The Next Generation of Air Superiority
FROM THE SOUTHERN AIR IMPORT // FEATURE · NOVEMBER 1986
THE NEXT GENERATION OF AIR SUPERIORITY
Lockheed And Northrop Enter The Competition That May Redefine American Fighter Aviation
Washington, November 1, 1986 — Defense Desk
The United States Air Force has taken a decisive step toward its next generation of combat aviation, awarding development contracts to Lockheed Corporation and Northrop Corporation for competing Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) designs. The decision establishes a contest between two of America's leading aerospace manufacturers, with the winning aircraft expected to form the backbone of American air superiority well into the next century.
The contracts, valued at approximately $691 million apiece for the initial development phase, will permit both manufacturers to construct and evaluate prototype aircraft. Each company will work with major industrial partners, bringing together considerable experience in aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics and advanced manufacturing.
The program reflects growing concern within American defense circles over the appearance of increasingly capable Soviet combat aircraft, particularly the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker. These aircraft have demonstrated a level of performance that has prompted renewed examination of Western fighter capabilities.
The requirements placed upon the new American fighter are substantial. It must combine exceptional maneuverability with long-range performance, advanced radar and weapons systems, and the ability to operate in an increasingly sophisticated electronic battlefield.
A MiG-29 Fulcrum escorting a Tu-22M Backfire. Painting by Richard J. Terry for the Department of Defense, 1986.
“A new approach to the conduct of air combat.”
Of particular interest is the continued development of low-observable technology. Both competing teams possess considerable experience in radar-signature reduction, although the precise arrangements and design characteristics of their proposals remain closely guarded.
Lockheed's team includes Boeing and General Dynamics, while Northrop has partnered with McDonnell Douglas. The two groups will undertake separate demonstrations and validation programs before the Air Force selects a single design for full-scale development.
The competition is expected to continue into the next decade. Production, should the program proceed as planned, could ultimately involve hundreds of aircraft and represent one of the largest military aviation investments of the period.
For the American aerospace industry, the implications extend beyond the aircraft itself. The technologies developed for the program are likely to influence future radar systems, engine construction, materials engineering and aircraft manufacturing.
The contest also demonstrates an important change in procurement priorities. Performance alone is no longer sufficient. Future combat aircraft must combine survivability, operational reliability and sophisticated electronics without becoming prohibitively expensive to maintain.
The next American fighter will not simply be an improvement upon existing designs. It will represent a new approach to the conduct of air combat.
THE IMPORT VERDICT: The ATF program deserves close attention from every organization involved in aerospace procurement. Its eventual winner will influence military aviation, industrial investment and the international aircraft market for years to come.
PROCUREMENT NOTE: The Air Force has not selected a production winner. Lockheed and Northrop remain competitors in the demonstration and validation phase.
FROM THE MANIFEST
CONTRACTS: ~$691 MILLION EACH · DEM/VAL PHASE · DEPT. 9
SOUTHERN AIR TRADE // THE MANIFEST