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A prototype fighter plane was designed and built in complete secrecy by the United States Air Force, while it has already made its first flight “breaking all records”, according to a post. www.popularmechanics.com.
The reveal was made by Air Force procurement chief Will Roper in an exclusive interview with Defense News.
The new fighter jet was created with the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program with the goal of “completing” or even replacing the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The Air Force has built 186 Raptors, of which only 123 are fully operational, while at the readiness level, only 64 of the fifth-generation fighters can fight immediately, if necessary.
According to Defense News, the US Air Force developed the new fighter jet in about a year, a surprisingly short time by modern standards. “The Air Force first developed a virtual version of the aircraft and then proceeded to build and fly a full-size prototype, complete with complete missile systems.” This is in stark contrast to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. “
Indicative of the time required to build such a plane is the fact that the X-35 first flew in 2000, four years after the contract was signed by Lockheed Martin, while the F-35 took a decade. Similarly, China’s Chengdu J-20 fighter jet was “launched” in 2011, at least 10 years after its design, while Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” has yet to go into production, a even though we first saw it in 2010.
“We do not know which contractor designed the new fighter, although it is almost certainly one of the giants of the aerospace industry (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing). We do not know where it flew and where it is now. We don’t know how many originals there are. We don’t know how fast it is and what special features it has. We don’t know anything, ”the article emphasizes.
He added that the US Air Force had designed the NGAD program to ensure its “air dominance” in future conflicts over aircraft owned by potential adversaries. The new fighter is advanced for aerial combat.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/
