Lockheed vs. Boeing: The Battle for the Skies in the NGAD Fighter Program

there can be only one the stakes in 2024 could not be higher the Air Force needs to decide who will build the Ed fighter this sixth generation Marvel represents a turning point in fighter aircraft design and the ability of the US Air Force to continue its unmatched air superiority in the battle space the contest has come down to two Aerospace Titans Lockheed versus Boeing and whoever wins this could shape the future of each company yet this project is so cloaked in mystery that it's like the area 51 of modern Aviation using these two concept models we will take a deeper dive into this competition who will win after years of development we began our story last May when the Air Force threw down the gauntlet calling for a contractor to finalize and build a clean sheet design of an aircraft so Advanced that it's set to eclipse the legendary F-22 Raptor this isn't just another fighter jet it's a generational leap into the future with an aggressive timeline that's aiming to hit production Lines by the end of this decade but hold on andad isn't just a single aircraft it's an entire family of systems a master and its Fleet of drone wingmen known as collaborative combat aircraft more on that later join me tog as we unravel the secret the rivalries and the groundbreaking advancements of the endg project also there's more at stake than just an airframe design we'll also take a look at how the competition to build the advanced engine which will power the Eng Gad is just starting to heat up and other related components so buckle up it's going to be an exhilarating ride into the future of Aviation don't forget to like share and subscribe for more highflying content on this channel we are cleared for takeoff here we go pilot fog.com as we mentioned this competition has come down to boing and locked Martin and before we get into the pros and cons of each vendor we need to quickly mention that northr Grumman had been involved in the NAD contest but recently bowed out this was due to two reasons number one they are working on the sixth generation bomber known as the B21 Raider and number two they are also working on the Navy's version of NAD known as FXX Grumman has a long history of developing naval aircraft so it seems like a good fit I've done videos all about the faxx and Raider you can check them out after this one getting back to the two big players in the Ed competition we'll start with a case for Boeing the Aerospace giant that is Boeing has a history of innovative designs such as the fa18 Super Hornet and the F-15 ex their approach often focuses on versatility and multi-roll capabilities which could be beneficial for the NAD program commercial Aviation expertise boing's extensive experience in commercial Aviation could provide unique insights into Advanced Technologies including efficient aerodynamics materials and systems integration cost management boing might offer more competitive pricing strategies drawing from its broader commercial and defense production lines some things working against boing could be recent challenges boing has faced significant challenges recently most notably with a 737 Max these issues May raise concerns about their management and quality control processes less stealth experience compared to Lockheed Martin boing has less experience with stealth technology which is a critical component of fifth and sixth generation Fighters next we will look at locked Martin making the case for locked r stealth technology expertise Lockheed Martin is renowned for its expertise in stealth exemplified by the F22 and F-35 this experience is crucial to the Ed program which demands Advanced stealth capabilities proven track record with fifth generation Fighters as the manufacturer of the F22 Raptor and F35 lightning lock has a proven track record in developing and producing fifth generation fighters in large numbers with which closely aligns with the endg God's objectives sophisticated systems integration lock has demonstrated capabilities and integrating complex systems a necessary skill for the advanced avionics and Sensor Fusion expected in NAD working against Lockheed could be a higher cost profile lockheed's projects particularly the F-35 have been criticized for high costs this could be a concern for the Ed program given the emphasis on budget management over Reliance on a single manufacturer although not inherently loi's fault awarding the contract to Lockheed could centralize us fighter production in one company potentially limiting diversity in design and Innovation when it comes to the endg airframe each company is offering distinct advantages boing brings Innovative design and cost management while lock offers unmatched stealth technology and experience with fifth generation Fighters boing's recent challenges and lockheed's higher cost profiles present potential drawbacks the decision will ultimately hinge on what set of strengths and weaknesses aligns best with the Air Force's vision of the inged program and before I reveal my predictions we also have to take a look at other components critical to the NAD such as the engines the inad contract will also involve an allnew and revolutionary power plant known as an Adaptive cycle engine this power plant is a sophisticated type of jet engine designed to provide high performance across a wide range of speeds and altitudes when it came to engines in the past you had to choose a high performance after burning engine such as those found on f-15s or a fuele efficient non-af burning engine such as those found on a10s adaptive cycle engines automatically switch between High thrust high performance modes to fuele efficient range extending modes giving the aircraft The Best of Both Worlds these engines also provide significantly more electrical power due to their Advanced cooling an absolute necessity for the power hungry electronic systems that the endide fighter will demand and just like the competition for the enget airframe we've come down to two engine manufacturers pratton Whitney and General Electric when it comes to Pratt and Whitney things working in their favor are a proven track record pratton Whitney has a long history in the military engine Market notably with the f-135 engine that's used in the F-35 this experience is invaluable for the Ed's demanding requirements and they've also developed their own adaptive cycle engine known as the XA 101 Innovative Technologies pratton Whitney has been at the Forefront of developing Innovative