Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)

Definition

NGAD is a portfolio, not a single aircraft. It includes a crewed Penetrating Counter-Air platform, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingmen, and advanced propulsion and sensor subsystems. The program is designed to maintain air superiority against peer adversaries through the 2040s as the F-22 fleet retires.

Why It Matters

NGAD shapes the Air Force's R&D portfolio for a decade. Subsystems — mission systems, propulsion, AI autonomy — carry opportunities for non-airframe primes and specialists.

Example

The Air Force selected Boeing as the prime for the crewed NGAD platform in 2026, with General Atomics and Anduril progressing on separate CCA increments.

Related Terms