Boeing F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)


Well at least if it gets shot down it will go with a smile.

Looks like any armament is external though; I do not see any space for internal AAMs.
 
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Josh_TN said:
Looks like any armament is external though; I do not see any space for internal AAMs.
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This should probably be in the CCA thread, but yes, that's the problem with Anduril's pitch. They acquired Blue Force Technologies to grab their adversary air drone, which obviously would not have been designed with any internal carriage in mind. ventral intake. General Atomics has a more customized solution and more experience in this space.
 
paralay said:
What do we know about the characteristics of this drone, the mass, the engine, the weight of the combat load?
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USAF made a request for information about engines within 3,000 - 8,000 lbs. So I think that’s a realistic thrust limit. I think broadly we can expect something with roughly 10,000 lb MTOW, but that is just my opinion.
 
thrust 1360 kgf - 3630 kgf, MTOW 4500 kg
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Judging by the announced cost of the drone of $ 30 million, we have a take-off weight of up to 10,000 kg.
Air Force eyes thrust range targets for wingman drones ...


Here's a synthesis of key details regarding the U.S. Air Force's engine RFI for 3,000–8,000 lbf thrust class engines for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA):

Key Details​

  1. Purpose:
    • Power next-gen autonomous drone wingmen (CCA) to enhance range, speed, and runway independence35.
    • Support "affordable mass" strategy while balancing cost, schedule, and performance26.
  2. Thrust Requirements:
    • 3,000–8,000 lbf thrust range, exceeding current CCA demonstrators like Boeing’s MQ-28 (2,000 lbf) and Kratos XQ-5815.
    • Targets enhanced Mach capability, reduced takeoff distance, and extended loiter time46.
  3. Timeline:
    • Program launch: Q1 FY2025 (Oct 2024)35.
    • Delivery: First CCAs within 3 years (by 2027), with follow-on increments in 2030 and beyond13.

Engine Candidates​

  • Off-the-shelf options:
    • Honeywell: TFE731 (3,500–5,000 lbf), F124 (6,000+ lbf)6.
    • Williams International: FJ44 (1,500–3,600 lbf, expandable to higher thrust)57.
    • Pratt & Whitney Canada: PW300 (4,600–5,000 lbf), PW500 series17.
    • Rolls-Royce: AE3007 (6,500–9,000 lbf, used on RQ-4 Global Hawk)15.
  • Modifications:
    Existing engines (e.g., FJ44, PW545B) may need upgrades for military durability, thermal management, and fuel efficiency67.

Design Implications​

  • Aircraft size: Likely larger than current CCA demonstrators (e.g., MQ-28/XQ-58), akin to Aero L-39 (12,800 lbs) or scaled-down Global Hawk15.
  • Operational flexibility:
    • Range: 1,500+ nautical miles (2800 km) with efficient turbofans5.
    • Payload: Capacity for sensors, weapons, or electronic warfare systems46.

Challenges​

  • Cost: Commercial engines (e.g., FJ44) cost millions per unit, conflicting with CCA’s "affordable mass" goal36.
  • Runway dependence: Many engines in this class require paved runways, limiting austere basing options3.
  • Schedule: Developing new engines risks delays; modified off-the-shelf designs are preferred27.

Industry Response​

  • General Atomics: Eyeing FJ44 (Williams) and PW500 (Pratt) for Gambit/Fury drones7.
  • Honeywell: Marketing F124 and TFE731 as ready solutions with upgrade potential6.
  • Northrop Grumman: Model 437 likely uses AE3007-class engines15.

Strategic Goals​

  • CCA roles: Electronic warfare, sensing, and manned-unmanned teaming with NGAD/6th-gen fighters8.
  • Scalability: Engine family to support multiple CCA variants (e.g., attritable vs. high-end)25.
For context, engines in this thrust class typically power light military jets (e.g., Aermacchi M-345) and business aircraft (Cessna Citation)5. The Air Force’s focus on rapid fielding suggests heavy reliance on existing platforms with modifications36.

Citations:​

  1. https://aviationweek.com/defense/ai...-force-engine-request-points-need-larger-ccas
  2. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/study-contracts-cca-engines-air-force-propulsion/
  3. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10...es-wants-engine-development-to-start-in-fy25/
  4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericte...erest-in-more-powerful-engines-for-ccas-mean/
  5. https://www.twz.com/collaborative-combat-aircraft-performance-focus-areas-emerge
  6. https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/...aborative-combat-aircraft-military-technology
  7. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11...gines-as-company-searches-for-cca-propulsion/
  8. https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...f-x-ngad-pca-asfs-news-analysis.3536/page-206
Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share
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