Stealth technology

The addition of the semi-stealth fighter jet to the Hellenic Air Force is a step in the right direction

The addition of the semi-stealth fighter jet to the Greek Air Force is a step in the right direction

Lockheed Martin’s (LMT) Skunk Works division, whose legendary history includes the SR-71 spy plane, F-117 stealth fighter and today’s F-35, is working on new technology to ensure that U.S. aircraft stay ahead of adversaries.

While production on the F-35, a fifth-generation fighter, is just starting to ramp up, the Pentagon is already looking at a sixth-generation fighter.

As the US starts to forward-deploy more of its F-35 Lightning, China and Russia have been putting the finishing touches on their own batches of fifth-generation aircraft — and they all express vastly different ideas about what the future of air combat will look like.

For the US, stealth and sophisticated networks define its vision for the future of air combat with the F-22 and F-35.