The US Air Force is starting a new era—one that will define how America controls the skies for generations to come. The old tired routine of merely swapping an aging fighter for its replacement is being replaced by something far more complex: a mix of new technology, evolving tactics, and tough choices about what “air superiority” even means in the 21st century.
Behind all that change is the Next Generation Air Dominance program, better known as NGAD. It is not one fighter plane proposal but a whole system built around a sixth-generation fighter. In March 2025, following years of deliberation, Boeing was chosen to build the core NGAD fighter—a decision that was a turning point for the service and the defense industry. The goal is lofty: a fighter plane with unmatched range, survivability, flexibility, and firepower. But getting here has been far from smooth.
By 2024, the projected cost of NGAD—$250 to $300 million per aircraft—caused real anxiety. The leaders questioned if the Air Force had a cost in mind for such a spend, especially when the aircraft would need to operate in conjunction with other advanced systems in order to deal effectively with the challenges of new threats. The expense was so prohibitive that the ultimate sign-off was delayed after the presidential election, underlining how high the stakes actually are.
As NGAD inches along, the Air Force’s pet F-22 Raptor has an uncertain future. Initially slated to be replaced in full by NGAD, today the Raptor has no replacement on the horizon. Rather, the service is investing funds in upgrades to make it valuable for the immediate term. Nevertheless, officials admit that the Raptor force is tiny, expensive to fly, and insufficient on its own to handle tomorrow’s challenges.
Meanwhile, the F-16 Viper, launched in the skies during the 1970s, is still a force to be reckoned with. Having no replacement in sight, it’s being upgraded significantly by programs like the Service Life Extension Program and the Post Block Integration Team program.
Both programs are modernizing their avionics, sensors, and electronic warfare systems to keep the fighter flying past the 2040s. Upgrades also provide the Air Force time to determine what its next genuine multirole fighter must be.
Another prime contender in the middle is the F-15EX Eagle II, meant to replace the aging F-15C fleet, particularly in Air National Guard squadrons. The Eagle II mixes a proven airframe with advanced sensors, guns, and software. It’s a reasonable choice, filling the gap between legacy and future systems and maintaining the squadron’s combat capability. Perhaps most importantly, it shows a new emphasis on how machines and people will fight together.
That idea is the foundation of NGAD. It is not thought of as one airplane but rather a “family of systems.” Perhaps the most significant element of the family is the inclusion of unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
The drones will fly along with manned fighters, doing jobs from reconnaissance to jamming, and even engaging targets themselves. Two prototypes are already in development, with preliminary testing underway. The Air Force considers them to be force multipliers, offering the pilots greater effectiveness and protection in contested airspaces.
The risks are too high. Those earlier next-generation programs failed because the world changed faster than technology could respond. Not wanting to repeat the same mistakes, the Air Force is doing things differently. Instead of betting everything on one plane, it is taking a “spiral development” approach—fielding new capabilities in smaller, more incremental steps. It’s not so much developing a new fighter; it’s about transforming how America maintains air dominance.
Looking ahead, the fighters of the future won’t be measured only by speed or stealth. They will exist within an evolving network of manned and unmanned platforms, built to adapt as quickly as threats emerge. The coming decade may well mark the most dramatic leap in U.S. airpower since the dawn of the jet age, and the choices made today will shape how the Air Force fights not just tomorrow, but for an entire generation.
