‘US Air Force flies Next-Generation Air Dominance flight demonstrator’
16 September 2020
17:22
The US Air Force (USAF) has flown a digitally-engineered Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) advanced aircraft flight demonstrator for the first time, the service unveiled on 15 September at the Air Force Association’s (AFA’s) annual conference.
The programme is classified and USAF leadership refused to provide details, including who developed the aircraft, any contract values, and when it might be fielded. But Will Roper, assistant secretary of the USAF for acquisition, technology, and logistics (AT&L), said on 15 September that many of the mission systems that are required for NGAD have been flown on test articles. Roper spent most of his time during his presentation to both reporters and the public extolling the virtues of his digital engineering approach to NGAD and future USAF aircraft and weapons systems.
