NGAD is the Air Force's sixth-generation fighter program aimed at ensuring American air superiority.
The NGAD program is expected to replace the F-22 Raptor, the world's first fifth-generation fighter.
The Air Force has already started soliciting proposals for the NGAD airframe and plans to award a contract in 2024.
Industry giants like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman are likely to be involved in the NGAD program.
The NGAD's concept art depicts a sleek and tailless airframe with refueling capabilities drawn from the LMXT tanker concept.
The NGAD will incorporate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fly alongside piloted fighter jets in a concept called Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
The NGAD's communications systems will offer extended line-of-sight at greater altitudes, allowing connectivity up to 750 miles apart.
Stealth, range, and payload optimization are priorities for the NGAD, which will also feature cutting-edge technologies like spectral warfare.
The NGAD and its accompanying drones are expected to achieve similar performance benchmarks as the F-22 Raptor.
The NGAD program aims to secure American interests amidst rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the South China Sea.