Technologies like the geared turbo fan which could provide insights into creating more efficient and Powerful engines for the endod things working against Pratt wiy could be cost concerns similar to their experience with the F35 program cost overruns and budget concerns might be a factor as Pratt Whitney engines are often high in performance but also in cost and although not really a strong argument we also have to consider the risk of complacency being a longtime contractor might lead to less incentive for radical Innovation which is crucial for a Next Generation project like NAD when it comes to the other player in in the Adaptive engine contest things working in General Electric's favor are Advanced engine technology GE is known for its technological advancements in engine design such as their own prototype adaptive cycle engine the XA 100 this has been in the work since about 2007 and a full-scale model has been developed to fit inside the F35 A and C strong research and development or R&D capabilities GE invests heavily in R&D which is crucial for pushing the boundaries of engine technology to meet the futuristic demands of NAD GE also has experience in both Commercial and Military Aviation some things that could work against GE could be integration challenges while GE excels in engine technology integrating their engine into a complex airframe like the Eng could pose some challenges focus on Commercial engines today ge's primary focus is on the commercial engine Market which might affect their approach to military specific requirements such as the extreme stealth and combat durability requirements of the NAD both pratton Whitney and General Electric bring a distinct advantage to the table pratton Whitney has a strong track record and established relationships in the military engine manufacturing space whereas General Electric offers cuttingedge technology and a robust R&D background and like with most brand arguments such as Ford versus Chevy each side will only see their Pros in the other besides cons along with the competitions for the airframe and engine there are two other major components of the NAD program ccas and avionics collaborative combat aircraft or ccas are unmanned drones of various sizes capabilities and costs that are designed to team with manned aircraft like the F-35 and NAD they have large amounts of autonomy rely heavily on AI and most importantly help reduce risk to the human Pilots the Ed fighter will be the central node of this connected system of drones and several manufacturers will likely contribute drones of various sizes to the overall project as far as the total end Gad package goes a fancy airframe and hot engines are not enough the Ed Fighter by definition will push the limits of technology and an advanced avionics package will be needed to combine all these systems to an efficient Warf fighting platform the use of AI machine learning human interfaces and other technologies will be required making this a massive project of its own only the most experienced manufacturer could likely take this on all right Aviation fans as we come to the end of our Deep dive into the Next Generation air dominance or endg Gad fighter competition it's time for me tog to share predictions on how this High State contest will unfold firstly when it comes to the critical airframe contract I'm putting my bets on locked Martin locked is known for their unparalleled expertise and history in stealth technology they've demonstrated this with fifth generation Fighters like the F22 and F35 and in my opinion are the best position to develop and manufacture the inget airframe Switching gears to the PowerHouse of the Eng Gad the engine contract my prediction leans towards General Electric ge's cuttingedge work on adaptive cycle engines combined with their Relentless innovation in engine technology positions them ideally to provide the thrust behind nad's ambitious performance goals their Advanced propulsion systems could be key in delivering an engine that meets the incredible operational demands of this next Generation fighter now let's talk about Boeing even though they might not snag the airframe cont contract I foresee an important role for them in the ined program boing's vast experience in both Commercial and Military Aviation could be pivotal in developing the Drone wingman for the IDE adding a formidable element to this Future air dominance system if this turns out to be true then technically boing would still be a fighter airframe manufacturer just of the unmanned variety and last but not least Northrop grumman's role in this grand scheme shouldn't be underestimated given their impressive history in developing sophisticated avionics I predict they will be the brains behind the Eng gad's Advanced electronic systems their expertise in sensors communication systems and electronic warfare could provide the end Gad with unparalleled situational awareness and connectivity in summary if these predictions hold true the Ed program is shaping up to be a collaboration of the best in the industry each bringing their unique strength to the table doed Martin's airframe General Electric's engines boing's drone technology and northr grummet zonics could combine to create a truly Next Generation fighter one that will dominate disguise for years and possibly decades to come again these are my predictions I could be way off let me know your thoughts your predictions and reasoning in the comments below that's it for today's episode if you enjoyed this analysis and want to stay updated on the latest in military Aviation don't forget to hit like share and subscribe stay tuned for more content and as always keep looking to the skies the ined fighter will be a generational leap in military aviation technology and we are fortunate to see it unfold in this exciting time in aviation a new airframe is a rare thing and I'm glad we're here for it this is tog signing off and now you know pilot fog.com

Channel: PilotPhotog

Views: 896,015

Keywords: aviation, flying, photography, aviator, pilot, fly, airplane, plane, planes, pilotphotog, avgeek, NGAD, next generation air dominance, Lockheed, cost, procurement, contract, Boeing, 737 max, F-22 raptor, ngad fighter, 6th generation marvel, air superiority, aerospace titans, air dominance, 2024, lockheed, boeing, air force, fighter aircraft, battle for the skies, turning point, us air force, battlespace, lockheed vs. boeing, aircraft design, unmatched air superiority

Id: 8Dv4SMJnqiw

Length: 14min 2sec (842 seconds)

Published: Fri Jan 19 2024