Lasers, Drones, Mach 5: This 6th-Gen Fighter Jet May Change The Game For India

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 13:23 IST

SCAF/FCAS, a sixth-gen fighter, is set to outclass fifth-gen jets like the F-35 with Mach 5+ hypersonic speed and advanced stealth tech, experts suggest

Integrated AI and electronic warfare capabilities will make the jet one of the most advanced combat platforms of the future. (Representative/AP)

India’s air power could see a major boost with Europe’s most ambitious defence project, the sixth-generation SCAF/FCAS (Future Combat Air System) fighter jet, developed jointly by France, Germany, and Spain. If India joins the program as a ‘partner country’, it could reshape the region’s strategic balance and provide the IAF with a formidable new weapon.

The SCAF/FCAS aircraft is more than just a fighter jet; it is a “system of systems". This includes the New Generation Fighter (NGF) and unmanned drones known as Remote Carriers, all interconnected in real-time through the Combat Cloud to exchange information. Consequently, this advanced fighter jet will not operate solo but as part of a coordinated force.

Mach 5 Speed And Stealth Tech

SCAF/FCAS, classified as a sixth-generation aircraft, is expected to surpass today’s fifth-generation fighters like the F-35. Experts suggest it could achieve hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 or more, while incorporating advanced stealth technology.

• The aircraft will feature advanced stealth technology, allowing it to remain invisible to enemy radar systems.
• Integrated AI and electronic warfare capabilities will make it one of the most advanced combat platforms of the future.
• It will be equipped with laser weapons and hypersonic missiles, enabling it to destroy enemy targets within seconds.

A Strategic Window For India

India’s longstanding defence partnership with France positions it favourably to possibly attain observer status in the SCAF/FCAS project. This status would grant India profound insight into the technology and development processes of the aircraft, thereby bolstering its own AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project.

Such collaboration would also propel initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, offering Indian defence companies a valuable opportunity to integrate into Europe’s supply chain.

Why Pakistan Should Be Worried

According to defence experts, India’s acquisition of an advanced fighter aircraft like SCAF/FCAS might be a formidable threat to Pakistan. Pakistan currently relies on outdated aircraft from China and the United States, whereas India already possesses modern aircraft like Rafale and Sukhoi.

Defence experts suggest that the inclusion of FCAS in the Indian Air Force could make India’s air superiority unparalleled. They believe Pakistan’s current air defence systems would struggle against the jet’s AI and drone technology, giving India complete dominance of regional airspace and nullifying Pakistan’s strategic advantage.

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August 19, 2025, 13:23 IST

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