6th Generation Fighter Meta Thread

The Air Force has issued a classified solicitation for an NGAD EMD contract. They expect to make the final selection next year.

breakingdefense.com...

To followup on Zaph's post, more info on the NGAD solicitation.

In service in 2030 (+/-). The solicitation itself is classified (annoyance). Open architecture for upgrading and multiple vendor servicing. 200 bird initial buy.

www.janes.com...
www.flightglobal.com...
theaviationist.com...

Two companies have worked on the NGAD bird(s) already:

breakingdefense.com...

via NorthGrum.

theaviationist.com...

GCAP and SCAF are trying to make nice a bit. just a little bit:

www.janes.com...

6th gen part:

The subcommittee’s mark indicates that both the Air Force and Navy secretaries would be required to submit annual reports on the development and technological maturation of both services’ Next Generation Air Dominance fighters. The mark additionally includes a mandate that each service establish “threshold and objective key performance parameters regarding flyaway unit cost, gross/weapon system unit cost, aircraft cost-per-tail-per-year, and aircraft cost-per-flight-hour” for their fighters. (The services have said they will not follow the joint model that created the F-35 and are instead developing their own designs individually.)

Little is known about the Navy’s pursuit for its own NGAD fighter, though Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has suggested that his service’s sixth-gen fighter will be prohibitively expensive, likely costing “multiples” of an F-35. A selection of the Air Force’s design is expected next year.

breakingdefense.com...

The chairman of HASC wants to cut $550M in funding from NGAD in what they're calling a "deferment". The Air Force requested $2.326B in funding for NGAD, and has started the clock on the program, with an RFI and source selection set for next year.

www.airandspaceforces.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

The 'reasoning' behind it:

breakingdefense.com...

Explaining the European 6th gen efforts:

breakingdefense.com...

a reply to: anzha

Sweden is not in a rush to join a 6th gen effort:

breakingdefense.com...

Belgium has joined the FrancoGermanoSpanish FCAS/SCAF as an observer:

www.flightglobal.com...
www.janes.com...
breakingdefense.com...

a reply to: anzha

i postulate a;; the green fast mover sightings are of quite old tech.

makes you wonder4 why they went to using RF decoys and even 'illuminators' for smaller radars(weapons)


the 2050 bomber is a joke it looks just like what we got with the b21

we all know there is tecxh out there being used that should be the focus of the MIC to mass produce and with 1990's tech make the world think we are unstoppable.

MBDA unveiled its ERC concept for use on the FrancoGermanoSpanish SCAF 6th gen:

breakingdefense.com...

www.janes.com...

There's a claim there were 3 NGAD demonstrators and there are currently two contractors or teams of contractors in the running:

www.thedrive.com...

It's the drive, soooo take it with a mountain of salt.

The F-22 Combined Test Force is now the Air Dominance Combined Test Force. The 411th Flight Test Squadron will perform developmental testing, operational testing, and work with the program offices and contractors.

www.edwards.af.mil...

Zaph pointed me to find it:



From Lockheed and as noted in emails, it matches the RCS model that was spotted.

2?

originally posted by: CosmicBacon
a reply to: Zaphod58

the real question is where is Amarillo's bird(s)

everything is some form of cranked kite but none that are 4 engine birds that have quite the unique back side.


we all know why zip fuels failed, i actually live near the old plant in East Rochester that was making this Zip fuel(boron based, the plant later exploded in royal fashion).

they said it was not economical as it chewed up the turbine blades with the Boron solids.


well what would happen if said borated fuels were dumped in the the after burners, not to many turbine blades there.

We know there is SOMETHING using either using a charged plasma stream as a sort of slipstream for the aircraft to essently fly in a bubble or some new fuels.

think like super cavitating torpedo's but in the air and we have a aircraft with the right laminar flow setups and and enough power(MHD) to create power for a E-Beam like on the SR-71 and not in a million years will i buy it was for some alged radar reduction, might be true but i think that was just a side effect of the real reason why they were using HF high voltage, make they air slippery and to help laminar flow inside the combustion chamber.

I see nothing amazing or new.

yet i know in some hangar likely in the UAE carrying out ELINT and other ISR missions and they are not drones.



i know airframes take time to get to the run way but there are clearly at least TWO fast movers operating RIGHT now so why are we messing around with this 'modular' F-22?

theaviationist.com...

a reply to: anzha

Somebody did a detailed mathematical calculation to try to get the top speed. A simple plug in of the shape, and “best guess” of a computer program put it at Mach 2.5 or so. A more detailed formula that involved really terrifying math, came up with a speed of Mach 6 before the shockwave would interact with the wings.