Northrop Grumman A-11 ghost
ADVANCED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT

Advanced-Attack/Advanced/Fighter-Attack (A-X/A/F-X) 1992-1993
In January 1991, with the cancellation of the ATA and the NATF, the Secretary of the Navy directed that planning commence for a new A-6 replacement program. This new program became the known as the A-X, an advanced, “high-end,” carrier-based multi-mission aircraft with day/night/all-weather capability, low observables, long range, two engines, two-crew, and advanced, integrated avionics and countermeasures. The Air Force participated in this new program from its initiation, still seeking a replacement for the F-111 and, in the longer term, the F-15E and F-117A.

Contracts of $20M each were awarded to five contractor teams on 30 December 1991 (prime contractor listed first):

Grumman/Lockheed/Boeing
Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics
McDonnell Douglas/Vought
Rockwell/Lockheed
General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas/Northrop

The original A-X / A/F-X CE/D work was due to be completed in September 1992. A solicitation for Demonstration/Validation (Dem/Val) proposals was expected in late 1992, leading to a Dem/Val start in 1994 and EMD in 1996. Under the Navy’s original plan, the short Dem/Val phase would consist of design refinements and other risk reduction activities, but would not include flying prototypes. However, in late 1992 Congress directed that the A-X Dem/Val phase also include competitive prototyping. This increased the projected duration of the Dem/Val phase from two to five years. Concurrently, as a result of the termination of the NATF in 1991, increased air-to-air requirements were added to the A-X, prompting a change in the name of the Program from Advanced Attack (A-X) to Advanced Attack/Fighter (A/F-X).

The existing A-X CE/D contracts were extended to reflect a revised Dem/Val strategy to accommodate flying prototypes. The expected IOC date of the A/F-X slipped from 2006 to 2008. A Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) Milestone I Review of the A/F-X Program was expected in Spring 1993; however, the BUR placed the A/F-X program on hold pending the outcome of the report. An Milestone I DAB for the A/F-X never took place.

On 1 September 1993, the release of the BUR announced the cancellation of the A/F-X as well as the MRF. As a result of the BUR, A/F-X efforts during the latter half of 1993 were directed toward closing out the program and transitioning applicable experience and results to the upcoming JAST program.

A core of A/F-X personnel performed a large portion of the working-level planning and definition of the emerging JAST Program. The A/F-X CE/D contracts were extended a second time, through 17 December 1993, to allow the contractors sufficient time to bring their activities to a logical conclusion. All A/F-X program operations ended on 31 December 1993.

General characteristics

Crew: four (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers)
Length: 46 ft
Wingspan: 80 ft
Height: 15 ft 8 in
Wing area: 1,720 sq ft
Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100
Dry thrust: 23,500 lb[238] (104 kN) each

Performance

Payload: 5,160 lbs
Fuel: 21,322 lbs
Wing loading: 41 lbs/sq ft
Spotting factor: 1.44
Launch wind over deck (WOD): -2 knots
Arresting WOD (Mk 7 mod 3): +9 knots
Waveoff rate of climb: + 680 feet/minute

Armament

Guns: None
Hardpoints: 5 total: 1× centreline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164.7 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles: Up to 4× AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles
Other:
Up to 4× 300 US gallons (1,100 L) external drop tanks (only pylon stations 1, 2, 4, 5 are wet-plumbed)
Up to 5× AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods

Avionics

AN/ALQ-99 on board receiver (OBS), AN/ALQ-99 pod mounted jamming system (TJS)
USQ-113 communications jamming system

Missiles:

* AIM-120 AMRAAM
* AIM-132 ASRAAM
* AIM-9X Sidewinder
* IRIS-T
* JDRADM (after 2020)[210]
* AGM-154 JSOW
* AGM-158 JASSM[91]


*
o Bombs:
+ Mark 84, Mark 83 and Mark 82 GP bombs
+ Mk.20 Rockeye II cluster bomb
+ Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
+ Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
+ Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
+ JDAM-series
+ B61 nuclear bomb[211]

Avionics

* Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/APG-81 AESA radar