The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program represents a highly classified and pivotal initiative by the US Air Force (USAF) aimed at significantly boosting lethality and guaranteeing air superiority for the decades to come. This program is set to redefine air force modernization by embracing a “system-of-systems” philosophy, moving beyond reliance on a single aircraft platform. The centerpiece of this network-connected family will be a sixth-generation Future Us Fighter Aircraft, supported by unmanned aerial vehicles, other manned aircraft, and sophisticated command, control, and communication networks. A full-scale flight demonstrator already flew in September 2020, marking a significant step towards realizing this advanced capability, which is anticipated to replace the F-22 Raptor starting in 2030.
Concept art depicting the USAF Next Generation Air Dominance future US fighter aircraft in flight.
Origins and Evolution of NGAD
The conceptual groundwork for the NGAD program was laid by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Air Dominance Initiative study, concluded in 2014. Building on this, the USAF released its Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan in May 2016. This plan highlighted the critical need for multi-domain solutions acquired through a more flexible and rapid process than traditional procurement cycles. The Air Superiority 2030 concept subsequently evolved into the NGAD program, characterized by its integrated system-of-systems architecture.
The NGAD System-of-Systems Approach
NGAD is designed to equip the USAF with a sixth-generation combat aircraft operating collaboratively with mission-specific unmanned platforms. This integrated network will incorporate advanced weaponry, electronic warfare systems, and sensors, enabling mission success even in highly contested environments. USAF Secretary Frank Kendall confirmed in June 2022 that the program had advanced to the engineering, manufacture, and design (EMD) phase. In May 2023, the Department of the Air Force initiated the source selection process by issuing a classified solicitation to industry partners for the EMD contract of the NGAD manned fighter platform, with an award anticipated in 2024.
Powering the Future: Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP)
The heart of the manned NGAD fighter will be its advanced engines, developed under the Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. In August 2022, Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman were each awarded ten-year contracts worth up to $975 million for NGAP. These contracts encompass technology maturation and risk reduction through design, analysis, prototype engine testing, rig testing, and weapon system integration. Each company aims to develop a prototype engine tailored for the next-generation fighter.
The NGAP program focuses on delivering technologies that enhance survivability, improve fuel efficiency, and provide robust power and thermal management. These advancements are crucial for achieving the extended range, weapon capacity, sensor capabilities, and endurance required by future air dominance platforms. Lessons learned from the USAF’s preceding Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) are significantly informing the technologies and designs being incorporated into NGAP. In February 2024, Pratt & Whitney (an RTX subsidiary) successfully completed a key review of its NGAP solution with the USAF, progressing towards detailed design finalization for its XA103 prototype engine, with ground tests planned for the late 2020s. GE Aerospace also reported in November 2023 that its AETP engine, the XA100, completed additional testing, providing valuable data potentially beneficial to the NGAP effort.
Computer rendering of a future US fighter aircraft concept featuring a Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) engine.
The Centerpiece: The Sixth-Generation Manned Fighter
The NGAD manned fighter aircraft is primarily designed for counter-air missions, conducting both air-to-air combat and attacks on ground targets to secure air superiority for joint forces. It promises enhanced survivability, adaptability, persistence, and interoperability within the air domain. While the precise design details and specifications remain classified, its role as the successor to the venerable F-22 Raptor is clear. The USAF currently plans an initial procurement of 200 NGAD fighters.
US Air Force F-22 Raptor, the fifth-generation fighter set to be replaced by the future NGAD aircraft.
Enabling Technologies and Acquisition Strategy
The NGAD program heavily leverages digital engineering practices, which are expected to accelerate development and production timelines while reducing overall costs. USAF Secretary Frank Kendall noted that these tools could potentially yield savings of around 20% in both time and cost. Investment in variable-cycle engine technology aims to boost electrical power generation and improve thermal management capabilities onboard the aircraft. A cornerstone of the NGAD acquisition strategy is the use of open architecture standards. This approach is intended to foster competition for future upgrades, simplify maintenance, lower sustainment costs, and allow the integration of new capabilities more rapidly throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle, addressing challenges faced in previous acquisition programs.
Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall highlights the role of digital engineering in the NGAD future fighter program.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs): The Force Multiplier
Recognizing the substantial cost associated with procuring advanced manned fighters (estimated up to $300 million per NGAD aircraft), the USAF plans to field a larger number of less expensive Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). These unmanned platforms are designed to operate alongside crewed fighters like the NGAD and F-35, or potentially autonomously. CCAs act as force multipliers, capable of carrying additional sensors, electronic warfare systems, or munitions. They can function as shooters, jammers, or sensor platforms, seamlessly receiving commands from pilots in accompanying manned aircraft. The initial plan assumes procuring 1,000 CCAs, envisioning two CCAs paired with each NGAD fighter and two for each of the 300 targeted F-35s involved in this teaming concept, providing affordable mass and expanded capabilities in combat scenarios.
Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie, a potential Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone for the NGAD system-of-systems.
Funding the Future Air Dominance
The NGAD program requires significant investment, estimated at around $16 billion through 2028 for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). For the fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the USAF requested $2.3 billion, covering continued development of the core fighter platform and the NGAP engine. This followed an FY23 budget request of approximately $1.7 billion, which funded technology maturation, risk reduction, and R&D in areas like advanced sensors, resilient communications, and air vehicle technologies. This sustained funding underscores the high priority placed on securing next-generation air dominance capabilities.
Conclusion
The Next Generation Air Dominance program is a transformative effort poised to shape the future of US air power. By adopting a system-of-systems approach centered around a highly advanced Future Us Fighter Aircraft and integrating Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sophisticated engines via the NGAP program, and cutting-edge technologies under an open architecture framework, the USAF aims to maintain a decisive edge in the skies. While many details remain classified, the program’s focus on adaptability, survivability, and networked operations signals a major leap beyond current fifth-generation capabilities. Continued development, testing, and strategic funding allocation will be crucial as NGAD progresses towards its planned service entry around 2030, replacing the F-22 and ensuring American air superiority for the foreseeable future.
