The U.S. company Northrop Grumman recently published a concept image of the F/A-XX, the sixth-generation fighter projected to be the future backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings. The image, available on the company’s Naval Aviation section, depicts a sleek, stealth-focused design.
The F/A-XX is envisioned as the next-generation aircraft that will replace the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet starting in the 2030s. According to official documents, the new fighter must feature extended range, higher speed, advanced passive and active sensor technologies, and the ability to employ long-range weapon systems.
Key characteristics include artificial intelligence-assisted systems, manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and a 25% improvement in operational range compared to current platforms. The F/A-XX is expected to serve as a command hub within an ecosystem of manned and unmanned platforms, as part of a data-centric warfare approach aimed at operating in highly contested environments such as the Indo-Pacific.
The published image shows an aircraft with clean lines, a highly blended fuselage and wing structure, and an elongated nose, likely designed to house an AESA radar. While the design clearly emphasizes radar signature reduction, it’s not possible to confirm whether the aircraft is tailless due to the partial framing of the image.
Currently, Boeing and Northrop Grumman are considered the main contenders for the F/A-XX contract, after Lockheed Martin was reported to be out of the program in 2024. Both companies are already engaged in next-generation aircraft development for the Air Force: Boeing with the F-47 (part of the Next Generation Air Dominance [NGAD] program), and Northrop Grumman with the B-21 Raider bomber.
Budgetary and political debate
The F/A-XX program has sparked debate within the Department of Defense and the U.S. Congress. In the fiscal year 2026 budget, only $74 million was initially allocated to the program, raising concerns among lawmakers and naval leaders. In response, the Navy submitted an additional $1.4 billion request through its Unfunded Priorities List, an annual document used to highlight strategic projects not included in the official budget.
However, the Pentagon has evaluated the possibility of prioritizing the Air Force’s F-47 over the F/A-XX, citing industrial base limitations in supporting both programs simultaneously. This stance has drawn reactions from the Navy and the involved manufacturers.
Admiral Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, recently warned that the lack of a sixth-generation carrier-based fighter could compromise the U.S. ability to maintain air superiority in future conflict scenarios. In public statements, he emphasized that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier remains the centerpiece of U.S. naval combat power, and its effectiveness depends on being equipped with advanced fighter aircraft.
Amid these concerns, Boeing stated that its facilities are prepared to produce both the F-47 and the F/A-XX, while Lockheed Martin is reportedly developing an upgraded version of the F-35 to serve as a technological bridge until the arrival of next-generation fighters.
In conclusion, despite the release of Northrop Grumman’s concept image, the F/A-XX program still faces operational and budgetary uncertainty. (As early as May, it was reported that the program might be canceled.) The final decision on its future may hinge on the balance between strategic priorities, industrial capacity, and political decisions within Congress and the Department of Defense.
Header image courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
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