The U.S. Air Force has released a classified solicitation to industry for its sixth-generation fighter jet, the Next Generation Air Dominance program. Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman are expected to compete for the contract, which will replace Lockheed’s F-22 Raptor with a more capable fighter jet.
The Air Force has kept technical details about the program secret, but Secretary Frank Kendall said the new fighter would be able to “survive, persist, interoperate, and adapt in the air domain, all within highly-contested operational environments.”
The contract is expected to be awarded in 2024, and the three companies have yet to comment on the solicitation. The Air Force is hoping the new fighter jet will be able to team with drones and provide a more advanced capability than the F-22 Raptor.