Secret Aircraft Over Area 51 May Be Linked to US Sixth-Generation Fighter

The recently released infrared footage suggests that a previously unknown triangular aircraft spotted over Area 51 may be connected to the US Air Force's next-generation NGAD fighter program.

Unidentified Aircraft Over the Nevada Test Range

Infrared footage published on January 14 by video operator and researcher Anders Ottesson, who runs the YouTube channel Uncanny Expeditions, shows an unidentified triangular aircraft flying over Area 51 and the Nevada Test and Training Range.

The distinctive appearance of the aircraft indicates that it was built according to a previously unknown design. According to several assumptions, the aircraft may be directly related to programs developing a sixth-generation fighter.

The aircraft appears to be built according to a flying wing or tailless configuration. Available materials do not allow an assessment of the fuselage shape or a determination of whether a vertical stabilizer is present. The wing features a large sweep angle with what appears to be either an ogival or broken leading edge.

The wing tips seem rounded yet pointed in planform and are likely bent upward.

Based on comparisons with other known objects, The Drive estimates the aircraft's length at approximately 65 feet (19.5 meters) and its wingspan at about 50 feet (15 meters). Other geometric or technical parameters cannot be determined from the limited imagery.

It is also impossible to establish whether the aircraft has a pilot cockpit, what type of propulsion system it uses, or its potential flight performance characteristics.

A New Generation of Combat Aircraft

The futuristic appearance of the aircraft spotted near Area 51 inevitably brings to mind US projects aimed at developing sixth-generation fighter aircraft. It is known that work in this area has been underway in the United States for several years, with certain details occasionally disclosed.

In particular, conceptual images showing the possible appearance of such aircraft have been published. These designs are typically based on unconventional configurations such as flying wings with swept or triangular planforms.

They feature stealth-optimized contours, specialized internal weapons carriage, and other advanced design elements. With certain reservations, the secret aircraft observed near Groom Lake closely resembles some of these previously illustrated concepts.

This provides grounds to assume that the recently observed aircraft is related to one of the US Air Force's advanced programs. Most likely, it is associated with the NGAD (Next-Generation Air Dominance) initiative, which was launched several years ago.

The NGAD Program and Its Goals

The objective of NGAD is to create a fighter with superior performance and enhanced combat capabilities. The program also envisions the introduction of fundamentally new solutions that could reshape the future of tactical aviation.

In September 2020, the US Department of Defense stated that the NGAD project had successfully reached the stage of flight testing a demonstrator aircraft. However, the goals of these tests, their scope, and their results were not disclosed.

The desired capabilities, appearance, and estimated performance characteristics of the demonstrator were also not revealed.

It is entirely possible that the NGAD demonstrator has undergone or is still undergoing testing at the Groom Lake facility, which has traditionally served as a testing ground for classified aviation projects.

This allows speculation that the recently captured imagery shows a full-scale next-generation technology demonstrator. However, this version remains neither confirmed nor disproven.

Expected Capabilities of a Sixth-Generation Fighter

The US Air Force has repeatedly outlined its general expectations for a next-generation fighter, although a complete list of requirements has never been publicly released.

The aircraft spotted near Area 51 appears to meet some of these expectations, although it remains unclear whether it fulfills all planned requirements.

A future NGAD aircraft may be comparable in size and combat weight to existing fighters while offering reduced detectability across all sensor types. At the same time, it is expected to demonstrate exceptional flight performance.

Discussions have included the feasibility of developing a hypersonic aircraft capable of operating at very high altitudes, potentially approaching near-space conditions.

Depending on technological maturity, NGAD may be either permanently piloted or optionally piloted. The aircraft is expected to feature advanced avionics with artificial intelligence capable of processing incoming data and handling certain mission tasks.

In piloted variants, AI systems would reduce pilot workload and assist in decision-making, while unmanned versions would rely primarily on automated control.

The aircraft will also require a sophisticated suite of surveillance and detection systems, with an emphasis on passive sensors that do not compromise stealth.

Data exchange will remain critically important for receiving and transmitting targeting information, making the aircraft a full-fledged element of a network-centric combat system.

At early stages, the new fighter-bomber is expected to employ existing or advanced conventional weapons such as bombs and missiles. In the longer term, the integration of external or internal laser systems with sufficient performance characteristics is also being considered.