Secret plane in "Area 51": NGAD on trial?
Hangar at the Groom Lake base, near which all the activity took place. Satellite image of Google Maps, date unknown
A previously unknown aircraft of an unusual appearance was spotted at one of the secret facilities of the US Air Force. For several days he was in an open area, after which he departed in an unknown direction. The characteristic appearance of the product indicates that it was built according to some new project. According to some assumptions, the aircraft may be directly related to the development programs for the next 6th generation fighter.
Satellite data
Information about the new aircraft was published on February 2 by The Drive / The War Zone. Using satellite imagery from Planet Labs, it studied the state of the Groom Lake air base, also known as Area 51. At one of the sites of the air base, curious activity was noticed, as well as an unknown aircraft.
A few years ago, a large hangar of unknown purpose appeared to the southwest of the runway - its coordinates are 37°13'07.3" N 115°47'56.6" W. Various cars were regularly spotted next to it in the past, but aviation technology has not yet been seen. The situation first changed a few weeks ago, as shown by a satellite image from January 26th.
The photograph showed an object standing on a taxiway a few dozen meters north of the hangar. Due to the low resolution of the image, the object looked like a dark spot on a light background. In the following days, the object remained in its place, which was recorded by the satellite.
The same hangar, 26 January. On the path to the north is an unknown object. Photo Planet Labs / Thedrive.com
On January 29, Planet Labs took a high-resolution photo that answered some questions and left new ones. It turned out that there was a light polymer shelter on the taxiway. Through its transparent material, it was clear that an unusual aircraft was inside.
On January 30 and 31, the plane in the shelter again hit the satellite lens. The next image from Planet Labs is dated February 2, and the light hangar is no longer in it. Apparently, the day before the plane was taken away in an unknown direction, and the shelter was turned off as unnecessary. Where the unusual aircraft went is unknown, and new high-resolution photos do not allow to determine this.
promising aircraft
Unfortunately, the published image from Planet Labs does not allow us to see the aircraft in all its details. This is hampered by insufficient photographic resolution, atmospheric interference, light transparent cover and a shadow under the aircraft. However, all this allows us to determine some general features of the machine.
The aircraft was built according to the "flying wing" or "tailless" scheme. The available materials do not allow assessing the shape of the fuselage, as well as determining the presence or absence of a keel. A large swept wing was used. It has a lively or broken leading edge. The wingtips, apparently, have a rounded and pointed edge in plan and are bent upwards.
Later shot, you can see the plane under cover. Photo Planet Labs / Thedrive.com
Based on other objects, The Drive estimates the length of the aircraft at 65 feet (19,5 m) and the wingspan at 50 feet (15 m). Other geometric and technical parameters cannot be established from several photos. It is also impossible to determine the presence or absence of the cockpit, the composition of the propulsion system, etc. Possible ranges of flight performance also remain in question.
New generation
The futuristic appearance of the aircraft from "Area 51" brings to mind the American projects of the next 6th generation fighters. It is known that work has been going on in the United States on this topic for several years, and from time to time even some details are revealed. In particular, images with the possible appearance of such equipment were published.
The painted planes are usually "built" according to non-standard "flying wing" schemes with swept or triangular planes. They have contours and features characteristic of stealth technologies, carry special weapons, etc. The secret plane from the Groom Lake airfield, with some reservations, is quite similar to some of the painted "samples" of the recent past.
Accordingly, there is reason to believe that the recently seen aircraft is related to some promising US Air Force program. Most likely, this is the NGAD (Next-Generation Air Dominance) program, launched several years ago. Its goal is to create a fighter with enhanced performance and improved combat qualities. It is also possible to implement fundamentally new solutions that potentially change the face of tactical aviation.
In September 2020, the Pentagon said that the NGAD project had successfully reached the stage of flight testing of a prototype. The goals and program of such events, as well as information about their implementation and results were not reported. The desired capabilities, appearance and design characteristics of the mock-up aircraft were also not disclosed.
Possible appearance of the NGAD fighter according to Lockheed Martin
It is possible that the NGAD model was or is being tested precisely at the Groom Lake base, a traditional site for secret projects. This suggests that it was a full-sized next-generation technology demonstrator that was captured on recent satellite images. However, this version is not confirmed by anything, although it is not refuted.
Wishes and opportunities
The Air Force has repeatedly mentioned its wishes for the next generation fighter, but the full list of requirements, if any, has not yet been disclosed. It can be seen that the aircraft from "Area 51" corresponds to some wishes, although the possibility of the full implementation of all plans is still in question.
The future NGAD may have dimensions and combat weight at the level of existing fighters. It is also planned to provide stealth for all detection tools. In this case, the aircraft must have high flight performance. In particular, the possibility and feasibility of creating a hypersonic aircraft capable of flying at high altitudes, up to near space, are discussed.
Depending on the level of technology development, NGAD will be permanently or optionally manned. The aircraft will receive advanced electronics with artificial intelligence, which will process all incoming data and solve some of the tasks. In a manned modification of a fighter, she will unload the pilot and will help him. The unmanned version will be controlled mainly by automation.
The aircraft also requires a developed set of surveillance and detection tools of various kinds. At the same time, passive systems that do not unmask the fighter can form the basis of the complex. Data exchange for receiving or transmitting target designation will remain of great importance - the aircraft will become a full-fledged element of a network-centric system.
Alternative version of the aircraft proposed by the US Air Force
In the early stages, the new fighter-bomber will use existing or future means of defeating traditional types - bombs and missiles. In the future, the creation of suspended or built-in laser systems with sufficient characteristics is not excluded.
Which of these requirements the Groom Lake base prototype can fulfill is unclear. This aircraft clearly has the necessary dimensions and a supply of internal volumes. The appearance of the machine allows obtaining high flight characteristics, incl. supersonic speed. At the same time, the composition of the equipment and its capabilities are unknown, and there are no opportunities for evaluation. It can be assumed that some new systems and devices are already being tested on a prototype, incl. providing fundamentally new functions and capabilities.
Coincidence or plan
In general, the situation around the new American aircraft looks very interesting. Suddenly, and from unofficial sources, it became known about the existence of a new aircraft. There is no information about him, and it is not necessary to expect their appearance. At the same time, it is possible to associate an unusual sample with a real-life and developed program.
Recent photos from Planet Lab may have been a stroke of luck. However, it cannot be ruled out that the Air Force deliberately left the experimental aircraft under transparent cover for several days in order to be noticed. It could be a controlled leak of information, designed to show the existence of the project and the receipt of certain successes. Whether such a “signal” succeeded, and whether the addressee accepted it, is unknown. But the unusual aircraft has already received its share of fame and attention, and has also again attracted attention to promising US projects in the field of tactical aviation.
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