What budget infighting means for America’s F-47 and a conflict over Taiwan

America’s view of China as a “pacing threat” has shaped its defence priorities as the military seeks to maintain an edge over a rapidly modernising PLA. In the second of a three-part series

on how US budget tensions will affect efforts to deter China, we look at the race for air superiority.

Both militaries are developing sixth-generation fighter jets. Footage of China’s new prototype aircraft in test flights emerged on the symbolic date of December 26, the birthday of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

But in the US, opinion is divided over how to balance defence budget priorities given the substantial funding needed for the air force’s next-generation air dominance, or NGAD, programme – decisions that could have an impact on a potential conflict in the Pacific.