After doubts and delays that almost led to the program’s cancellation due to its high associated costs, the U.S. Navy is reportedly ready to announce the company that will be in charge of developing the future sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter, allowing it to advance in obtaining its next-generation platform, similar to the Air Force with its F-47. The news was reported by Reuters, which consulted up to three sources familiar with the program, all agreeing that Secretary of the Navy Pete Hegseth is expected to announce it this week.
It is worth noting that the competition for the future F/A-XX manufacturer is currently essentially limited to two candidates: Northrop Grumman and Boeing Co. (the same company developing the aforementioned F-47). The new aircraft design emerging from this selection process will replace the current fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, which have formed the backbone of U.S. carrier-based aviation since the 1990s.
Similar news had already emerged in March, shortly after it was officially announced that the F-47 would equip the USAF. According to the sources consulted by Reuters, the significant delay was due to last-minute issues that held the Navy back from moving forward with its F/A-XX, but now the Pentagon reportedly gave the green light as of last Friday. However, neither the U.S. Navy nor the Department of Defense have officially confirmed this.
Any further delays, whether due to technical or budgetary reasons, raise concerns among U.S. naval authorities that the Navy might not have the new platform ready for the next decade, undermining the power projection capabilities of its carrier strike groups. This issue is further complicated by China, which has repeatedly showcased its own sixth-generation developments, the most recent being the J-50 fighter developed by Shenyang, reported in September.
As mentioned earlier, disputes have repeatedly arisen within the Pentagon and between it and Congress over the need to fund a project of this magnitude due to its high costs. Looking ahead, the Department of Defense requested at least $75 million as “minimum funding” to keep the F/A-XX program alive, at a time when resources seemed primarily destined for the Air Force’s sixth-generation program. By mid-year, Congress approved up to an additional $750 million for the Navy in a rescue effort, while also increasing next year’s budget by $1.4 billion.
Another major debate surrounding the F/A-XX program concerns technical and logistical issues, with Pentagon personnel advocating for delaying the program due to doubts about whether the current industrial base can handle two major projects simultaneously, which could jeopardize schedule goals. Specifically, concerns are that Boeing must already support the F-47 development, while Northrop Grumman faces a similar challenge with the development of Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles, which will replace the current Minuteman III.
*Images are for illustrative purposes
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