Lockheed Martin to Develop ‘Fifth-Generation Plus’ F-35 Fighter Jet
In a bid to remain competitive in the fighter jet market, Lockheed Martin’s chief executive, Jim Taiclet, has announced that the company will focus on developing a "fifth-generation plus" version of the F-35 fighter jet. This move comes after the company lost out on the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter program, Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), to Boeing.
According to a report by Breaking Defense, Taiclet laid out a mandate to Lockheed’s aeronautics division to create an enhanced version of the F-35 that can offer 80 percent of the capability of the upcoming F-47 at "half the price." The company will not protest the Air Force’s decision to award the NGAD program to Boeing, instead choosing to focus on upgrading its flagship stealth fighter jet.
"We’re basically going to take the [F-35] chassis and turn it into a Ferrari," Taiclet said during an earnings call, as reported by Breaking Defense. "It’s like a NASCAR upgrade, so to speak, where we would take the F-35 [and] apply some of those co-funded technologies both from NGAD and the F-35 program."
The proposed upgrades to the F-35 will include advanced passive infrared radar, new materials and geometries to enhance stealth capabilities, and improved tracking systems. Taiclet declined to detail all of the upgrades, citing classification, but emphasized that the goal is to provide 80 percent of the capability of the sixth-generation fighter at a significantly lower cost.
"I explained this at a meeting at the White House to the president," Taiclet said, as quoted by Breaking Defense. "Dogfights are not what we want anymore. In air-to-air combat, we want to shoot the other guys before he even knows we’re there. And you do that, first of all, with the critical sensors to find them. Then you make sure they can’t find you, and that’s the stealth technology."
Lockheed hopes to "build exportability into each of these components" – some of which are already part of the F-35 program of record through the Block 4 modernization program. However, the US government will have the final say on which upgrades will be made available to international F-35 customers.
This strategy echoes the playbook of rival fighter manufacturer Boeing, which pitched advanced "fourth-generation plus" versions of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle after losing out on the Joint Strike Fighter competition in 2001.
Lockheed executives downplayed the NGAD defeat during the earnings call, stating that the company anticipates more than 3,500 F-35s to be operational during the height of the program and has numerous other opportunities to win emerging programs.
"Even with the NGAD loss, that was probably more impactful farther out in the future than over the next few years, [and] more than offset by some of these other opportunities that we’re seeing," said Maria Ricciardone, Lockheed’s treasurer and vice president for investor relations, as reported by Breaking Defense.
Taiclet said the company has received a classified debrief on the NGAD decision from the US Air Force and will take that feedback and "[address] those on a strategic basis."
The development of a "fifth-generation plus" F-35 fighter jet is seen as a strategic move by Lockheed Martin to remain competitive in the market, and it will be interesting to see how this development unfolds in the coming years.
As noted by Breaking Defense, Lockheed’s strategy to offer an enhanced version of the F-35 comes as the company faces scrutiny from Wall Street following the NGAD loss. The company’s focus on developing a "fifth-generation plus" F-35 fighter jet is likely to be seen as a positive move by investors, who are eager to see the company bounce back from the NGAD defeat.
Overall, Lockheed Martin’s decision to develop a "fifth-generation plus" F-35 fighter jet is a significant move that is likely to have far-reaching implications for the fighter jet market. With the company’s focus on providing an affordable and capable alternative to the sixth-generation fighter, it will be interesting to see how this development impacts the market in the coming years.
The news was first reported by Breaking Defense, a leading source of defense news and analysis. The publication provides in-depth coverage of the defense industry, including the latest developments in fighter jet technology.
The F-35 fighter jet is a critical component of the US military’s defense strategy, and the development of a "fifth-generation plus" version is likely to have significant implications for the country’s defense capabilities. As noted by Breaking Defense, the F-35 has undergone significant upgrades in recent years, including the Block 4 modernization program.
The company is confident that its enhanced F-35 will be able to provide a significant advantage on the battlefield, with Taiclet noting that the company’s goal is to provide 80 percent of the capability of the sixth-generation fighter at half the price.
The F-35 has a number of key features that make it an attractive option for militaries around the world, including its advanced stealth capabilities and sophisticated sensors. The development of a "fifth-generation plus" version is likely to further enhance these capabilities, providing an even more advanced fighter jet that is capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare.
As reported by Breaking Defense, Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering a high-quality product that meets the needs of its customers. With its focus on developing a "fifth-generation plus" F-35 fighter jet, the company is well-positioned to remain a leader in the fighter jet market for years to come.
