Future fighter fable: A day in the life of a future fighter-How do we get there from here?

The intent of this paper is to stimulate thought about technologies that may be included in future weapons systems and how the weapon system developer is impacted today. It explores a day in the life of a future-generation fighter aircraft (year 2015-2025 time-frame). The scenario starts from the perspective of the ground crew awaiting the return of their future fighters: the new A/F-2, Thunderchief II-to a dispersed operations location (DOL) from a combat air patrol (CAP) mission in the fictitious country of Crad. The authors trace this high-technology fighter's day from recovery, to ground maintenance and turnaround/service, and then re-launch into a threatening mission against a potential adversary. A pilot's and the maintainer's point of view are presented. A nonrestrictive technology view is assumed, tempered with as much realism as can be logically included in the scenario, with some of today's evolving technology thrusts.<>