Lockheed Skunk Works unveils first images of its next-generation aerial tanker
- Lockheed Skunk Works has released the first peek of its innovative stealth tanker aircraft
- It is set to take the skies at some point during the 2040s
- The purpose of the NGAS, also known as KC-Z, is to refuel US and allied warplanes
Published on May 17, 2024 at 3:27 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 17, 2024 at 7:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The famously secretive Lockheed Skunk Works has released the first peek at its unprecedented aerial tanker.
The artist’s concept pictures show the innovative stealth tanker aircraft, which is set to take the skies at some point during the 2040s.
The purpose of the Next-Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS) tanker, also known as KC-Z, is to refuel US and allied warplanes.
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It will be able to do this from long distances and close to combat zones, allowing US warplanes to operate further from military bases but no details have been released so far.
The image appears to show a small and agile aircraft to carry as much fuel as possible into contested airspace.
With lambda-style wings, its futuristic design simultaneously offers stealth and strength.
The chine-line is designed to disrupt radar signals, running the fuselage nose backward to blend with the wing.
Rounded and recessed twin air intakes, and a double V-tail suggesting recessed exhausts will also reduce radar and heat signatures.
The two-person cockpit offers high visibility, with a projecting and fully autonomous reduce system nixing the need for a boom operator.
A refueling port on top of the NGAS fuselage suggests that to increase mission range even further, the tanker could accept fuel from another tanker itself during flight.
Aerial tankers will replace the fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers when they are retired.
Aerial tankers provided the necessary tech that has allowed B-52s to reach anywhere in the world since the 1950s.
They also enabled British Vulcan bombers to leave bases in the south of England before striking targets in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War.
If war breaks out in the Indo-Pacific region, they will be needed to enable allied aircraft to operate at long distances over open seas and get closer to the front lines.
The eye-watering cost of the NGAS suggests the US Air Force intends for them to act as multi-mission platforms, for intelligence and reconnaissance, command and control, or as arsenal ships for swarms and missiles.
It must be able to multitask from stealth to range and high survivability.
We are still waiting for the fastest plane ever, the SR-72 ‘Son of Blackbird’ to enter active service.
Officially known as the Advanced Development Programs (ADP), the highly secretive Lockheed Skunk Works division was founded on an unknown date between 1939 and 1943.
Lockheed Skunk Works has produced classic aircraft including the P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, the U-2, F-117 Nighthawk, and F-35 Lightning II.
It also made the SR-71 Blackbird, whose tiny cockpit makes its supersonic speed seem almost impossible.
This is in addition to the F-22 Raptor – check out this extremely rare cockpit POV footage.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
