Pentagon Pressed to Maintain Pace with Advanced Engine Technology by GE

Pentagon Pressed to Maintain Pace with Advanced Engine Technology by GE

The Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, which will power the engines of the Air Force's next-generation fighters, including the Boeing F-47, has experienced a significant delay. Originally planned for completion in late 2027, the prototype engine development by GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney is now expected to be ready in the second quarter of fiscal 2030, a two-year delay due to supply chain issues[1].

Both GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney have completed detailed design reviews for their NGAP engines and are currently in the phase of prototype fabrication. Pratt & Whitney's XA103 engine, for example, is an adaptive technology that actively optimizes fuel efficiency, survivability, power, and thermal management, crucial for future air dominance platforms like the F-47[1][3].

The Boeing F-47 was chosen as the winner for the Air Force's NGAD primary crewed aircraft (PCA) program in March 2025 and moved into Engineering and Manufacturing Development. However, in July 2024, the Air Force announced a "pause" on the crewed component of NGAD (the F-47 platform), although other air dominance family systems continue to progress[2].

In contrast, the F/A-XX program, a separate Navy initiative for a sixth-generation strike fighter to replace the F/A-18E/F and complement the F-35C, is distinct from the Air Force NGAD program. It received comparatively less funding, with $76 million allocated for FY2026 compared to the Boeing F-47's $3.4 billion[4].

Status of NGAP program for F-47 and F/A-XX fighters:

| Program/Platform | Status | Notes | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | NGAP (Engine program) | Two-year delay; completion by Q2 FY30 | Engines by GE and Pratt & Whitney; supply chain issues; both completing prototype build | | Boeing F-47 (NGAD PCA) | Selected Mar 2025; paused (July 2024) | In Engineering & Manufacturing Development; crewed fighter development paused but not canceled | | F/A-XX (Navy sixth-gen) | Funded, separate program | $76M funding FY2026; distinct from NGAD; focused on Navy’s future strike fighter |

As the development of the NGAP engines progresses, GE Aerospace is also working on advancing propulsion technologies for affordable unmanned aerial systems by the end of the decade. The F/A-XX fighter program has already been funded by Congress, and the Navy has included it in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, requesting $1.4 billion[5]. The recent reconciliation package includes $750 million for the F/A-XX[6].

Moreover, GE is participating in the Global Combat Air Program, a partnership between Italy, the U.K., and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter, with a target service date of 2035[7]. The Navy recognizes the need for a sixth-generation fighter for operating in highly contested environments, and adaptive engine technology is a key component of the F/A-XX fighter program[8].

[1] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/09/03/ge-pratt-whitney-next-gen-fighter-engine-delayed-due-to-supply-chain-issues/ [2] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/03/17/air-force-pauses-crewed-component-of-next-gen-fighter-program/ [3] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/06/01/pratt-whitney-unveils-x-103-engine-for-air-forces-next-gen-fighter/ [4] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/07/23/air-force-next-gen-fighter-program-gets-more-funding-than-navy-program/ [5] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/06/08/ge-aerospace-kratos-team-to-develop-affordable-unmanned-aerial-systems/ [6] https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/11/15/congress-includes-750m-for-navy-sixth-gen-fighter-in-reconciliation-package/ [7] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/02/10/ge-aerospace-joins-global-combat-air-program-to-develop-6th-gen-fighter/ [8] https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/06/22/navy-needs-sixth-gen-fighter-for-highly-contested-environments-official-says/

1. The air force is relying on the Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, a joint effort between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney, for powering the engines of its next-generation fighters, such as the Boeing F-47.
2. Despite being initially planned for completion in late 2027, the prototype engine development for the NGAP program has been delayed by two years, with the engines now expected to be ready in the second quarter of fiscal 2030.
3. The aerospace industry, with companies like GE Aerospace, is not only focused on military aircraft but also exploring propulsion technologies for affordable unmanned aerial systems and collaborating on sixth-generation fighter projects like the Global Combat Air Program.
4. Finance plays a crucial role in military technology development, as demonstrated by the $76 million allocated for the F/A-XX fighter program by Congress, compared to the Boeing F-47's $3.4 billion.
5. The space force is not only interested in space exploration but is also seeking to leverage adaptive engine technology in future fighters, such as the F/A-XX fighter program, for operating in highly contested environments.

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