-site sensors, can accomplish.”

德普?qǐng)D拉指出，盡管無(wú)人機(jī)取得了巨大進(jìn)展，但“我們?nèi)杂泻荛L(zhǎng)的路要走，才能達(dá)到360度的全方位態(tài)勢(shì)感知、信息的快速整合以及將這些信息轉(zhuǎn)化為行動(dòng)的程度，這是人類(lèi)大腦與其現(xiàn)場(chǎng)傳感器相結(jié)合所能做到的?！?/b>

Numbers Count, Too

數(shù)量上也算

Despite rapid increases in computer processing power, it will be difficult for a machine to cope with “an infinite number of potential situations that are occurring in split seconds,” Deptula added, noting that, until such a capability is proved, “we will still require manned aircraft.”

盡管計(jì)算機(jī)處理能力迅速提高，德普?qǐng)D拉補(bǔ)充道，機(jī)器要應(yīng)對(duì)“在瞬間發(fā)生的無(wú)數(shù)潛在情況”仍然很困難，并指出，在這種能力被證明之前，“我們?nèi)匀恍枰腥笋{駛的飛機(jī)?！?/b>
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It’s important to note that America’s potential adversaries will have access to nearly all the technologies now only resident with US forces, Deptula said. Thinking 20 to 30 years out, it will be necessary to invest properly to retain things US forces depend on, such as air superiority.

他還指出，值得注意的是，美國(guó)潛在的對(duì)手將能夠接觸到目前僅限于美國(guó)軍隊(duì)的幾乎所有技術(shù)。展望20到30年，必須適當(dāng)投資以保持美國(guó)軍隊(duì)所依賴(lài)的能力，比如制空權(quán)。

However, he warned not to put too much emphasis on technology, per se. “Just as precision air weapons and, to a certain degree, cyberspace are redefining our definition of mass in today’s fight, we have to be very wary of how quickly ‘mass’ in its classic sense can return in an era of mass-precision and mass-cyber capabilities for all.”

然而，他警告說(shuō)，不應(yīng)過(guò)于強(qiáng)調(diào)技術(shù)本身?！熬拖窬珳?zhǔn)空襲武器和某種程度上網(wǎng)絡(luò)空間正在重新定義我們今天戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)中的‘兵力’一樣，我們必須非常警惕，在大規(guī)模精準(zhǔn)打擊和大規(guī)模網(wǎng)絡(luò)能力普及的時(shí)代，‘兵力’這一經(jīng)典意義上的概念是如何迅速恢復(fù)的?！?/b>

In other words, numbers count, and too few fighters, even if they are extremely advanced, are still too few.

換句話說(shuō)，數(shù)量也很重要，即便是極為先進(jìn)的戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)，數(shù)量過(guò)少，仍然不夠。
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Hanging over the sixth generation fighter debate is this stark fact: The relevant program should now be well under way, but it has not even been defined. If the Pentagon wants a sixth generation capability, it will have to demonstrate that intent, and soon. Industry needs that clear signal if it is to invest its own money in developing the technologies needed to make the sixth generation fighter come about.

關(guān)于第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的辯論中，存在一個(gè)嚴(yán)峻的事實(shí)：相關(guān)項(xiàng)目本應(yīng)已經(jīng)啟動(dòng)，但至今尚未明確。如果五角大樓希望擁有第六代能力，它必須盡快表明這一意圖。工業(yè)界需要明確的信號(hào)，才能投入資金開(kāi)發(fā)所需的技術(shù)，使第六代戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)得以實(shí)現(xiàn)。

Moreover, the sixth generation program is necessary to keep the US aerospace industry on the cutting edge. Unless it is challenged, if the “90 percent” solution is needed in the future, industry may not be able to answer the call.

此外，第六代項(xiàng)目對(duì)于保持美國(guó)航空航天工業(yè)的前沿地位至關(guān)重要。除非受到挑戰(zhàn)，如果未來(lái)需要“90%”的解決方案，工業(yè)界可能無(wú)法應(yīng)對(duì)這一需求。

Under Gates, Pentagon technology leaders have said they want to avoid cost and schedule problems by deferring development until technologies are more mature. Unfortunately, this safe and steady approach does not stimulate leap-ahead technologies.

在蓋茨領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下，五角大樓的技術(shù)負(fù)責(zé)人表示，他們希望通過(guò)推遲開(kāi)發(fā)直到技術(shù)更成熟，以避免成本和進(jìn)度問(wèn)題。然而，不幸的是，這種保守而穩(wěn)妥的方法并未刺激技術(shù)的飛躍性發(fā)展。

Meyer said, “We need to have challenges to our innovative thoughts, our engineering talents, our technology integration and development that would … push us … to the point where industry has to perform beyond expectations.”

邁耶表示：“我們需要對(duì)我們的創(chuàng)新思維、工程才能、技術(shù)整合與發(fā)展提出挑戰(zhàn)……迫使我們達(dá)到一個(gè)行業(yè)必須超越預(yù)期的程度。”

He noted that today’s F-35 is predicated on largely proven technologies and “affordability,” but it was the B-2 and F-22 programs that really paved the way for the systems that underpin modern air combat.

他指出，今天的F-35是建立在大量已驗(yàn)證技術(shù)和“可負(fù)擔(dān)性”基礎(chǔ)上的，但正是B-2和F-22項(xiàng)目真正鋪平了現(xiàn)代空中作戰(zhàn)系統(tǒng)的道路。