Currently, the US Air Force is conducting a theoretical study of the next generation fighter project NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance). In the near future, the leadership of the Air Force plans to revise the current program and introduce new approaches to the creation of aviation technology. Instead of a lengthy development of a perfect multi-purpose aircraft, it is proposed to create specialized aircraft on a common basis at an accelerated pace.
Digital hundredth series
The new plans for the NGAD project were announced a few days ago by Air Force Deputy Secretary for Procurement Will Roper in an interview with Defense News. The topic of the interview was the processes of further development of the US tactical aviation, primarily the NGAD project and its prospects. It turned out that already in October, the Air Force intends to revise this program in order to optimize all the main processes.
Until now, the development of the NGAD fighter complex is in accordance with the Air Superiority 2030 study, released in 2016. It proposed the creation of an inconspicuous Penetrating Counter Air fighter that could become the centerpiece of a more complex complex. The PAC aircraft must work in conjunction with ground and airborne detection systems, drones, etc. A fighter of this kind was planned to be created and put into service in the early thirties.
In recent studies, such principles of NGAD implementation were considered disadvantageous. The development of the proposed aircraft turns out to be too complicated, expensive and time-consuming. There are also some problems associated with the activities of a potential adversary.
Not so long ago, the NGAD program changed its leadership, and new officials intend to seriously rebuild it from October 1. Now an accelerated methodology for creating advanced aviation technology is proposed. It provides for the rapid development of an aircraft with the highest possible performance at the moment. Ideally, this will allow you to create a new car almost every five years.
The proposed approach resembles the development of the so-called. "Hundred Series" - a number of tactical aircraft from the fifties of the last century. They were created simultaneously and with extensive use of common technologies, although the result was different. U. Roper calls the new samples, which should appear based on the results of NGAD, "Digital hundredth series" - hinting at the use of modern design techniques.
Fighter for five years
The current approach to the creation of aviation technology provides for long-term R&D, the results of which appear an aircraft with the highest possible characteristics. At the same time, all this takes a lot of time and leads to an increase in the cost of the program. After revising the NGAD program, it is planned to create a whole series of aircraft with an acceptable price-performance ratio.
The Air Force and industry will have to create a promising fighter in just a few years, built on an accessible base and having the maximum characteristics possible for a given time. Such a machine will go into a limited series, and engineers will be engaged in the creation of a more perfect model on a production platform. U. Roper pointed out that with the modern development of technology, this will make it possible to produce a new aircraft approximately once every five years.
As a result, over a long period of time, the Digital Hundredth Series will be created - a whole family of unified next-generation fighters with different capabilities and missions. The family will include aircraft of a familiar appearance, carriers of weapons based on new principles, specialized reconnaissance vehicles, drones, etc. All these samples can be combined into a network-centric structure for the joint solution of combat missions.
Basics of the project
It is proposed to accelerate the design and launch of production due to a number of important proposals. The first involves the maximum use of digital design systems at all stages. W. Roper complained that not all US defense enterprises pay due attention to this issue. However, those factories that have introduced modern technology are showing remarkable results.
The second proposal concerns the open architecture of the aircraft. NGAD should implement not only the usual plug-and-play principle, but also be a completely modular and open system. It is necessary to ensure free replacement of hardware and components, as well as to simplify the development of software by third-party contractors as much as possible.
Finally, it is necessary to increase the flexibility of software development, on which the combat qualities of equipment directly depend. It is necessary to speed up the process of development, testing and implementation of software, as well as to involve the operator in all major processes.
The exact plan for the updated NGAD program has yet to be determined. At the same time, U. Roper revealed the expected features of the process of development and construction of equipment. In this regard, the program will be divided into several stages.
The work will begin with the conclusion of contracts with two or more aircraft developers. They will then all digitally submit their NGAD versions, making it easier to explore and compare projects. The creator of the most successful project will receive a contract for a small series, from 24 to 72 units. In parallel with the launch of the production of such an aircraft, the development of a new machine will be carried out, which will be put into series later.
To simplify and reduce the cost of development, the Air Force can deliberately reduce the required resource for aircraft construction. This will require their faster replacement, but the Digital Hundredth Series must ensure timely fleet renewal.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of the new approach to NGAD is considered to be the ability to accelerate the creation of an aircraft with characteristics at the limit of available technologies. The Air Force will then be able to supplement or replace it with a new fighter with new capabilities and improved performance.
Accelerating design and manufacturing will reduce planning horizons with specific benefits. Now the Air Force will not have to formulate requirements for equipment with an eye on the next few decades.
The new approach could be a problem for potential adversaries. They will have to constantly monitor new developments in the United States and take timely action. Every few years, they will be forced to evaluate a new American model and look for ways to counter it. According to W. Roper, the United States will always have a new aircraft in stock with new capabilities. This will force third countries to "play on the terms of the US Air Force."
However, the proposed "Digital hundredth series" has significant drawbacks. First of all, this is the need for a radical restructuring of all processes and techniques for the development of aviation technology. At this stage, the Air Force and contractors may face the most serious organizational and financial problems.
Plans to build an airplane every five years can be overly ambitious. The development of the basic NGAD platform, despite new approaches, will continue until the early thirties. Its modernization by replacing individual devices and systems will be faster, but there is no guarantee that these processes will be able to fit within the indicated five years.
Within the framework of NGAD, it is proposed to develop a whole aviation complex, which includes not only the next generation fighter. Each element of such a complex requires a separate R&D, which imposes new requirements in terms of timing. Even the gradual development and introduction of new technologies does not guarantee that all the desired results will be obtained at a reasonable cost and within an acceptable time frame.
Difficult perspective
The proposed methods for the further development of tactical aviation are of interest and may have a great future. The advantages of this concept are compelling, but the expected disadvantages cannot be ignored. Thus, the Air Force should carefully study new approaches to development and determine their real prospects in the light of existing capabilities of the industry and its future development.
The Ministry of the Air Force is interested in the original proposal and will soon begin working on it with an eye to real application. He also found supporters in Congress, although lawmakers have not yet decided on their opinion. The use of new methods can make the NGAD project one of the most daring and successful in the future history of American aviation. However, a negative outcome cannot be ruled out so far.
