DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force anticipates that a next‑generation engine will be installed on an aircraft by the end of this decade, though senior officials have not disclosed which specific platform it may power.
In the coming years, as the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program’s budget reaches its peak, the Air Force plans to develop and test competing prototypes from GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney. John Sneden, chief of the Air Force’s propulsion directorate, says this work will prepare the system for possible integration activities in the 2030 timeframe.
At the Life Cycle Industry Days conference, Sneden declined to specify which aircraft platform could receive the NGAP engine.
Sneden said the Air Force is still assessing its options, noting that the engine’s technology could enable various future choices. He added that the service is currently building the system and preparing for future opportunities.
Sneden suggested the NGAP engine could be applied to the F‑47, but emphasized that no final decision has been made. He stressed that NGAP comprises a suite of technologies that could be retrofitted into existing aircraft designs.
Air Force officials have said NGAP is platform‑agnostic, capable of supporting diverse propulsion requirements, and was originally intended to power the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, now designated the F‑47. With the secretive aircraft’s first flight expected during the current administration, it is unlikely the F‑47 will receive an NGAP engine in the near term, though future design adaptations could make an upgrade feasible.
The multi‑billion‑dollar NGAP program could represent a major leap in military propulsion, as its adaptive turbofan technology can alter a jet engine’s performance in flight, enabling greater fuel efficiency and additional thrust. The program has experienced about three years of cumulative delays, which Sneden attributes to the decision to pursue competition between two vendors on a constrained budget.
The Air Force has requested approximately $514 million for the NGAP program in fiscal year 2027, with spending projected to peak near $906 million in fiscal year 2028, per budget documents.
Sneden noted that the last non‑derivative fighter engine entered service in the 1990s, and added that to stay ahead of competitors the United States must adopt this technology promptly.
Additionally, Sneden announced that the F‑35’s Engine Core Upgrade — contracted to Pratt & Whitney — will be ready for flight testing in the 2030 timeframe. The program is slated to pass a critical design review next month, and a Government Accountability Office report indicates that full production of the upgraded engine may not begin until at least 2031.