There is a hot debate about the future 6th generation fighter aircraft. Let’s Discuss the NGAD vs. Tempest: Which 6th generation fighter will dominate?
The international competition for sixth-generation air supremacy
Boeing developed the MG-28 Ghost Bat, a stealth and multipurpose drone, suggesting its possible participation in the NGAD.
In the modern air theater, a fierce contest rages to dominate the skies of the future. On the front lines, the United States, the United Kingdom, and strategic allies such as Italy and Japan deploy their resources in a critical race. The objective is clear and compelling: to forge an advanced combat aircraft equipped with autonomous support systems and a cloud-based command and control network, ready to deploy in the 2030s.
BAE Systems, commanding the British squadron in the Global Combat Air program, formerly called Tempest, has forged key alliances. In December, a strategic pact between three nations marked the beginning of a collaboration to bring to life a cutting-edge fighter. This arsenal of industrial partners includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and Leonardo of Italy, backed by Rolls-Royce and MBDA UK.
Rumors indicate that Boeing and Lockheed Martin may be on the front line of the British program. However, Northrop Grumman has decided not to compete as a prime contractor in this NGAD fighter campaign, keeping its strategic cards hidden.
Covert advances in the development of the NGAD fighter
Although details about the specific fighters are kept strictly secret, the maneuvers by the United States and the United Kingdom indicate significant progress in their programs. The origins of this project date back to 2014, when the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) launched the Air Dominance Initiative. The NGAD program, more than a single aircraft, is conceptualized as a “system of systems” that encompasses sixth-generation fighters and autonomous support aircraft.
According to statements by Frank Kendall, Secretary of the US Air Force, during the POLITICO Defense Summit, the NGAD manned fighter will command a flotilla of unmanned fighters. The latter, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), will operate as faithful squires, interconnecting in a network to enhance situational awareness.
Key technologies and the foray of artificial intelligence into NGAD
Maya Carlin has reported that five technologies will be crucial in the design of the NGAD: advanced weaponry, stealth, digital design, propulsion and thermal management. Although the details of the sixth generation are still enigmatic, the NGAD is expected to surpass its fifth-generation predecessors in capabilities.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into the NGAD is imminent, giving these machines a co-pilot role in manned aircraft and allowing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) independent operation. These advanced drones will follow instructions and demonstrate a tactical initiative capacity.
Boeing’s role and the search for international partners for NGAD
Boeing‘s involvement in the NGAD seems likely, given its experience with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a stealthy, multi-role wingman. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin maintains its dominance in fighter jets, and Northrop Grumman is focused on the B-21 Raider strategic bomber, unveiled in December 2022.
The United States, seeking allies for its NGAD project, has turned this mission into a true “team effort.” Last year, the Air Force awarded contracts worth $4.9 billion to giants such as General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to develop adaptive engine prototypes for the new fighter.
Details of multi-million dollar awards for the development of futuristic fighters
In a strategic logistics and financing move, each of the awards for the development of these new-generation combat aircraft, valued at up to $975 million, has been meticulously allocated. They will cover phases such as design, analysis, platform testing, testing with engine prototypes and integration of weapons systems. The goal is set: to complete all these operations by July 2032, marking a new chapter in the history of military aviation.
The start of the Tempest program and Japan’s entry into the game
Five years ago, at the Farnborough Airshow, the UK Ministry of Defense laid out its cards, announcing the development of the Future Combat Air System ( FCAS ) program, later renamed “ Tempest.” This move generated some commotion and confusion, given that the Franco-German-Spanish program shared the same name. However, with the addition of Japan last year, this project assumed a new identity and strength under the name of Global Combat Air Program ( GCAP ).
The Tempest fighter, a centerpiece of this alliance, promises to revolutionize the aerial battlefield. There is talk of a design that would allow remote operation or with a human pilot assisted by a virtual “avatar” co-pilot trained to face various combat scenarios. Additionally, it is contemplated that the Tempest could command swarms of unmanned aircraft, deploying a tactic of overwhelming air superiority.
Technological innovations in the GCAP program
The GCAP is shaping up to be a vortex of technological innovation, with plans to implement “wearable cockpit” technologies, replacing physical controls with augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) systems. These advanced interfaces will project vital information directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor, offering revolutionary interaction modes such as voice control, gestures, eye tracking and digital controls, and traditional HOTAS.
From Italy, Leonardo has emerged as a key player in this scenario, developing new radar technology for the Tempest. Its Multifunction Radio Frequency System ( MRFS ) promises to be an unprecedented data collection and processing tool capable of handling information equivalent to “a large city’s Internet traffic.” This advanced radar will offer operators a clear and strategic view of the battlefield, becoming a fundamental asset in information warfare.
Diplomatic advances and distribution of tasks in the GCAP
An upcoming diplomatic meeting was announced this week in Tokyo, where representatives of the three GCAP partner nations will sign a treaty to establish a joint organization and industrial group. This intergovernmental body will lead the industrial consortium, distributing work among teams in critical areas such as engines and avionics. The United Kingdom, thanks to its leadership in Tempest, has been designated as the headquarters of the program.
According to Reuters reports, there is speculation that Japan and Britain could lead the GCAP, each taking on about 40% of the work. Although Rome has called this “speculative,” it has been suggested that GCAP could open its doors to other nations as junior partners. Saudi Arabia appears among the possible candidates, providing capital and an attractive market to a project whose cost is estimated at tens of billions of dollars.
