Next Gen Fighter Program in Crisis: Is It Time To Throw In the Towel?

The crown jewel of American airpower, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, is facing a potential identity crisis. Soaring costs threaten to clip the wings of this ambitious project, raising questions about the future of US air superiority.

Dream Jet, Nightmarish Price Tag

NGAD was envisioned as the crown jewel of American airpower, a technological marvel surpassing anything currently in existence.

Imagine a sixth-generation fighter – a pilot’s dream with unmatched stealth capabilities, next-gen sensors, and powerful weaponry. However, this dream is turning into a budgetary nightmare.

Initial estimates suggest a price tag of a staggering $300 million per jet, three times that of the F-35 Lightning II. This hefty price tag throws a wrench into the initial plan of deploying 200 NGAD fighters, forcing the USAF to re-evaluate the entire program.

Redesigning for Affordability, but at What Cost?

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall insists the program isn’t dead, but a redesign is on the horizon.

The goal? Affordability. This likely translates to a simpler, less powerful engine, potentially sacrificing some of the cutting-edge features envisioned.

While this might make the program more budget-friendly, questions arise about whether a less-capable NGAD can truly maintain America’s edge against rapidly advancing adversaries like China.

“The family of systems concept of Next Generation Air Dominance is alive and well,” Kendall told Defense News in an exclusive interview on June 28. “I can tell you that we are looking at the NGAD platform design concept to see if it’s the right concept or not. … We’re looking at whether we can do something that’s less expensive and do some trade-offs there.”

The Drone Wingman: Caught in the Redesign Crossfire

But NGAD wasn’t meant to be a solo act. It was designed as a “family of systems,” working alongside a fleet of 1,000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) – unmanned drones envisioned as the muscle of the NGAD’s brain.

These CCAs were supposed to provide a significant cost-effective advantage, swarming enemy defenses and multiplying the NGAD’s effectiveness.

However, with the NGAD redesign, the future of these drones now hangs in the balance.

Uncertain Skies: American Air Superiority on the Line

The stakes are undeniably high.

The F-22 Raptor, the current king of air superiority, is nearing retirement. NGAD was supposed to be its successor, ensuring America’s dominance in the skies. Delays or limitations in the program could have serious consequences.

Military experts are sounding the alarm.

“This is a surprising development for advocates of American airpower,” defense analyst David Axe wrote in an article for The Telegraph. “For generations, the US military – not to mention the militaries of America’s closest allies – has relied on the US Air Force for air superiority against the most determined and sophisticated enemy, allowing ground troops and ships at sea to operate freely.”

The path forward for NGAD remains uncertain.

Will it become a scaled-down sidekick to the F-35, sacrificing its potential to be a true next-generation fighter? Or can the USAF find a way to balance affordability with cutting-edge technology?

Only time – and the Air Force’s budget – will tell.

But one thing is certain: the skies above the battlefield are about to get a lot more interesting, with the potential for a new chapter in aerial warfare being written or a once-dominant force facing an uncertain future.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.