As a next-generation fighter program, the US Navy’s new fighter is being designed to operate in anti-access/area denial environments, enhancing its ability to counter China’s increasingly sophisticated arsenal.

The US Navy wants $1.4 billion for its next-generation fighter series. As part of the service’s wish list for fiscal year 2026, funding for the F/A-XX program is prioritized. Additionally, the Navy requested more than $2 billion to strengthen the munitions industrial base.

“This additional funding will enable the Navy to award the 6th Generation Strike Fighter contract to industry,” the Navy prompted in a letter to lawmakers. “Navy’s 6th Generation Strike Fighter aircraft is a critical component of both the future Carrier Strike Group (CSG) [and the] air wing of the future.”

The F/A-XX is the intended replacement for the service’s legacy fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. To maintain an edge over its adversaries, the Navy must field an unmatched fleet of next-generation successors.

What Do We Know About the US Navy’s F/A-XX Program?

The Navy’s requirement for the F/A-XX emerged in 2008, as the service began exploring a replacement aircraft for its Super Hornet and Growler platforms. As a next-generation program, the new fighter will be designed to operate in anti-access/area denial environments, thereby more effectively countering Beijing’s growing arsenal of sophisticated weapons. Like the F-35 Lightning II, the F/A-XX will incorporate a host of top-tier capabilities, including stealth.

The big-name manufacturers, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, all announced they were competing for the aircraft’s design contract. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney and OEMS GE Aerospace were revealed to be competing to secure the F/A-XX’s engine contract.

While details surrounding the specs and capabilities of the next-generation project remain highly under wraps, the service has revealed that the F/A-XX will be designed to operate alongside uncrewed platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The sixth-gen manned fighter will fly alongside these loyal “wingmen drones” to lower overall program costs.

The US Air Force Wants Its Own Next-Generation Fighter

Similarly, the Air Force is putting all its eggs in its own next-generation fighter basket. In March, President Donald Trump revealed that the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft would be called the F-47. Manufacturer Boeing will develop the fighter series from the ground up, beating out competitor Lockheed Martin in securing the contract. When the F-47 officially enters service with the Air Force, it is expected to replace the remaining F-22 Raptor jets. Progress made on the US Air Force’s NGAD endeavor is significant, especially considering China’s ongoing development of its own sixth-generation fighter counterpart. NGAD will represent a “family of systems” when introduced, incorporating both manned sixth-generation jets and highly autonomous unmanned CCAs.

Despite the Navy’s desire to acquire its F/A-XX in the near future, the Pentagon is reportedly prioritizing the Air Force’s next-generation project. “Given the schedule delays and cost growth across numerous airframes, DoD recommends a focus on the F-47, giving the Navy’s F/A-XX program time for technical maturity and development,” a Pentagon request noted. “Phasing the F/A-XX after the Air Force’s initial F-47 development will alleviate capacity concerns in the industrial base.”

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

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