The NGAD Program, backed by a hefty $4.2 billion investment, seeks to address the strategic gap created by the retirement of the F-22 Raptor. It strives to develop either a Sixth-Generation aircraft or a sophisticated blend of manned and unmanned technologies to ensure U.S. air superiority.

Yet, as warfare dynamics shift and the U.S. Space Force comes into play, some contend that future air dominance hinges on space supremacy. This perspective underscores the urgency for pioneering advancements in space-based defense systems rather than solely focusing on conventional aircraft.

This refocused perspective poses a challenge to the Air Force’s conventional mandate, advocating for a strategic reorientation towards space to ensure holistic defense against emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons.

Since 2015, the United States Congress has allocated $4.2 billion (and increasing) for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program.

The objective is to fill the void left by the premature discontinuation of the F-22 Raptor Fifth-Generation air superiority fighter during the peak of the 2008 Financial Crisis and subsequent federal budget disputes.

According to US defense strategists, the cessation of the F-22 program in 2009 not only created a significant gap in America’s strategic defenses but also impacted the financial interests of defense contractors.

Hence, there is a pressing need for a new Sixth-Generation warplane program to bridge this gap.

For the US Air Force, the NGAD Program transcends the development of a mere air superiority fighter jet. It signifies the establishment of an entire technological innovation ecosystem aimed at sustaining supremacy in aerial combat against all adversaries.

As per the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA), this initiative could result in the creation of a singular, unparalleled warplane model surpassing anything currently deployed by other nations.

Alternatively, the NGAD Program might materialize as a composite system comprising manned, unmanned, optionally manned, cyber, and electronic components.

These configurations may significantly diverge from the conventional concept of a “fighter.” The NGAD Program is tackling four key areas that Air Force strategists deem pivotal in crafting the next-generation platform for air superiority: propulsion, unmanned systems, materials, and sensors.

These aspects were areas of focus in previous Fifth-Generation warplane programs like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter initiatives.

Notably, NGAD Program leaders are particularly keen on integrating lightweight, groundbreaking composite materials with unmanned platforms to complement manned Sixth-Generation warplanes seamlessly.

In June 2022, the NGAD Program sought $1.6 billion in the FY2023 budget, followed by a request for $2.3 billion in FY2024.

The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA) projects that between 2024 and 2027, the NGAD Program will secure approximately $11.7 billion. These systems are anticipated to be operational as early as the 2030s.

Relevant articles:
– The Air Force’s NGAD Fighter Nightmare Is Just Getting Started, The National Interest
– The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Nightmare Is Just Getting Started, The National Interest
– USAF Plans $28.48 Billion over 5 Years to Develop New Advanced Fighters, Drone Escorts, airandspaceforces.com
– 5 secretive new warplanes the US is developing for the next big fight, Sandboxx