Lockheed Martin responds to NGAD contract loss after boeing selected for U.S. Air Force programme

The NGAD initiative, expected to exceed $20 billion in its development phase, could grow to hundreds of billions in long-term procurement. The new fighter, reportedly designated the F-47, will feature advanced stealth, sensors, next-generation propulsion, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.

Lockheed Martin, which previously developed the F-22 and F-35 fighters, expressed disappointment at not being selected for the programme. “While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution,” the company said in a formal statement.

Despite the setback, Lockheed Martin reaffirmed its long-term commitment to advancing U.S. air dominance capabilities. “We are committed to advancing the state of the art in air dominance to ensure America has the most revolutionary systems to counter the rapidly evolving threat environment,” the statement continued.

The defence firm also confirmed its continued collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense on future projects. “Lockheed Martin continues to work to advance critical technologies to outpace emerging threats and deliver true 21st Century Security® solutions to our nation’s military forces,” the company added.

The NGAD programme is a key component of the U.S. Air Force’s future combat strategy, aimed at ensuring technological superiority through distributed operations and integration with autonomous systems. With Boeing at the helm, the F-47 project is expected to define the next era of air combat capability for decades to come.

Source: Lockheed Martin (press statement).