New Fighter Jet Initiative Promises Budget-Friendly Advancement in Air Force Technology

Five jets flying low over the ocean at sunset.

The U.S. Air Force’s ambitious NGAD initiative seeks a sixth-generation fighter jet that is both cost-effective and technologically advanced but will it surpass the economic constraints faced by its predecessors?

At a Glance

U.S. Air Force officials believe a sixth-generation fighter jet could potentially cost less than previous generations.
The anticipated cost range for the NGAD aircraft is $80 to $100 million.
Current costs of F-35 and F-15EX models are approximately $82.5 million and over $90 million per unit, respectively.
Initial cost projections for NGAD were three times those of the F-35, causing program pauses.
A decision on NGAD’s viability is expected within the next few months.

Cost Projections for the Next Generation Air Dominance Initiative

The U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet that is both technologically superior and cost-effective. The target cost for each NGAD aircraft is $80 to $100 million.

This benchmark is set against the costs of current fifth-generation aircraft models such as the F-35 and the F-15EX, both of which fall in the range of $82.5 million to over $90 million per unit. However, the ambitious goals have not been without challenges. Initial cost projections pegged the NGAD aircraft at almost three times the cost of the F-35, leading to a pause in the program.

The U.S. Air Force is advancing in the global race to develop the first sixth-generation fighter jet system. https://t.co/MOb7QPCU2h

— National Interest (@TheNatlInterest) May 9, 2024

Strategies for Cost Reduction

The Air Force is actively exploring different avenues to bring down the cost. Several design aspects, including the size and complexity of mission systems, are under reconsideration. One potential cost-saving measure includes transferring some of the NGAD’s capabilities to collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), which are autonomous drones designed to operate alongside the NGAD fighter jets.

“The F-35 kind of represents the upper bounds of what we’d like to pay for an individual [NGAD] aircraft for that mission. The F-15EX and F-35 are roughly in the same cost category. I’d like to go lower, though,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters Monday at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Over the long term, the initiative aims to balance advanced capabilities with affordability, which may include leveraging modular designs and government-controlled interfaces. This approach is intended to simplify upgrades and maintenance, thus driving down sustainment costs.

Estimated cost for the 32 fighter jets: $6.4 billion.

— Aeronews (@AeronewsGlobal) September 13, 2024

NGAD’s Future and Expectations

The NGAD program aims to develop an incredibly effective aircraft, but it will need to be complemented by more affordable platforms, such as AI-driven drone wingmen. These drones are expected to perform some of the same tasks as the NGAD fighters but at a fraction of the cost, estimated around $30 million each.

“This is a number that’s going to get your attention,” Kendall said. “It’s going to be an expensive airplane.”

The Air Force remains confident that the NGAD will be operational, with a decision expected in the next few months. One notable element is the control and interaction of CCAs, which are still being determined.