**Aurora, Colorado** – The future of the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter jet, designated under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, remains uncertain. Service officials have recently referenced an internal study to support their belief that NGAD is the most viable solution for securing air superiority in future conflicts.
Maj. Gen. **Joseph Kunkel**, who serves as the director of Air Force force design, integration, and wargaming, asserted this at the **AFA Warfare Symposium** on **Tuesday**. He noted, “Bluntly, what this study told us, we tried a whole bunch of different options and there was no more viable option than NGAD to achieve air superiority in this highly contested environment.”
Currently, the decision to proceed with NGAD or to modify the program is in the hands of incoming Air Force leadership. The program was paused last summer due to skyrocketing cost projections, estimating the sixth-generation fighter’s price to be three times that of an **F-35**. In January, prior Air Force Secretary **Frank Kendall** acknowledged the “value” of a crewed sixth-gen jet but highlighted that other fiscal priorities need to be met first.
While Air Force leaders emphasized the significance of the NGAD program at the conference, they indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding the means by which the service can achieve air superiority, maintaining an “open-minded” approach towards exploring alternative solutions. Lt. Gen. **Dale White**, military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, remarked, “I don’t think the Air Force is sticking its head in the sand and saying there’s only one way to achieve air superiority.”
As these discussions unfold, **China** is actively pursuing its sixth-generation aircraft programs, built specifically for air superiority. Gen. **Kenneth Wilsbach**, commander of Air Combat Command, stressed the need for U.S. action in response to China’s advancements, stating that “we can presume we know what that’s for—for air superiority. What are we going to do about it? And I don’t believe that nothing is an option.”
On top of the threats posed by China’s developments, the Air Force is also facing budget constraints; the Pentagon has initiated an **8%** funding shift to adapt to new priorities under **Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth**. Kunkel warned that these fiscal limitations “don’t change what it takes to win,” indicating that further investments are necessary. He stated, “If America doesn’t want to make those investments, then we’ll take more risk… But if we fund more Air Force, we decrease operational risk.”
Despite these challenges, Kunkel is confident that the Air Force will manage well with the budget reallocation.
