Content Library

This past May, IDGA hosted the Air Dominance Summit, which featured two days of thought-provoking discussion surrounding the US military's quest for air superiority. During the event, attendees came together from across the aerospace defense community, representing the US Air Force, the US Navy, allied nations, industry, and academia. Speakers at last year’s summit discussed 4th/5th, and 6th generation fighter programs, including NGAD, FAXX, CCA, FCAS, and GCAP, reflected on ongoing conflicts, and explored innovation in air supremacy.

Throughout the event, attendees were urged to participate in live polling to analyze the air superiority efforts of the US Armed Forces. The following infographic displays how attendees responded to topics such as agile acquisition, MUM-T, and more.

In 2025, Military Flight Training will return to the Las Vegas area for its third iteration. From May 13-14, defense leaders around the world will gather to expand on last year’s topics as well as explore new themes such as lethality, survivability, artificial intelligence, autonomy, cloud computing, and real-time data.

Building on the success of IDGA's second Air Dominance Summit, we're thrilled to be returning this May (20-21, 2025) to Las Vegas.  

In 2024, 200+ US & international military leaders, industry leaders and academia came together to explore the cutting-edge technology and strategic advancements shaping the future of air dominance, both in the US and overseas. 

Take a look at the companies and job titles who attended the Air Dominance Summit in 2024, many of whom will be attending in 2025 >> 

IDGA is proud to release the new edition of its Air Superiority Market Report 2023 - 2028 which provides a comprehensive analysis of the rapidly evolving landscape in military aviation.

Download this Market Report to discover:

• The status of next-generation aircraft programs including the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and others
• An analysis of 6th Generation Aircraft in the US
• A deep-dive into Near Peer Capabilities across China and Russia
• The Next Generation Fighter Aircraft Programs across Europe

In the ever-evolving landscape of aerial warfare, the pursuit of air dominance remains an enduring endeavor for nations worldwide. As we venture into the era of sixth-generation fighter jets, characterized by advanced technologies and unprecedented capabilities, the global stage witnesses a convergence of innovation, strategy, and collaboration.

At the forefront of this paradigm shift stand the United States, China, and Russia, pioneers in the development of fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35, J-20, and SU-57, respectively. Yet, the horizon extends beyond these boundaries, with nations like Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan embarking on ambitious programs to shape the future of aerial combat.

This report delves into the intricate tapestry of sixth-generation fighter jet programs, unveiling a panorama of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), Future Combat Air System (FCAS), and other initiatives poised to redefine the very essence of air power.

Brigadier General Todd Balfe is the Fighter Capability Special Advisor in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and was one of the key speakers at the 2024 Air Dominance Summit. Balfe earned his pilot wings in 1988 and, following an initial assignment as a jet flying instructor, flew the CF-18 for many years. He amassed 4500 flight hours, including more than 2500 hours in the CF-18, and participated in three NATO deployments to the Balkans, culminating with the Operation Allied Force air campaign in Kosovo in 1999. His non-flying assignments include two tours with NORAD in the U.S., multiple staff positions in Ottawa, and a year-long deployment with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In Brigadier General Balfe’s current role he serves with the RCAF Fighter Capability Office overseeing F-35 transition, weapons procurements and Operational Training Infrastructure Enterprise Modernization. During his session at the Air Dominance Summit last May, Brigadier General Balfe spoke about the Royal Canadian Air Force’s next generation air superiority efforts but before that, he sat down with IDGA to discuss RCAF’s air capabilities priorities, how the transition to the F-35A is going, and more.

Our content editor had the privilege of sitting down with leaders in the US Air Force to discuss the Air Force’s acquisition process and its impact on air dominance efforts.

Read insights from Colonel Timothy M. Helfrich, Colonel John Cummings and Colonel Glendon C. Whelan into:

• What agile acquisition is and how it compares to traditional and rapid acquisition
• The challenges that arise when managing the acquisition process of an air fighter program such as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)
• How important collaboration is between departments and teams in the Air Force for the success of agile acquisition 

As potential competitors make advancements in the air domain, we must advance our training to ensure the evolving threat landscape is appropriately met. Brigadier General Robert G. Novotny (Ret.) delivers an interview which highlights how the U.S. plans to keep its edge to outpace the adversary. In this interview, he covers:

• Priorities for Aggressor Training
• How to drive readiness and prepare for air warfare
• How Aggressor Training has evolved
  

When discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is essential to think about it holistically, not only in terms of capabilities but also in terms of what AI really means for defence. 

Defence iQ is delighted to share with you an exclusive interview with Colonel Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton, Director, DAF-MIT AI Accelerator, U.S. Department of the Air Force, sharing thoughtful insights about a regularly misunderstood topic.

AI sets itself to revolutionise the defence domain, from capabilities to industry. Colonel Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton explains why AI and machine learning have become a focal point for defence. He points out the potential and limitations of AI in the defence domain and the nuances of applying it.

As Ukraine and Russia continue in their struggle to assert air superiority, IDGA’s sister organization, Defence iQ, was fortunate enough to interview fighter pilot “Juice” and Air Force Spokesperson, Colonel Yuriy Ignat. This interview provides a crucial overview of:

• How Ukraine prepared for Russia’s air campaign
• Insight into how pre-war assessments were misleading
• Current requirements of the Ukrainian Forces in order to urgently generate greater combat air capability