US Air Force Develops New Aircraft Fighter: The Secretive NGAD Program
The US Air Force (USAF) is actively developing its next generation of air dominance capabilities under a highly classified initiative known as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. This ambitious undertaking aims to significantly increase lethality and ensure air superiority in future conflicts, representing a pivotal shift in the USAF’s modernization strategy.
Unlike previous approaches that focused on developing a single new aircraft, the NGAD program adopts a comprehensive “system-of-systems” model. This network-centric framework will feature a cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter aircraft at its core, complemented by a suite of interconnected assets. These assets include multiple manned aircraft, advanced loyal wingman-style unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and sophisticated command, control, and communication systems designed to operate seamlessly together.
The program has already seen significant milestones, with the USAF successfully flying a full-scale flight demonstrator as early as September 2020. This crucial step validated key technologies and concepts for the future platform. The modern sixth-generation fighter developed under NGAD is slated to begin replacing the venerable F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft starting in 2030, marking a new era for the US Air Force’s fighter fleet. The USAF plans to procure an initial batch of 200 NGAD fighters.
Complementing the manned fighter, the USAF anticipates fielding around 1,000 unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The strategy assumes deploying two CCA platforms alongside each NGAD fighter, plus another two for each of the 300 F-35 fifth-generation fighters already in service. This approach seeks to provide affordable mass and expanded capabilities in contested environments.
A critical component of the NGAD effort is the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. This initiative is focused on developing advanced engines to power the future combat jets. In February 2024, Pratt & Whitney, an RTX subsidiary, reported a successful crucial evaluation of its NGAP solution, moving closer to finalizing the detailed design review. The team is currently conducting ground testing for its prototype engine, known as XA103, with further testing planned for the late 2020s.
Project Background and Development
The origins of the NGAD program can be traced back to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Air Dominance Initiative study, completed in 2014. Building on this, the USAF published the Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan in May 2016, which emphasized the need for multi-domain solutions and a more agile acquisition process to counter evolving threats. The Air Superiority 2030 vision ultimately evolved into the NGAD program, firmly centered around the system-of-systems concept.
The NGAD program is designed to equip the USAF with a sixth-generation combat aircraft that operates in a teaming arrangement with mission-specific unmanned platforms. This integrated system will also incorporate advanced weapons, electronic warfare systems, and sensors necessary for achieving mission success in highly contested battlespaces.
In June 2022, USAF Secretary Frank Kendall announced that the program was ready to advance to the engineering, manufacture, and design (EMD) phase of development. Following this, in May 2023, the Department of the Air Force issued a solicitation to the defense industry. This solicitation is part of the source selection process for the EMD contract for the NGAD combat jet platform, with the contract award anticipated in 2024.
Powering the Future Fighter: The NGAP Program
The advanced engines powering the NGAD combat jet are being developed under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. In August 2022, major aerospace companies including Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman were each awarded substantial ten-year, $975 million contracts for NGAP.
These contracts cover activities ranging from technology maturation and risk reduction through various development phases. This includes design, analysis, testing of prototype engines, rig testing, and integration with weapon systems. The primary requirement for the contracted companies is to develop a prototype engine capable of meeting the demands of the next-generation fighter.
The technologies being developed under NGAP are expected to deliver significant improvements in enhanced survivability, improved fuel efficiency, and reliable power and thermal management. These features are critical for providing the range, weapon and sensor capabilities, and endurance required by future air dominance platforms operating in demanding operational environments.
Insights gained from the USAF’s Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) have been highly beneficial, directly influencing the technologies and architectures being integrated into the NGAP program. GE Aerospace, for instance, reported in November 2023 that its XA100 engine completed additional testing in partnership with the US Air Force, providing valuable data that could aid the NGAP initiative.
NGAD Fighter Jet Operational Details
The NGAD fighter aircraft is primarily designed to execute counter-air missions. This involves conducting air-to-air strikes to establish dominance in the skies. Additionally, it is expected to perform attacks against ground-based targets, contributing to overall air superiority for the joint force.
A concept image shows the design direction for the US Air Force’s NGAD sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
The aircraft is being developed to deliver enhanced survivability, adaptability, persistence, and interoperability within the aerial domain. Due to the highly classified nature of the NGAD program, detailed design specifications and performance parameters of the aircraft have not been publicly disclosed.
Technologies and Acquisition Strategy Shifts
The NGAD program leverages advanced digital engineering tools, which are expected to accelerate the development and production process while simultaneously reducing costs. This digital-first approach is a significant departure from traditional aircraft development.
The USAF is also investing heavily in variable-cycle engines through the NGAP program. These advanced engines are designed to increase electrical power generation, crucial for powering sophisticated onboard systems, while also improving cooling efficiency – a key challenge for high-performance aircraft.
The acquisition strategy for NGAD aims to broaden the industrial base involved in defense contracting. This is intended to foster innovation and accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge warfighting capabilities to the operational forces. A key objective is to mitigate challenges encountered in previous USAF acquisition programs. Consequently, NGAD is planned to incorporate open architecture standards.
USAF Secretary Frank Kendall discusses the potential for digital engineering to reduce time and cost in the NGAD program.
This open architecture platform is intended to maximize competition for future upgrades throughout the aircraft’s life cycle, potentially leading to reduced costs associated with maintenance and sustainment over time.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs)
Given the projected high cost of the NGAD manned fighter, estimated to be as much as $300 million per aircraft, the USAF plans to rely heavily on less expensive Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). These unmanned platforms are designed to operate in tandem with crewed NGAD fighters or autonomously, providing “affordable mass” in combat scenarios.
CCAs are envisioned to seamlessly receive and execute commands from the pilot of a manned fighter jet. They are expected to carry advanced sensors, electronic warfare packages, or additional munitions to augment the capabilities of the manned fighter. CCAs can perform various roles, acting as a shooter, jammer, or an extension of the fighter’s sensor network.
The Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie unmanned aircraft is a potential candidate for the NGAD program’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft role.
The strategic integration of CCAs is central to the NGAD system-of-systems approach, aiming to create a synergistic effect where the combined capabilities of manned and unmanned platforms exceed the sum of their individual parts.
Funding the NGAD Program
The NGAD program represents a significant financial investment by the US government. Over the next five years, through 2028, the program is estimated to require approximately $16 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluation activities.
For the financial year 2024 (FY24), the USAF requested $2.3 billion for the NGAD program. This budget allocation is intended to support further development of both the manned fighter aircraft component and the critical NGAP power plant. In the preceding financial year, FY23, the USAF’s budget request included approximately $1.7 billion for NGAD. This funding covered activities such as technology maturation, risk reduction, and continued research and development in advanced sensors, resilient communications systems, and air vehicle technologies. The substantial funding underscores the priority the US places on developing this new russian fighter aircraft.
The NGAD sixth-generation fighter is intended to replace the capabilities currently provided by the F-22 Raptor, pictured here.
The investment in NGAD and its associated technologies, including the development of fighter aircraft payload options for both the manned and unmanned components, highlights the US commitment to maintaining air superiority in the coming decades. The program represents a complex and costly endeavor, but one deemed essential for future national security. The exploration of concepts like this builds upon a long history of aviation innovation, distinct from past designs like the fiat fighter aircraft ww2. This continued push for technological advancement mirrors global trends, including developments in areas such as chinese stealth fighter aircraft. As the program progresses through its development phases, more details about this secretive Us New Aircraft Fighter are likely to emerge, shaping the future of aerial warfare.
A computer-generated image illustrates a potential design for the future NGAD fighter, highlighting its integration with advanced engine technology.
