A large part of why the B-21 Raider was on time and on budget was because Northrop Grumman had a massive tome of lessons they'd learned from the troubled production of the B-2, which everyone on the B-21 project was required to read.

Although Boeing didn't run the F-35 program, I hope they're able to absorb lessons from the many troubles Lockheed Martin had in trying to build airstrip and carrier capable variants of the "same" plane. It sounds like the first lesson has been taken to heart: Start with a blank slate and engineer component overlap where convenient, but don't make that the goal from the outset.

Legendary Refresh pull after beating ace combat 8's campaign again

Giving 2 6th gen programs to a company that can't design a trainer plane is a great idea.
Definitely one of Hegseth's best calls.

Simon: Thank you for watching. Me: You're welcome

What I don't get is why the f-47 is getting priority over the FA-XX. Seems like the navy needs the capabikity far more than the airforce. Especially with how naval airpower is key to US strategy

19:43 You don't call it a race when one has reached the finish line and the other is still at the starting point

What are you gonna do?  Northrop and Lockheed are busy. 🤷‍♂️

It's Phantom Works, being made at formerly McD-D facility in St Louis.
I'm not worried. Or more accurately, there's 101 things which can go wrong with a program, but I don't see a reason to think that the St Louis facility would be any more likely to have a problem than any other company/location. Sure it could all go sideways, but the st louis facility isn't particularly "known for things going sideways".
If it was designed & slated to be built out in Seattle, I'd be worried.

The FA-XX will just be a navalized version of the F-47. Some systems may change but for the most part it will be the same. The thinking was that we’re basically getting a cheaper price because it’s not a bespoke plane.

Just make sure to test the canopies extra well 🤷😅

I was understanding with Boeing getting NGAD/F-47. The company's problems are mainly on the civilian side, we'll likely get a good plane, and industrial concerns means we need to spread around the contracts to keep everyone in the game.

But a second sixth-gen from Boeing? Very questionable in my books. Both eggs in one company basket is a concern, lack of stealth experience in Boeing is a concern, and Boeing's actual ability to handle two projects of this scale at once is a concern. Many concerns. Northrup is busy with B-21, but Lockheed should be free.  Plenty occupied with F-35 production, but I doubt the design team is kept participating busy by that, and it'll be years before either 6th-gen project reaches production.

I think Lockheed should've gotten one of the 6th gen fighters. Boeing still gets one, largely due to Northrup being busy.

Well Lockheed is rather busy with the F-35 and Northrop is making the b-21. Boeing is a decent choice for the project though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about how Boeing will be able to scale up production enough to fulfill all of the requested orders

I remember hearing that boeing had been flying several prototypes for over 5 years before the f47 was announced

While this video is primarily focused on Boeing's side of the equation, it's also worth noting that even if Phantom Works is up to snuff, the Navy's procurement office has become legendary in recent years for their ability to feature creep even the most reasonable projects to death.

Simon, how many channels are you going to have?

Like most US programs it will be over budget, massively delayed or cutting edges and losing parts in good old Boeing tradition.

Does your team have a defenseFronts newsletter?

I really hope they make those battle ships.

Campaign donations well spent!

NGAD (F-47) has been test flying for over a year