06 August 2021

The Military Fixed Wing Aircraft Industry In a Nutshell

The Iron Law of Oligarchy still holds. 

There are just three domestic firms that make manned U.S. military fixed wing aircraft, and it is very rare (although not entirely unprecedented) for the U.S. to give major military contracts to foreign firms that partner with U.S. firms (as it did in its recent buy of Constellation-class frigates from a French ship maker in partnership with U.S. ship making firms).

Lockheed Martin and Boeing are the only two American companies building manned fighter aircraft for the Navy and Air Force. Northrop Grumman is building a new generation stealth bomber for the Air Force.

The Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force all fly versions of the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Lightning II. Boeing builds Super Hornets for the Navy and F-15EX Eagles for the Air Force. Boeing is also building a new pilot training jet for the Air Force, the T-7 Red Hawk, which it’s also pitching to the Navy to replace the T-45 Goshawk. Italian defense firm Leonardo is pitching its M346 pilot trainer to replace the T-45.

From Defense One

Also from the same article, illustrating just how confusing military procurement can get:

Called the Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, the plane is to eventually replace the aircraft carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornet. The Air Force also has a next-generation fighter jet project by the same name.

One of the lessons of the F-35 procurement contract is that trying to have a one size fits all solution across all four military services in the U.S. is usually a bad idea. But, having completely different programs underway simultaneously with the same name when they are both funded by politicians on the same committees is a recipe for unnecessary confusion too.

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