RAF FAIRFORD, England—U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on July 20 cast an ongoing, fundamental review of the need for a Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform as a necessary step before awarding a contract of such magnitude.
The review of the NGAD Platform, which was announced last month, got started as the Air Force approached a Milestone B decision, a procedural step before a contract award for engineering and manufacturing development, Kendall told reporters here at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
“We’re doing what I think would be important for any program,” Kendall said. “We’re taking a hard look at whether we’ve got the right design concept, whether it’s affordable, et cetera.”
The Air Force released a request for proposals to industry for NGAD Platform bids in May 2023, and the schedule called for a contract award by the end of last month. Asked whether the Air Force could extend or cancel the RFP as the review continues, Kendall declined to answer.
Kendall noted that the Air Force set the classified requirements for the NGAD Platform before several new developments, including the emergence of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concept, the rising severity of future threats the aircraft would face and the disclosure of cost overruns by other high priority programs. For the latter, Kendall mentioned the Northrop Grumman LGM-31 Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and other classified programs.
The Air Force conceived the crewed NGAD Platform as part of a family of systems. Other members of the family include new weapons, communications, space-based support and the more recent arrival of CCA.
A final decision on the NGAD Platform could be revealed when the Air Force reveals the fiscal 2026 budget request next year.
“Before we make the commitment that we’re close to making, we want to make sure we’ve got the right design,” Kendall said.
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