The battle for the next Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet order in the United States is solid.
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| NGAD 6th generation fighter jet programme |
The US Air Force is looking to commission a new stealth fighter plane, and competition is strong. According to rumors, a selection will be made between two key contractors or contractor teams. It's worth noting, though, that there were probably three candidates in the running from the start. This competition's winner will most likely be announced next year.
Three demonstration aircraft were developed for the "Next Generation Air Dominance" (NGAD) program, as heard in the current Defense & Aerospace Report podcast. This is intriguing because information on the NGAD program is limited. It is kept under strict confidentiality.
The three demonstrations imply that there were three primary contractors or teams at any given moment, one of which had already retired. According to the podcast, these are most likely Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The businesses are well-known combat aircraft manufacturers that were considered possible contractors throughout the NGAD program's development.
F-22 successor
It is not unusual for two teams to compete for a 6th generation combat plane. There were already two competing designs from Boeing and Lockheed Martin in the "Joint Strike Fighter" program, from which today's stealth fighter F-35 evolved, with the latter having the upper hand. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competed in the 1980s to create the F-22 Raptor as part of the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. Lockheed Martin again emerged as the competition's victor.
The NGAD fighter plane is planned to be a successor for the F-22 Raptor in the future. To safeguard technological advantages, technical and programmatic specifics regarding the initiative are secret. However, they wish to rely on a "open architecture standard." The goal is to "maximize competition throughout the life cycle [of the fighter jet], create a larger, more responsive industrial base, and drastically reduce maintenance and repair costs," according to a press statement from the US military.
It is clear, however, that at least one demonstration aircraft was already in the air. It is unknown whether the other two protestors have already taken to the skies. It's possible that they are merely devices used to test subsystems and technology.
The NGAD fighter jet may be the final manned fighter plane in the United States before switching entirely to unmanned fighter jets. The airplane will undoubtedly be incredibly powerful as well as extremely pricey. A single plane will cost "several hundred million dollars," according to US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.
Each of these planes will be outfitted with a range of technology, including as advanced stealth systems and "spectral warfare" systems. This disrupts or disables electromagnetic signals from computer networks, sensors, radios, radar systems, and other devices. The NGAD jet's development has prioritized range and payload. Both of these elements may play a significant role in future wars in the Asia-Pacific area.
200 fighter jets and 1,000 drones
The competition winner will develop around 200 fighter planes, which might be joined by a total of 1,000 unmanned drones. However, all is not lost for the firm that is unable to establish itself in the marketplace. Each NGAD aircraft comprises a plethora of subsystems made by many firms of varying sizes. It is also likely that one of the rejected candidates will be engaged in the fighter jet's manufacturing.
The US Air Force operates on a very strict timetable. Contracts will not be signed until next year, and the stealth jet will enter service in the early 1930s. Meanwhile, the US Navy is seeking for a new sixth-generation fighter plane. The development of the jet, known as the F/A-XX, is anticipated to cost $9 billion by 2028. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are also among the competition's favorites.
Source: FutureZone