The US Navy's “Next Generation Air Dominance” will emphasize speed and range...

via Defense News.

The Navy is knee deep in an analysis on how best to replace its Super Hornet and Growler aircraft. Though much work is still left to be done, the resulting platform could look a lot different than both those jets, with a much higher priority on range and speed.

The service kicked off its “Next Generation Air Dominance” analysis of alternatives in January 2016 to study potential replacements for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler. (Confusingly, the Air Force has used the NGAD term to describe its own analysis of alternatives for an F-22 follow-on aircraft, but the services’ efforts are not connected and there are no plans to pursue a joint fighter).

Now, after about a year and a half, the Navy team feels they have a complete understanding of what capabilities the future carrier strike group needs to have and, importantly, what threats it will face, Capt. Richard Brophy, who is working the AoA effort as part of the service’s air warfare division, said during a panel at the Office of Naval Research’s science and technology expo.

Story here. 

This is damning.

We know that the F-35 doesn't meet the requirements for the next gen fighter so it's not only marginalized now but will continue to be into the future.

Speed and range are high priorities?

The F-35 has neither so its obvious that it won't be modified to get there.

Leadership won't admit it but everywhere we look we see backup plans being put in place to get us out of the F-35 as soon as possible.