The U.S. Navy’s plans for its future sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter are at risk of being canceled. The administration is currently considering delaying the project by about three years—a decision that could effectively mark the end of the Navy’s ambitions to field a new carrier-based fighter.
According to Reuters, the Navy and Congress are struggling with the Trump administration to move forward with awarding a contract. Although the announcement of the F/A-XX program winner was expected in March, budgetary issues put on hold what would have been the first step toward advancing the development of the next-generation fighter.
Sources consulted by Reuters indicated that a three-year delay to the F/A-XX program would likely mean its cancellation in its current form, as “…the contracts and prices would expire during that time, making a new competition almost inevitable…”
The sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter is expected to represent a significant leap in capabilities, incorporating improved stealth design, compatibility with unmanned systems, and extended range. The program also includes plans for major advancements in radar technology and carrier landing capabilities.
The initial timeline projected the first F/A-XX units entering service starting in 2030, with the F/A-18 Super Hornet remaining operational into the 2040s. These deadlines are critical, considering one of the main objectives of the program is to counter China’s growing air capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. China has already begun test flights of its own sixth-generation fighters, the J-36 and J-50.
A delay to the F/A-XX program could leave the U.S. Navy without a modern carrier-capable fighter in the 2030s and beyond. This would significantly reduce the fleet’s ability to project power in contested operational areas and against high-capability adversaries such as China.
Although no final decision has been announced, a political battle is already underway between supporters of the F/A-XX program—including the U.S. Navy and members of Congress—who are working to prevent the Trump administration from canceling or delaying the sixth-generation fighter initiative.
Illustrative cover image. Credits: Boeing.
