Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet

The Hill ^ | Today

[cba123]

The Air Force on Tuesday revealed that it has secretly built and flown a prototype of its next-generation fighter jet, according to the service's top acquisition official.

The jet, built as part of the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, was first disclosed to Defense News on Monday.

Air Force acquisition head Will Roper told the outlet that the service could now move the jet into production "pretty fast."

[Jewbacca]

Thanks for your post, Mr. Xi.

(Joking, but not.)

[cymbeline]

“that isn’t advisable in a day of drones”

Maybe the new fighter is pilot-less. Maybe the term Drone will not be used for these new fighters.

[mad_as_he$$]

Four letter words first!

[JohnnyP]

Reminds me of the joke about planes of the future, with a dog and a pilot.

The dog is there to bite the pilot if he touches anything.
The pilot is there to feed the dog.

[rbg81]

Does it look like a Tic-Tac?

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I had the same thought. What a surprise that would be, eh?

[rbg81]

Something that’s more concerning - if the Air Force itself built this instead of putting it out for bid... just how horrifically bad is it going to be?

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The Air Force does not build anything itself. Most likely done by the modern equivalent of Lockheed Skunkworks (whatever they call that these days).

[Bommer]

Flight test of their new steath X-wing fighter

[PIF]

if the Air Force itself built this instead of putting it out for bid... just how horrifically bad is it going to be?

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You just know it will have every bell and whistle/light and dial/screen and switch possible. Moreover how horrifyingly expensive will it be? Certain it will cost more the the 22, and like the 22 won’t be exportable, due to likely tech concerns, will they build 189, 150, 100, or only 50? Will more than 15 be mission capable?

[PIF]

More here:
The U.S. Air Force Has Secretly Flown A Demonstrator For Its Next-Generation Fighter
Little is known about the actual aircraft or who even built it, but it's a sign that the next-generation fighter effort is rapidly accelerating.
By Thomas Newdick September 15, 2020

It may be unmanned ... manufacture and designation of the NGAD fighter is unknown

[Spktyr]

Maybe. It remains to be seen.

[kenmcg]

Good bet the Chicoms are right on it.

[pierrem15]

The usual sloppy reporting:

"That line of production has brought criticism to the Pentagon, most recently in the Lockheed Martin-made F-35, which lawmakers have long"

Lockheed-Martin has now brought the per-plane cost below that of a new F15E, and significantly reduced maintenance costs. Most of which is due to Trump's pushback.

[bert]

Your assumption fails to say anything about those urban kids who are culled from recruitment because they simply lack the intellect and education to be effective on board the ship with the drone killing weapon

[RinaseaofDs]

Disagree.

Having meat in the seat is still invaluable in actual combat. Proven over and over again.

Drones are fine, but they are a tool. Just like manned fighter aircraft.

[odawg]

The production is rapid because maybe they don’t have to be concerned over pilot safety.

[EEGator]

The Officer ranks, in my experience, were mostly White and upper middle class. (in the USAF)
Poor minorities are largely in the enlisted ranks of the Army.
I believe the USMC is the “Whitest” of all the branches.

[lurk]

Remember they were running sorties with the F117 before anyone knew it existed.

Betcha the cost per copy on this new one is a joke.

[Vermont Lt]

The Air Force didn’t build it literally. They had it built secretly.

[Spktyr]

Hopefully - but even if that is the case, one has to wonder who designed it and what goals they thought they were meeting. There’s a reason that normal acquisition is through request-for-proposals that becomes competitive bidding and not single sourcing.

[Theophilus]

bear me to it!