What could Boeing do that's more "ambitious" than Lockheed's design when one of the main objectives was having a cheaper platform?
For example, taking the hypothetical 2024 NGAD in the image, that stealth tanker and several CCAs would make the cost of this entire system far higher than having a single really expensive plane (the several different components for each of these vehicles, amount of material, 1-2 engines for EACH platform, extra pilots). Sure the individual mini NGAD might cost less than $300 million but the entire system needed to achieve the capabilities of a single very expensive plane like NGAD 2023 or J-36 would be far more expensive. I wouldn't be surprised if that stealth tanker would cost another $200+ million. If they decide to use the B-21 as a part of the system that's not much better when a B-21 is over half a billion a pop. I can't see how an ambitious design of several different aircraft taking their own load of work would nearly fulfill cost objectives nor do I think they have the industrial capacity to create nearly enough of these "total packages". Logistics would be also nightmare.
If the hypothetical 2024 NGAD design isn't adequate, what else is there that's "ambitious"?
-J-36-Lite?
-Super high flying plane that missiles will have a hard time reaching?
-Extremely modular plane that can take different workloads depending on what you put inside it (ex big radar, just missiles, big fuel tank) and can all fly together like the 2024 design?
