With the aim of saving and funding the development of the U.S. Navy’s future sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter, the U.S. Congress has introduced a new bill that would allow the Pentagon to set aside its current plans to halt further advancement of the program, allocating approximately $1.4 billion for the procurement of new carrier-based aircraft. The bill has already been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and also includes an additional $647 million in funding to continue acquiring E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.
Providing further detail, it’s worth noting that the decision to invest this amount in the F/A-XX program is not arbitrary—it aligns with the additional funding request submitted by the U.S. Navy in its annual Unfunded Priorities List. This document is prepared by each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to outline key projects that could not be included in the official defense budget submitted to lawmakers for various reasons.
In the case of the F/A-XX, the fiscal year 2026 budget submitted in June did not include sufficient funding to procure any aircraft, only enough to complete the early development phase. According to specialized local reports, this may be due to the Pentagon’s decision to focus industry resources on the Air Force’s F-47 fighter program, arguing that the U.S. defense industrial base is not currently capable of carrying out both projects simultaneously.
However, the U.S. Navy has made efforts to push the development of its future carrier-based fighter as a key component of its carrier strike group strategies. A clear example of this came from Admiral Daryl Caudle, who stated in a written communication just over a week ago: “No element of the Joint Force projects combat power from the sea like a Carrier Strike Group, whose centerpiece is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN). To maintain this strike power, the CVN must have an air wing composed of the most advanced strike fighters.”
Looking ahead, if the program does not move forward, Admiral Caudle warned: “Therefore, the ability to maintain air superiority against peer competitors will be compromised if the Navy fails to field a sixth-generation strike fighter in a timely manner. Without a replacement for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the E/A-18G Growler, the Navy will be forced to modernize fourth-generation aircraft and increase procurement of fifth-generation platforms to try to keep up with sixth-generation aircraft that our adversaries are already deploying.”
Finally, regarding these concerns over the U.S. defense industry’s capacity to handle both the F-47 and F/A-XX programs, it’s worth highlighting that major manufacturers raised objections prior to the bill’s approval. Boeing, already selected to produce the Air Force’s future fighter, rejected the notion that its facilities would be unable to manage both sixth-generation programs, and is currently competing with Northrop Grumman for the Navy contract. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is reportedly working on a more advanced version of its fifth-generation F-35, intended to serve as a bridge until the arrival of the new sixth-generation aircraft.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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