Performance Analysis of Potential NGAD Designs

The goal of this project was to conduct a preliminary performance analysis of an early Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) design by Lockheed Martin. NGAD is a sixth-generation air superiority initiative for the United States Air Force (USAF), not to be confused with the United States Navy variant, looking to replace the F-22 Raptor due to rising tensions with China in the Pacific. A three-stream double-bypass adaptive cycle engine (ACE) model was developed in MATLAB to analyze thermodynamic states throughout the engine and generate performance data such as thrust and fuel requirements. The variable area bypass injectors (VABIs) of an ACE allow it to improve range and thrust while also reducing spillage drag when compared to a standard low-bypass turbofan for military aircraft. The aircraft was simulated at 15, 16, 17, and 18 km, and at a cruise Mach of 1.8, in accordance with expected NGAD requirements. Engine performance data was then used, alongside rough aerodynamic data based on the aircraft’s geometry, to determine the ideal wet weight, dry weight, and wing loading for an assumed air-superiority mission profile. Plots of wet weight, wing span, and wing area as functions wing loading were used to visualize the design space for a given mission.