Against previous generation though?
US F/A-XX and F-X & NGAD - 6th Gen Aircraft News Thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Against previous generation though?
80/20 would more or less hold with 4.5 and 5th generations, don’t you think?
Have they tried pitching that line to India? Cause last time I heard they are really really digging the 6th gen minus thing.
"They also won't be protesting the Air Force's NGAD award to Boeing."
"They also won't be protesting the Air Force's NGAD award to Boeing."
Two bits.
1. Not contesting the award either strongly suggests Lockmart got its pants beaten off or they think the program will be cancelled quick and the protest will cost them more than what they'd earn. The pants beaten is suggested by the delay in the LM aircraft flight compared to Boeing (2019 vs 2022).
2. There has long been a discussion of the F-35D. With LM out of the running for the F/A-XX, an upgraded F-35 is its only way to stay in the manned aircraft game until the 6th gen low end materializes (if it ever does). The F-35D I've seen has been DEW equipped with the advanced engine, but largely based on the F-35B. The engine makes up for the reduced fuel load and the forward lift fan is replaced with a generator and the DEW payload. We'll see if that comes.
I need to do a long write up on this. I've been following the 6th gens in the US pretty closely even when it was all rumor and budget line items. I have some slightly different takes than others do here and I need to get it all organized & coherent.
Probably doesn't matter; just within same generation, to make thing apples to apples.
Basic capability doesn't cost all that much(let's call it single all weather fighter kit).
Additional capabilities (additional engines, supplementary sensors) don't bring something as radically new as that basic kit.
They allow to do things better, further - but cost this comes at is steep.
In our particular pair(F-35/F-47), main generational difference (one that can't be compensated) is airframe, but F-35 nonetheless has stealth geometry, and F-47 nonetheless has canards.
Yes, there may be say an order of magnitude difference in main signature. But radars, EODAS, software, engine - all can be updated. Even stealth potentially can be improved somewhat - basic geometry is here anyway (making airframe better stealth during a in-depth late life redesign is normal practice).
"They also won't be protesting the Air Force's NGAD award to Boeing."
Lockheed must be feeling very confident that the USAF will severely reduce Boeing F-47 orders, if not
Once Boeing falls flat on its face, Lockheed intends to step in with F-35s in its to "save the day."
Otherwise, Lockheed would almost certainly be protesting the NGAD award to Boeing.
TBF it makes sense for Lockheed to expect Boeing to fail (especially given Boeing's recent 737 MAX scandal and KC-46 struggles), but such a cynical, yet authoritative outlook does not bode well for the overall health of the American military-industrial complex.