Despite a popular focus on stealth – and to a lesser extent, data fusion – in today’s fighters, America’s turbofan advantage is just as valuable in setting American fighters apart through a combination of high power output and carefully crafted radar and infrared detection mitigation.

A stealth fighter is only as good as the engine powering it, and until now, only the United States has been able to effectively field these sorts of advanced engines in sufficient numbers to equip a high-end fighter fleet.

But in April 2023, the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced that serial production of China’s advanced WS-15 turbofan engine was finally set to begin, marking what is expected to be a significant leap in capability for the nation’s single in-service stealth fighter, the Chengdu J-20. The engine is expected to increase the power output pilots have on tap, the aircraft’s overall combat radius, and most importantly, stealth against both radar and infrared detection.

And even amid its stalled invasion of Ukraine and stagnating economic sanctions, Russia managed to follow suit in December – announcing that its homegrown 5th generation engine, known as the Saturn AL-51 in most international circles, would also see serial production in 2024. Just as with China’s WS-15, the inclusion of these new engines will give Russia’s Su-57 a palpable boost in combat performance and stealth – something the Russian 5th-generation jet struggles with more than any other jet of its class.

While the precise capability limits of these new Russian and Chinese turbofan engines are subject to some debate, the broad consensus is clear: the strategic advantage America’s advanced turbofan technology has long provided is rapidly eroding. But this won’t likely last.

Development on Pratt & Whitney’s F119 turbofan engine, which would come to be the engine of the world’s first 5th generation fighter, began in 1983, with prototyping contracts awarded to both General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.

General Electric had been the clear frontrunner in fielding engines for stealth aircraft, having already successfully modified their F404 turbofan engines, originally developed for the F/A-18 Hornet, for stealthier duties in the F-117 Nighthawk. The company had also developed the B-2 Spirit’s F118 turbofans which were non-afterburning and........

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