Bob Viking
I am a current FJ instructor and I honestly don’t believe we will be using manned fighters for very much longer (I think I’m safe for the time being but I think the change will come in my lifetime). That kind of limits the use for jet trainers and light attack jets if I end up being proven correct.
I think you may be slightly off the mark in that assessment. I think humans will still fly, but I think the traditional role of the “Pilot” will go the same way as Navigator, Air Engineer, etc… There will likely be a Force Mix of crewed aircraft, RPAS and autonomous aircraft - some like Tempest and B21 will also be optionally crewed. But where I do agree with you is that this training aircraft is not 6th Gen enough. My prediction is that the stick, rudder and throttle will die and gesture control, mouse/trackerball and keyboard (augmented by thought/voice control) will likely come. I also predict that the next generation aviator is more likely to become a cross between a current Pilot, WSO and WSOp. We may see these new Aircrew by as early as 2035 and sadly I don’t believe this jet will satisfy that requirement - many of the basic piloting skills taught by such aircraft will be automated out and the spatial awareness, airborne leadership, tactical/operational management, weapons employment and airborne specialist knowledge will become far more important.
NutLoose - I agree and the PC21 is a perfect example where the engine is digitally restricted and the FCS is digitally limited to provide various levels of performance according to the training mission. No need to significantly alter the airframe/engine physically, as it is all done via software.