US F/A-XX and F-X & NGAD - 6th Gen Aircraft News Thread

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
The more casual fan base has already started making jokes about apologising to the Europeans for the Euro-canards. Not a peep about the J-20 though. Dead silence, that is anything but dignified given the open admission to the much less maligned Euro-canards.

I daresay it’s an expected response. They can joke with their (perhaps now erstwhile) allies, but it’s tough to admit a genuine adversary was right.

Their erstwhile allies are Russia and Belarus.
 

Phead128

Captain
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Again, can we stop it with the canards talk? We have no idea if the actual plane actually has them. It's just a piece of concept art.
Artist rendering released by the White House has added weight or gravitas compared to marketing art by manufacturer's sales team, which shift and change depending on final USAF requirements.

Personally, if it has been flying for 5 years and POTUS presents from the Oval office, this should be close to the final design. It will likely have canards.
 

mack8

Junior Member
So according to DARPA, demonstrators from Boeing and LM flew in 2019 and 2022 respectively, if i understand it correctly.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

If i recall correctly the mysterious Chengdu delta winged aircraft, likely J-36 demonstrator, was spotted in 2021 and likely must have flown that year, so they were only 2 years behind.(I know NGAD and J-36/J-50 keep getting compared, but is interesting to understand the timelines and evolution of the two competing programs especially as J-36 and J-50, likely EMD airframes, flew first). China obviously didn't wasted time with any competitive fly-off, dithering whether to go ahead or not, then political delays about which one to choose etc. etc., hence the fast progress.
 

drowingfish

Senior Member
Registered Member
Comparing completely separate programs dosen't tell you much. The best way to judge is to just look at how they've done in the relevant program so far. And as you said their fighter aircraft side is doing relatively fine right now as well. But the way NGAD is being managed is such that if Boeing does falter in some areas the USAF is not locked into being stuck with them.
If I am look for a contractor to do some work, and I find this guy that messed up all sorts of stuff, I am not going to think "well those f ups were on projects that are different than mine so he'll be okay with this one"... sounds like you are grasping at straws here, I am more inclined to bet that if Boeing messed up on tankers and trainers, that they are more likely than not going to struggle with fighters as well.
 

Phead128

Captain
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
The closest thing Boeing has to 5th gen aerodynamic performance is the T-7 trainer jet (next gen trainer jet for F-22 and F-35 pilots).

The T-7 trainer jet is excessively delayed, constant issues, cost overruns. This is only a Trainer Jet... Now if you think Boeing can make a F-22 successor on time and on budget when F-22's trainer jet is delayed and overruns, I got a bridge to sell you.
 

sevrent

New Member
Registered Member
If I am look for a contractor to do some work, and I find this guy that messed up all sorts of stuff, I am not going to think "well those f ups were on projects that are different than mine so he'll be okay with this one"... sounds like you are grasping at straws here, I am more inclined to bet that if Boeing messed up on tankers and trainers, that they are more likely than not going to struggle with fighters as well.
The DoD usually dosent factor in past performance on different programs in the selection process and if they do, they still care more about how the companies perform within the relevant program.

in the end if Boeing had the better design with better performance then that is that. The price you pay for delays is way less than the price you pay for having an inferior product
 

Nx4eu

Junior Member
Registered Member
Again, can we stop it with the canards talk? We have no idea if the actual plane actually has them. It's just a piece of concept art.
Doesn't it show a passing resemblance to earlier studies done for the X-36 demonstrator, where the 2409 configuration possess both high maneuverability and type C low observability. This also lends to the fact it was described to be highly maneuverable as well as stealth better than any current jet during the oval office presentation.

The consistency between the two official pictures presented to the commander and chief in the oval office as well as capability to designs that have been explored in the past should point towards the renders credibility. I doubted the canards too before, but now the intent of the F-47 seems clear.
8928856--.jpg2409.jpgAgility_level.jpg
 

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Doesn't it show a passing resemblance to earlier studies done for the X-36 demonstrator, where the 2409 configuration possess both high maneuverability and type C low observability. This also lends to the fact it was described to be highly maneuverable as well as stealth better than any current jet during the oval office presentation.

The consistency between the two official pictures presented to the commander and chief in the oval office as well as capability to designs that have been explored in the past should point towards the renders credibility. I doubted the canards too before, but now the intent of the F-47 seems clear.
View attachment 148432View attachment 148433View attachment 148434
The CHAD lookalike is of observables class C and medium agility level. NGAP looking one has low agility and B level observables class?
 

mellowcookie

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Doesn't it show a passing resemblance to earlier studies done for the X-36 demonstrator, where the 2409 configuration possess both high maneuverability and type C low observability. This also lends to the fact it was described to be highly maneuverable as well as stealth better than any current jet during the oval office presentation.

The consistency between the two official pictures presented to the commander and chief in the oval office as well as capability to designs that have been explored in the past should point towards the renders credibility. I doubted the canards too before, but now the intent of the F-47 seems clear.
View attachment 148432View attachment 148433View attachment 148434

What's that little vertical stabilizer on the tail section? Could it be some sort of vane or thrust vectoring for yaw control?
 
Top