In the publication of the American edition of Breaking Defense, one of the threats that can reduce funding for the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which, in particular, involves the creation of a sixth-generation fighter, named the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
According to Todd Harrison, defense and budget expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (USA), the current financial situation suggests that the budget for the NGAD program will be cut.
“But more importantly, it shows that the Air Force still hasn't fully sold out its procurement approach [through NGAD] to Congress and why they need a sixth generation fighter right now, while they are still ramping up their fighter purchases. fourth and fifth generations, ”the specialist noted.
The publication writes that a number of individuals “expressed concern that the NGAD concept could undermine the Air Force's purchases of F-35 fighters without tangible improvement in capabilities in the near and medium term.”
In September, US Air Force (Air Force) Assistant Procurement Officer Will Roper said that the Pentagon, in secrecy under the NGAD program, designed, built and at least once flew into the air an X-plane demonstrator, which includes , unmanned or manned aircraft of a new generation, including the sixth generation fighter.
In July 2018, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that “the Su-35 is today considered one of the best aircraft in the world,” therefore, “there is no point in speeding up work on the mass production of the fifth generation aircraft [Su-57].”
