In an era where air dominance is a keystone of national security, the U.S. Air Force’s forthcoming decision on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter’s contract is a pivotal moment for the defense sector and the future of aerial combat.
The service sent a classified solicitation to the industry for NGAD’s engineering and manufacturing development contract in May 2023, officially kicking off the process of selecting the company that will build its next advanced fighter system. The program seeks to revolutionize the fighter aircraft arena with a “family of systems,” blending manned and unmanned aerial capabilities, state-of-the-art stealth features, advanced sensors, and unparalleled connectivity with satellites and other assets.
Fueling this technological leap, the NGAD program will employ open-architecture standards, enabling it to benefit from ongoing competition and innovation throughout its lifecycle. This approach is expected to significantly reduce maintenance and sustainment costs—an essential factor for a program that is set to shape the next era of air combat. The contract for NGAD has narrowed down to two major defense firms: Lockheed Martin and Boeing, following the withdrawal of Northrop Grumman from the competition in 2023. Northrop Grumman’s exit from the Air Force’s NGAD bid as a prime contractor, announced in July of the same year, has intensified the rivalry between the remaining contenders.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-22, F-16, and F-35, and Boeing, the maker of the F-15EX and B-52, are now locked in a high-stakes contest, with each bringing a formidable legacy and expertise in aircraft design and manufacturing. This contract, potentially worth $300 million per aircraft, is not just about the financial gain; it represents a strategic opportunity to set the direction for the U.S. and its allies’ future aerial combat capabilities.
The Air Force also plans in 2024 to dramatically increase spending on the propulsion system that will one day power NGAD. This system, dubbed Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion, or NGAP, will incorporate multiple design elements from Pentagon-funded research into an adaptive engine that at one point was considered for the F-35 jet. The Air Force requested $595 million for NGAP in its fiscal 2024 budget, a $375 million increase over the previous year’s funding.
Relevant articles:
– New in 2024: Who will win Air Force’s next-gen fighter contract?, Defense News, Dec 23, 2023
– NGAD: The Expensive $300 Million Fighter Jet The Air Force Wants, The National Interest