U.S.A.F. NGAD Jet Needed Soon, F-22 to be Retired in 2030 Our Bureau 473 Image for representation only. The U.S. Air Force wants to field new Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighters before it starts phasing out the F-22s from around 2030. Lt. Gen. Clinton S. Hinote, deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration, and requirements, told in an interview with Air Force Magazine recently that the service is preparing to unveil a new 30-year fighter force design. This includes at least two all-new fighters, a much greater use of autonomous and unmanned aircraft, a new way of providing close air support, and a narrowing timeline for retiring aircraft such as the A-10, F-16, and F-22.