Why the Air Force's NGAD Fighter Program Is Falling Apart

[rangerrebew]

Why the Air Force's NGAD Fighter Program Is Falling Apart
Story by Brandon J. Weichert • 15h


Key Points and Summary: The U.S. Air Force's pursuit of a sixth-generation warplane, part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, faces skepticism due to its high costs and uncertain necessity.


RIP NGAD? Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall suggests scaling back the program to a "fifth-generation+" aircraft, rather than a full sixth-generation model.

What Happens Now? Given the advanced capabilities of existing fifth-generation planes like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, critics argue that the NGAD program may not be worth the substantial investment, especially in a challenging economic climate.
 
Forget the Sixth-Generation Warplane, the Air Force is Getting Fifth-Generation +
U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said in July he was “reasonably confident” that the Air Force’s proposed sixth-generation warplane will be crewed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-the-air-force-s-ngad-fighter-program-is-falling-apart/ar-AA1oSfht?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=b3a22c76ce104bd38d48078c63816fb0&ei=117

[rangerrebew]

It may help explain why so many aircraft are being pulled from the boneyard.

[SZonian]

"...in a challenging economic climate."
I'm sure that giving away 100's of billions of $$'s to Ukraine, "free" bennies to millions of illegals and the overheated printing presses at the Treasury have nothing to do with it. 
The DoD is pulling back everywhere because they're being forced to due to budgets.

[MeganC]

It may help explain why so many aircraft are being pulled from the boneyard.

Aircraft have been getting pulled from the Boneyard in increasing numbers since around 2017.

Go to Google Earth, check out Davis-Monthan AFB and use the time slider to see what the apron looked like over the past few years. More and more temporary hangars have been erected every year and more and more aircraft have been returned to service. Some, no doubt, are heading to Ukraine.