USAF/USN 6th Gen Fighters - F/A-XX, F-X, NGAD, PCA, ASFS News & Analysis

[NMaude]

I'm wondering if the USAF is going to release photographs this year of its' NGAD demonstrator aircraft*?

*I wonder if it has been assigned an "X" designation?

 

[Josh_TN]

I'm wondering if the USAF is going to release photographs this year of its' NGAD demonstrator aircraft*?

*I wonder if it has been assigned an "X" designation?

Why would it? Regardless of the program direction, there is no reason to do so.

 

[Colonial-Marine]

A LOT. Despite all the talk about our recapitalization needs and our air frames being rode hard and put up wet, "they" continually spend more on R&D programs than acquisition. Makes no sense. R&D gives the least return for the money, and they often point it in the directions that make the least sense (for the Air Force as a policy instrument -- works great for the defense industry shareholders, which is why all these generals end up on a board at RTX or LM or wherever after retirement).

R&D is a matter of necessity if you don't want to fall behind in capabilities. Admittedly you can go to extremes where the research becomes of questionable value, but when it comes to NGAD it's really hard to determine if that has been an issue since so much is classified. The limitations of actual acquisition doesn't seem to have been a failure to develop new systems. Choices like the one made with F-22 production tend to happen instead.

As for where the money comes from, it's probably against these forum rules to discuss foolish tax cuts or questionable initiatives and the politicians involved. The DoD (and government as a whole) needs to do a better job of how they spend the money, not cutting that overall figure in times like this so that money can seemingly be misappropriated elsewhere.

 

[Desertfox]

Why would it? Regardless of the program direction, there is no reason to do so.

PR. Getting the public on your side could be one way to save a program from being cut.

 

[NMaude]

PR. Getting the public on your side could be one way to save a program from being cut.

As the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words".

 

[Forest Green]

NGAD engines pass key design reviews, prototype work underway

Work continues on the engines that might one day power the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, though the fate of NGAD itself is still undetermined.

www.defensenews.com

RTX's Pratt & Whitney passes first fully digital detailed design review on Next-Gen Adaptive Propulsion Offering

Hardware procurement begins for XA103 prototype build and test EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, completed the detailed design review of its Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) offering with the U.S. Air Force. Pratt &...

www.rtx.com

Advanced Fighter Engines Pass Design Review

Engine designs from GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney have cleared Air Force review and can proceed to fabrication.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Josh_TN]

PR. Getting the public on your side could be one way to save a program from being cut.

Public opinion doesn’t matter at the program level. The average US citizen could not name a USAF aircraft, let alone understand anything about program funding. Also the nature of U.S. politics now is such that only one opinion really matters. The ruling party will rearrange itself around that opinion regardless of what it is.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Public opinion doesn’t matter at the program level. The average US citizen could not name a USAF aircraft, let alone understand anything about program funding. Also the nature of U.S. politics now is such that only one opinion really matters. The ruling party will rearrange itself around that opinion regardless of what it is.

Indeed. A former colleague of mine claimed that the “F-16” had trillions of dollars invested in its stealth capabilities and has only a balloon kill to show for it while I rolled my eyes into the back of my head.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Indeed. A former colleague of mine claimed that the “F-16” had trillions of dollars invested in its stealth capabilities and has only a balloon kill to show for it while I rolled my eyes into the back of my head.

What does the inside of your eye sockets look like?

 

[Forest Green]

Next Gen Adaptive Propulsion is a foundational element of the USAF efforts to field #NGAD. #NGAP has now advanced to stage 5 of the 6 stage dev phase.

The GE #XA102 & the P&W #XA103 both build on the Adaptive Cycle Engine development, prototyping and testing performed on the XA100 (GE) & XA101 (P&W) #ACE, both of which were sized for a potential #F35 re-engine effort that would have added up to 30% range to F-35 A & C variants.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892917207593521552

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1892917207593521552

 

[indicisivedivide]

Public opinion doesn’t matter at the program level. The average US citizen could not name a USAF aircraft, let alone understand anything about program funding. Also the nature of U.S. politics now is such that only one opinion really matters. The ruling party will rearrange itself around that opinion regardless of what it is.

If the number overseas troops in Europe and Africa are reduced and bases are consolidated in Italy and UK and Germany. How much funding does it free up. Let's say that even marines and army funding is reduced by delaying some projects like ngsw. Does it free up the funds. Now that the war in Ukraine is coming to a close ( on horrific terms ). Funding probably can go down. Congress only cares about procurement and jobs, so atleast that might free up some funds. Middle East deployments might decrease and again give the army a break.