Air Force's 6th-Gen Fighter Now In Development, Kendall Confirms

The U.S. Air Force's secret Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program slated to replace aging, mass-produced fighters has progressed from an experimental concept into development and could be operational by the end of the decade.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, June 02, 2022 at 04:12 PM ET

Verified

The NGAD program has progressed to development, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall confirmed. [Courtesy: USAF]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a "family of systems" including a sixth-generation fighter and uncrewed combat aircraft, has entered development and is slated for operational capability by the end of the decade.
Driven by China's rapid military modernization, the Air Force is prioritizing manned-unmanned teaming to acquire affordable combat mass, as new piloted platforms are increasingly expensive.
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber has successfully completed ground testing, is progressing well in development, and is on track for its first flight in 2023, with production already underway.

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The U.S. Air Force’s secret Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program slated to replace aging, mass-produced fighters has progressed from an experimental concept into development and could be operational by the end of the decade, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

Speaking at an event at the Heritage Foundation on Wednesday, Kendall addressed Air Force priorities at a time when China is rapidly modernizing its military capabilities.