Developed as part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance Program (NGAD) for the Air Force (Air Force) The US sixth-generation fighter will receive an expensive " Chinese "and cheap" Russian " version, according to The Drive.
According to the American publication, in the first case, we are talking about a long-range aircraft designed for operations in the Pacific Ocean. The second one is about a shorter-range fighter for Europe.
The Drive writes that the NGAD will be a partially multi-purpose aircraft capable of hitting air and ground targets. The publication notes that the sixth-generation fighter's tasks resemble the world's first fifth-generation F-22 Raptor aircraft, which the Pentagon plans to abandon. However, according to The Drive, the first from the second will be distinguished by an increased range and a large combat load.
The publication notes that the production of shorter-range fighters will be cheaper than larger aircraft.
In September 2020, will Roper, occupying the post of procurement assistant Minister of the U.S. air force, said that the Pentagon in secrecy in the framework of the NGAD designed, built and at least once flew the prototype X-plane, which implies, in particular, unmanned or manned aircraft of the new generation, including a sixth-generation fighter jet.
Ivan Potapov