The NGAD Fighter Could Be Redesigned to Cost Less Than the F-35 | Aviation

The comments by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall highlight a possible change of route from the 200 NGAD fighters expected to cost hundreds of millions.

The Next-Generation Air Dominance 6th generation fighter might drastically change to lower its unit cost below the one of the F-35, said U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall during the Air, Space & Cyber 2024 conference. The aircraft was initially expected to cost hundreds of millions apiece, with a total order of just 200 airframes.

These comments follow the statements in July 2024 when Kendall said the Air Force is reconsidering how it gains air superiority and would take a “pause” on the program. Kendall also added that the decisions about the future of NGAD must happen soon to be ready for the Air Force’s fiscal 2026 budget request.

“We are not walking away from the core United States Air Force function of providing air superiority,” Kendall said in a keynote address. During the address, the Secretary also linked together NGAD and the Next-Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS).

In fact, reducing the price tag of NGAD would possibly involve reducing range and payload of the aircraft, which would increase the reliance on tankers. Here then comes into play the capability to refuel the 6th gen fighter also in a contested…