NGAD’s demise ‘grossly exaggerated’ as US Air Force continues to re-evaluate programme
A concept of the NGAD sixth-gen fighter from Lockheed Martin (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The suggested demise of the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, after it was paused by the branch in August 2024, has been dismissed as “grossly overexaggerated” by an official source close to the matter at the International Fighter Conference 2024, Defence iQ.
“The US Air Force has not departed from the idea of NGAD,” the source added. “It is still very much a part of our future.”
NGAD has often been described as a ‘family of systems’ centred around a crewed sixth-gen fighter and unmanned collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). Originally conceived of in 2014, it is set
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
Airbus awaits USMC decision on Logistics Connector programme
Airbus has been advancing development of its uncrewed MQ-72C Logistics Connector for the US Marine Corps, with a decision on the programme expected in early 2026.
-
Belgium considers additional F-35 order to boost fleet
The statement from Prime Minister Bart De Wever during a parliamentary session follows the country’s Easter Agreement which would see it increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of 2025.
-
Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs
In its Q1 earnings call, the company disclosed a US$477 million pretax loss related to the programme as it works to scale up.
-
Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss
The investment in technologies developed for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft bid will now be applied to its F-35 and F-22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet.