Just Too Expensive?: The U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, designed to secure air superiority in future conflicts, faces financial hurdles that may halt its progress.

-Originally projected to cost three times more than the F-35, the NGAD program was paused due to concerns over affordability, raising questions about sustaining air superiority against China.

-Additionally, rising debt, military spending limits, and competing priorities, such as modernizing the nuclear triad, complicate funding for NGAD.

-As the Air Force re-evaluates the NGAD program, the broader challenge remains: Can the U.S. sustain air dominance in the Pacific amid fiscal constraints and evolving defense priorities?

The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter aircraft meant to secure U.S. air superiority in the 2030s and beyond might be facing an adversary it can’t defeat: budget constraints.

The Air Force paused its sixth-generation fighter program in July after price projections showed it would cost three times more than an F-35 joint strike fighter—currently the world’s most expensive weapons program with each aircraft costing $80 million and $100 million apiece. Analysts and policymakers have criticized the Air Force’s hesitation and warned it puts U.S. air superiority at risk, especially against China. In a recent op-ed, Sens. Roger Wicker and Eric Schmitt, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the NGAD fighter’s high cost was an “unconvincing reason” to pause the program.

Convincing or not, it’s unavoidable that the Air Force, like the other services, will be facing a budget crunch in the coming years. The need to prioritize funding for more relevant budget items means that Air Force leaders are right to rethink and if needed, cancel the NGAD........

© The National Interest