Lockheed Martin’s renowned Skunk Works division has unveiled the first image of its cutting-edge stealth tanker aircraft, designed to provide long-distance refueling for US and allied warplanes near combat zones by the 2040s.
The Advanced Development Programs (ADP), also known as Skunk Works, was established between 1939 and 1943 and operated under strict security measures. It has been responsible for iconic aircraft such as the P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.
The team also devoted time to developing supersonic transports, hypersonic research planes, space launch vehicles, a fusion reactor, and a stealth boat featured in a Bond thriller.
Today, the US government is actively pursuing the development of a new generation of aerial tankers to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. These tankers are crucial for US and allied flight operations, enabling warplanes to operate far from their bases. They played a pivotal role in allowing B-52s to reach any location worldwide since the 1950s and in enabling British Vulcan bombers to strike Stanley Airport in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War in 1982 from bases in southern England.
The evolving geopolitical landscape and China’s expanding territorial ambitions have heightened the significance of refueling systems, surpassing their Cold War era importance. In the event of conflict in the Indo-Pacific region, allied aircraft will not only need to operate over vast distances across open seas, but also depend on tankers operating nearer to the front lines.
While specific details about the NGAS tanker have not been disclosed, the Lockheed Martin image suggests a smaller, more maneuverable aircraft with the capacity to carry a substantial amount of fuel close to contested airspace. The aircraft boasts a futuristic design, featuring lambda-style wings that offer both stealth capabilities and structural strength, along with design flexibility.
The aircraft’s stealth capabilities are highlighted by the chine-line on the fuselage, designed to disrupt radar signals. The rounded and recessed twin air intakes and the double V-tail suggest reduced radar and heat signatures. The high-visibility cockpit implies a flight crew of two.
The layout hints at the possibility of full autonomous control for the boom during refueling, eliminating the need for a boom operator. Additionally, the presence of a refueling port on top of the fuselage suggests the ability to accept fuel from another tanker in flight, making it suitable for long-range missions.
The NGAS design’s apparent stealth, range, and high survivability align with the US Air Force’s vision of future tankers as versatile multi-mission platforms. Given their significant cost, these tankers could be utilized for intelligence and reconnaissance, command and control, or as arsenal ships for swarms and missiles.
