We know, for example, that F-22s are being used for this purpose, as you can read about here. At the same time, we cannot rule out the use of one or more existing aircraft that could be used as surrogates for various kinds of related testing, too. There is a possibility that these demonstrators (including the one disclosed back in 2020) are products of those efforts. In the past, Kendall has openly talked about “X-planes,” in the plural when describing the evolution of what became NGAD. “Further information on the NGAD Platform’s technical and programmatic details are classified to protect operational and technological advantages.”Ī view of the forward fuselage of a notional NGAD combat jet, seen in a 2021 advertisement from Northrop Grumman. “This solicitation release formally begins the source selection process providing industry with the requirements the expects for NGAD, as the future replacement of the F-22,” the press release stated. You can read our analysis of that recent development here. In contrast to previous fighter competitions, NGAD remains cloaked in secrecy, although last month the Air Force did release a classified contract solicitation for the engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase of the program. So far, however, the Air Force has not released any details of prime contractors involved in NGAD, or potential teaming arrangements under which different companies may be working together on their proposals.
The Joint Strike Fighter program that led to today’s F-35 stealth jet also involved two competing designs, from Boeing and Lockheed Martin, while back in the 1980s, the Advanced Tactical Fighter program saw Lockheed Martin compete with Northrop Grumman, with the former being selected to build the F-22 Raptor.
Overall, having two teams competing for the crewed combat jet element of NGAD is not altogether surprising.
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