The United States Air Force's (USAF) search for a sixth-generation fighter is under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) project. The NGAD aircraft will replace the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft that was designed more than 25 years ago and is now considered inadequate to deal with the needs of the modern battlefield. The USAF now says the contract to develop this aircraft will be awarded to a selected company in 2024.
NGAD needs to have the ability to operate with drones as a parent aircraft or in groups. The Ukraine war shows how important drones are in the modern battlefield as not only for the monitoring process but also to carry out attacks without being easily detected.
As usual Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed are believed to be involved in the NGAD project with a prototype having made its first flight in 2020. Several concept images of the aircraft have been leaked with details still being kept under wraps.
The contract to develop the NGAD worth around $2.3 billion will be awarded to the successful company in 2024. More than $500 million will be spent on developing the jet engine for the NGAD. The initial budget of the entire project was announced to be around $5 billion.
With this the United States has finally entered the era of sixth generation fighter aircraft following the steps of the UK with the BAE Tempest and Japan with the Mitsubishi F-X.