The US Air Force significantly increases funding for the prototype engine for its sixth-generation fighter, bringing the contracts with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney to $3.5 billion each.
The US Air Force recently tripled funding for its Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, allocating $3.5 billion each to General Electric and Pratt & Whitney for the development of prototype engines for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program’s future sixth-generation fighter. This decision comes at a time when the NGAD program is being reassessed due to budgetary and strategic concerns. Adaptive engines, capable of adjusting their thrust configuration according to operational needs, represent a major technological advance in ensuring air superiority in the face of emerging threats.
The NGAP program: a major technological advance
The Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program aims to develop “adaptive” engines for future US Air Force fighters. These innovative engines can modify their thrust configuration in real time, optimizing performance according to flight conditions and mission requirements. This adaptability enables greater fuel efficiency, increased range and improved thermal management, all of which are crucial to modern operations. Adaptive engines also offer operational flexibility, enabling aircraft to switch from a high-thrust configuration for combat maneuvers to a fuel-efficient configuration for cruise flights. This capability is essential for long-haul missions and extended engagements.
Significant increase in funding
Initially, in 2022, the US Air Force awarded $975 million in contracts to General Electric and Pratt & Whitney for the development of adaptive engine prototypes. In January 2025, these contracts were amended, raising each to a ceiling of $3.5 billion, an increase of more than three times the original amount. This decision reflects the Air Force’s commitment to accelerating the development of these critical technologies. According to the Pentagon, this investment is aimed at providing “a state-of-the-art propulsion system with a flexible architecture that can be adapted to future combat aircraft operating in a variety of missions”. Work is scheduled for completion by July 2032.
The NGAD program: a strategic reassessment
The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is conceived as a “family of systems” including a sixth-generation manned fighter and accompanying UAVs, known as collaborative combat aircraft. However, the initially estimated cost of between $250 and $300 million per aircraft, or around three times the price of an F-35, has led the US Air Force to suspend the program in the summer of 2024 for reassessment. The purpose of this pause is to determine the best approach to maintaining air superiority while taking budgetary constraints into account.
Economic and industrial consequences
Increased funding for the NGAP program has significant implications for the defense industry. For General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, this injection of funds represents an opportunity to strengthen their position in the next-generation military engine market. According to Chris Calio, CEO of RTX, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, the additional funding will help the company “continue to de-risk its adaptive engine, dubbed ‘XA103’”. In addition, this decision could influence supply chains, research and development, and employment in the aerospace sector. Investment in cutting-edge technologies stimulates innovation and can lead to breakthroughs that benefit other industrial sectors.
Strategic outlook and future challenges
As the NGAD program is being reassessed, the US Air Force must balance the need for innovation with budgetary realities. The adaptive engines developed as part of the NGAP program could also find applications in other platforms, offering strategic flexibility. Challenges remain, however, particularly with regard to the integration of these new technologies, cost management and international competition in the field of military aviation. The ability to overcome these obstacles will determine the future success of the US Air Force in maintaining its air superiority.
The significant increase in funding for the NGAP program underlines the US Air Force’s commitment to developing advanced propulsion technologies for its future fighters. At a time when the NGAD program is being reassessed, these investments in adaptive engines could play a crucial role in defining the next generation of air superiority capabilities.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.