The competition for sixth-generation air supremacy is heating up, and one of the most closely monitored arenas is the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program. As the Air Force barrels along with its own Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, now dubbed the F-47, the Navy is sorting through a complicated combination of high-technology objectives, tight budgets, and strategic priorities. The result may decide the future of carrier-based airpower in a world where threats are racing ahead at breakneck speeds.
Reaching Outside Today’s Fighters
The Navy’s F/A-XX vision is nothing less than a generation ahead. Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, chief of the air warfare division, has stated unequivocally: range matters.
The plane will surpass both the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the F-35C Lightning II in range, flying more than 1,700 miles—perhaps 25% more than the F-35C.
This is not only an engineering achievement; it’s a strategic advantage, particularly in the vast Pacific theater. Combined with the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker drone, the F/A-XX could widen a carrier strike group’s operating envelope to a whopping 11 million square miles, and provide greater flexibility while making crews safer.
Stealth, AI, and a Hybrid Air Wing
Aside from range, the F/A-XX will also boast advanced stealth to penetrate deep into denied airspaces. Artificial intelligence will be central, transforming the role of the fighter from direct management to monitoring, in partnership with autonomous drones termed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). In this configuration, the F/A-XX takes the role of the “quarterback” for a hybrid force, coordinating manned and unmanned vehicles to maximize firepower and flexibility.
The Budget Battle
For all of the promise, the program is under a severe funding squeeze. In fiscal 2025, the Navy’s F/A-XX budget was reduced by almost $1 billion, and R&D appropriations for 2026 were cut back to a mere $74 million. The Pentagon has chosen to favor the Air Force’s F-47, which is getting a whopping $3.5 billion ask, over fears that the defense industry cannot handle two big sixth-gen programs simultaneously. According to officials, the Navy would potentially reap benefits later from the Air Force’s efforts, but meanwhile, these reductions threaten to bring the project to a standstill.
Rear Adm. Daryl Caudle, slated to become the next chief of naval operations, has cautioned that delays will undermine the Navy’s ability to maintain air dominance over near-peer competitors. Without a timely replacement for the Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, he contends, the Navy risks being outgunned by countries already operating advanced sixth-gen fighters.
Different Paths, Same Goal
Others in Washington have proposed that the Navy and the Air Force go in together, as they did with the F-35. The Navy is going alone, however. Rear Adm. Donnelly has stated the F/A-XX would possess a distinctive airframe and prop system, choosing derivative engines over the Air Force’s more experimental adaptive-cycle powerplants. The design will emphasize flexibility, extended-range strike, and fleet defense, not only air dominance. The Navy also plans to maintain it fully manned, with it becoming the backbone of a hybrid manned-unmanned future air wing.
Blending Manned and Unmanned Power
The Navy is making large bets on CCAs, which might fly in tandem with the F/A-XX as missile carriers, sensors, or communication relays. As time goes on, the service will dial in the mix of human pilots and automated systems to maximize performance for the mission. The F/A-XX will be the pivot point for that approach, managing everything from long-range missiles to electronic warfare.
The Road Ahead
As the Navy proceeds with finalizing a design and fleshing out the concept, however, the path is by no means smooth. Tight budgets, industrial constraints, and inter-service politics will all determine how—and when—the F/A-XX flies. But this is one thing that is certain: in the sixth-generation race for dominance, the Navy can’t fall too far behind. Friends and foes alike are waiting with bated breath to see if the Navy’s next flagship fighter arrives in time to help keep America’s carriers at the leading edge of global power projection.
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