American military engineers and designers of private companies are developing a sixth generation fighter, according to the NGAD project, which is a priority for the US Department of Defense. This was told by US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, a civilian functionary-"caretaker", reporting exclusively to the head of the Pentagon and responsible for the daily life of the air force, the purchase of property, audits, finances and public relations.
According to him, a promising model of aviation equipment is designed to gain air supremacy and should replace the fifth-generation multi-role fighter F-22 Raptor, which first took to the skies in September 1994 (in December 2011, the last 195th account copy). The sixth-generation fighter will be able to take on more payloads than the F-22, which should not reduce its high maneuverability. It will also have the ability to refuel in the air with the help of a future tanker aircraft.
At the same time, Lockheed Martin Corporation keeps everything related to the characteristics of the LMXT air tanker concept and a promising fighter under the strictest confidence. It is known that in the NGAD project, specialists will study five of technologies the design of the aircraft fuselage, which will allow not only to maintain its stealth, but also to improve speed, while reducing heating. In addition, the US Air Force intends to use a new UAV to escort manned aircraft according to the military concept of Collaborative Combat Aircraft - a joint air fleet based on artificial intelligence (engaged by Lockheed Martin).
We remind you that Lockheed Martin is also talking about flight testing of the Speed Racer unmanned aerial vehicle (Carrera program) - a disposable modular multi-purpose UAV that will fly in tandem with the F-35 fighter and designed, among other things, to break through the Russian air defense / missile defense system.
Note that before this performed US Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro, who told the public about the state of American shipbuilding and rivalry with China.