Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter program is moving forward despite significant uncertainty and a funding battle with the Air Force’s F-47.
-After the program was nearly frozen to prioritize the F-47, the Navy’s “Air Boss” says they are now “eagerly awaiting” the selection of a contractor.
-Top naval officials are stressing the urgent need for the sixth-generation jet to maintain an edge over China.
-While major questions about its long-term funding remain, a recent move by the Senate Appropriations Committee to restore funding has breathed what could be considered new life into the vital program.
F/A-XX Program Moves Forward, But Still Faces Questions
Despite uncertainty about the future of the F/A-XX program, the U.S. Navy’s “Air Boss” has said he is “eagerly awaiting” a decision on which company will be tasked with building the Navy’s next-generation aircraft.
Speaking to The War Zone, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever said that he is “excited” to see which vendor will be used to develop the aircraft, stating that the F/A-XX program is “ready for down-select, to which of the vendors you would go with.”
Cheever added that having fourth, fifth, and sixth-generation aircraft platforms on an aircraft carrier would be “phenomenal capability” that is “absolutely needed for air superiority.”
Is the F/A-XX Fighter Back On? Sort Of…
The comments come as the U.S. Navy fights to ensure its next-generation aircraft program receives sufficient funding to move on to the following stages of development.
While the Navy was reportedly close to announcing the winner of the F/A-XX competition in March this year, the project soon came to a grinding halt when the Department of Defense announced that it would be freezing the program indefinitely while focusing resources, times, and funding on the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
In July, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Daryl Caudle, warned that the Navy would risk losing its edge over China and Russia unless it can quickly field a new, sixth-generation fighter jet.
In a written response to advance policy questions submitted to the Senate Armed Services committee ahead of his confirmation hearing, Caudle called for an “all hands on deck” approach that would see funding allocated to rapidly advance both the F-A/XX and NGAD programs.
F/A-XX Marches On For Now…
While many questions are yet to be answered about the F-A/XX program, Boeing and Northrop Grumman appear to be in the running to build the Navy’s next-generation fighter.
The aircraft is expected to be designed to prioritize range and survivability, with estimates from Navy officials suggesting that the next jet should have at least a 25% increase in range.
However, the next-generation fighter isn’t the Navy’s only immediate need; reports suggest that the service is looking to replace its T-45 Goshawk trainer, which is scheduled to be retired by 2035.
The Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) will replace the T-45, featuring advanced simulators, new aircraft, and virtual environments for Navy and Marine Corps aviators. The Navy is also planning to replace its Lockheed Martin MH-60R/S helicopters.
The news that the F/A-XX program will move forward and select a vendor comes after the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a draft defense spending bill that would reverse the Pentagon’s planned freezing of F/A-XX funding.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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