Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), an expensive and ambitious effort, is aimed at replacing F-22 Raptor fighters. It's a multifaceted project that will include both a family and a new fighter called the F-15EX Eagle II. This type aircraft is versatile and is designed to be an air superiority fighter that can engage targets both in low and high-profile operations.
Currently, the NGAD Program is in development. A production fighter is unlikely until 2030. Although no details have been released, speculation about the plane's capabilities is already underway. Some speculate that the NGAD is a high performance air superiority aircraft, with a focus on maneuverability. Others believe that the NGAD will be an aircraft which will operate in a formation pilot-guided assistance drones.
The program is not expected to produce a single seat fighter. It will likely instead be a group of systems that are developed and manufactured separately. These include the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node ("BALCO"), the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (“MIDS”) and the Joint Tactical Radio System (“JTRS”).
Unlike the F-22, which was designed to fight against Russia, the Su-57 is a tactical stealth aircraft. The Su-57 is undetectable by radar and other detection equipment due to its advanced avionics system and weapons. The aircraft's electronics onboard can detect and jam enemy radar, while the passive electro-optical detection device is designed to identify a target from afar.
A key feature of the Su-57 fighter is its directional-infrared countermeasures systems. These laser turrets are designed to block infrared weapons and other aircraft from identifying the Su-57 fighter as a target. These advanced avionics might also allow the aircraft's heat distribution to reduce its infrared signature.
The NGAD is likely to be a single-seat plane or a crewed platform. While the Air Force hopes to have a full-scale demonstrator flying by the end of 2019, there is no specific date for a production flight. The NGAD will most likely use a sophisticated radar-reflecting design. This will be in addition to the fact that it will likely have internal weapons.
The US Air Force is planning to replace its F-22 fighter with the F-22. It has already poured $9 billion into the NGAD Program and hopes to have its first plane in service before the end of 2030. The program is not going to be easy. Despite delays, the program is expected to have an advantage over fifth-generation fighters from China and Russia.
The J-20 aircraft is a more modern tactical version and updated fourth-generation plane. The thrust vector controls will be added to the latest Chinese jet. The F-22 is expected to have a similar performance in dogfighting. However, some Chinese officials claim that the J-20 will benefit from the Shenyang WS-10 turbinefan.