As part of its effort to modernize naval aviation, the U.S. Navy has provided new indications regarding the progress of its sixth-generation F/A-XX program, identifying Boeing and Northrop Grumman as the two potential manufacturers of the future aircraft. Under the so-called Reconciliation Act approved last year, which provides for total spending of US$152 billion, the service is preparing to receive and invest more than US$750 million to make its final selection and move the program forward, which has already experienced several months of delays compared to its original schedule.
Expanding on the details, it is worth recalling that the F/A-XX program has faced significant obstacles raised by the White House, mainly concerning concerns over whether the domestic aerospace industry would be capable of producing both the Navy’s fighter and the F-47 that will equip the U.S. Air Force at the same time. It should also be noted that the Pentagon is seeking to add new long-range strike aircraft, while simultaneously advancing the development of collaborative combat unmanned platforms intended to complement the capabilities of its future sixth-generation fighters.
Regardless, the text of the aforementioned legislation states that the US$750 million allocated to the U.S. Navy “provides funding to support the critical F/A-XX decision. The funds will back key design initiatives, risk reduction efforts, and technological development to meet operational requirements.” However, it remains unknown what deadline the service will have to make this decision—no minor detail considering that the funds must be executed before the statutory expiration date (through September 2029).
Moreover, it is worth highlighting that, at present, the selection process appears to have definitively eliminated Lockheed Martin as a potential manufacturer of the future F/A-XX for the U.S. Navy. As previously reported in March 2025, the company’s proposal reportedly failed to meet the established requirements to secure the future contract to develop the fighter that will replace the F/A-18 Super Hornets operated by the service’s Carrier Strike Groups. This was considered a significant setback for a company that has dominated recent U.S. combat aircraft acquisitions.
Finally, it is necessary to underscore that the previously mentioned funding injection represents a breath of fresh air for the F/A-XX program, particularly given that in its fiscal year 2025 budget request, the Navy opted to redirect nearly US$1 billion originally earmarked for F/A-XX development toward other ongoing projects. This decision underscored the impact of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and its constraints on military programs, as well as the considerable strain involved in pursuing multiple major development efforts simultaneously.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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