26/06/2025
The world's fastest aircraft was built fifty years ago.
The best bomber aircraft, the B2, was developed thirty years ago.
The largest military cargo plane was built nearly fifty-seven years ago.
So, why has there been no progress in this field over all these years?
There has been no progress primarily because there was no need. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Air Force was so far ahead of the rest of the world that even today, China has not been able to catch up.
The same applies to the Navy's aircraft carriers—no one else in the world comes close.
So, what’s the benefit of further advancement?
Secondly, each era has a signature industry where all the talent and investment are concentrated. A while ago, it was smartphones; before that, computers; earlier, space tech; and currently, it’s AI.
The industry at the center of an era undergoes the fastest changes. Right now, for example, you see constant advancements in AI and electric vehicles (EVs), but you won’t find that level of rapid progress in laptops, desktops, or gasoline-powered cars.
This doesn’t mean nothing is happening in those fields—progress is just slower. The reason is that the majority of funding, talent, and focus isn’t directed there. After all, our resources and skilled workforce are limited. They can’t be spread across all areas. So, wherever we pour our energy, that’s where the most progress happens.
Additionally, any industry experiences rapid advancements initially. But eventually, we hit a limit, and the pace of innovation slows down compared to before.
