The U.S. Air Force has paused its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, citing high costs and the need for a more affordable alternative, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced on January 13.

“The Air Force initially set requirements to develop a replacement for the F-22, which we’ve pursued for several years. Now, we face a critical decision point: to continue the project, finalize the design, and begin production or terminate the program entirely. This is the most important milestone for almost every military project,” Kendall said.

Financial Challenges and Alternatives

The NGAD program, designed to deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet, was suspended last year for a comprehensive review of its objectives and requirements. According to Kendall, the program’s costs are the main reason for reconsideration.

“It would require over $20 billion to complete research and development, and each new aircraft would cost several times more than an F-35, with production numbers significantly lower,” Kendall explained. The Air Force has requested $1.9 billion for NGAD in the 2024 fiscal year and $2.75 billion for 2025, with over $1 billion allocated to risk reduction and other developmental efforts.

Kendall suggested that a potential alternative could be a follow-up to the F-35 rather than a direct replacement for the F-22. This new aircraft would be cheaper, multi-functional, and optimized to control unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

The Air Force is also considering enhancing long-range strike capabilities as a more cost-effective and practical solution. However, Kendall did not specify what might replace the NGAD fighter in this role.

The Cost of Advanced Technologies

The Air Force initially planned to acquire approximately 200 NGAD fighters to replace its current fleet of F-22s. However, Kendall revealed that each NGAD jet could cost as much as $300 million—three times the price of an F-35 and comparable to the F-22.

Officials, including Kendall, have repeatedly floated the idea of replacing NGAD fighters with lower-cost designs that focus on commanding UCAVs. This approach would enable smaller, less expensive manned aircraft to operate alongside a network of sensor-equipped, weaponized drones.

The Air Force also faces a growing need for next-generation aerial refueling tankers, as its current fleet, based on older commercial aircraft designs, is increasingly vulnerable to advanced long-range air defenses.

Competing Priorities

Kendall acknowledged that funding NGAD alongside supporting systems like UCAVs and stealth tankers would strain resources, especially with ongoing investments in the B-21 Raider bomber and LGM-35 Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs.

“The rising costs of the Sentinel program have become a primary reason for reconsidering NGAD,” Kendall explained. Experts and former military chiefs have emphasized that the Air Force must prioritize certain programs due to budget constraints.

“Ultimately, the decision comes down to two questions: Do we have the budget to fund NGAD alongside other critical needs, and is NGAD worth the investment?” Kendall said.

A Historic Project in Limbo

NGAD is the first U.S. fighter jet project in 20 years, following the Joint Strike Fighter program that produced the F-35. The Air Force secretly built and tested a full-scale NGAD prototype in 2020.

While the future of NGAD remains uncertain, its suspension reflects the broader challenges of balancing cutting-edge innovation with fiscal responsibility in the face of increasing global threats.

(Reported by War Zone, AFP, AP)

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