Air Force Announces “Secret” 6th-Gen NGAD Stealth Fighter Industry Solicitation

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Speeds, stealth and trust-to-weight ration superior to an F-22, AI-enabled computing able to instantly analyze and distribute otherwise disparate pools of sensor data, paradigm-changing EW, unmanned flight capability, an ability to operate drones from the cockpit, open architecture to allow software and technology upgrades and, perhaps most of all … an entirely new generation of weapons, targeting, range and precision guidance. 

This long list is merely a few of the as of yet largely unknown Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, a highly secret yet now airborne new 6th-generation stealth fighter expected to out-perform the F-22 and usher in a new generation of US air superiority. 

Naturally, the Pentagon is being careful to ensure potential rivals do not learn details about the new platforms’ technologies … yet several clear, innocuous comments about the plane’s functionality have been publicly discussed by the Air Force. 

While the exact configuration of the demonstrators now in the air are not known or visible, available images or potential renderings have been released by several major industry players.  To the observers eye, the new aircraft looks like the stealthiest thing that has ever existed, and that is not including any detail about thermal management or coating materials. The blended wing-body shape, horizontal, rounded configuration and absence of vertical structures suggest that the body of the aircraft itself may be able to operate with “bomber-like” incredible stealth. 

NGAD: Progress Behind Closed Doors

It is assumed that major industry players are submitting prototypes and competing for a production award, however, specifics of which companies are not available.

Major industry players have released renderings of what appears to be a 6th-generation aircraft, and the Air Force has been clear that demonstrator aircraft are already airborne. Beyond that, there is speculation about its technologies and an announcement from the Air Force about a potential contract award coming as soon as 2024. A formal Air Force statement, however, did say a formal solicitation was provided to industry slotting 2024 as a contract award time goal.