New US Navy fighter could be delayed by three years, according to report
The US Navy is facing a huge dilemma regarding the F/A-XX program, a new 6th generation fighter to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aboard its nuclear aircraft carriers.
The service had expected to announce the winner of the competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman in March, shortly after US President Donald Trump revealed the outcome of another similar program, the Air Force’s NGAD.
Not only did the announcement not happen, but it could now be delayed by up to three years, according to Reuters.
The reason is that the Pentagon is said to have blocked the project due to concerns about engineering and production capacity issues. The Navy is in a rush to award a contract, knowing how long it will take to develop the new fighter and put it into service in the 2030s.
A delay of this magnitude would not only leave it without a 6th generation aircraft for a long time, but could also end up canceling the program due to budgets running out.
A new competition would have to be launched, pushing the replacement of the Super Hornets to the end of the next decade.
China advances with new stealth fighters and aircraft carriers
The conflict comes amid China’s rapid advance, which recently launched its first aircraft carrier with electromagnetic catapults and is already building a larger, nuclear-powered vessel.
In addition, two new stealth aircraft demonstrators have been undergoing flight tests since late 2024, the ‘J-50’ and the massive, three-engine J-36.
The U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers play a crucial role in projecting power in the Pacific, the very region where China seeks to have a greater military presence.
The F/A-XX program currently has $454 million earmarked for the fiscal year 2025 budget, but new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to shift the money to other projects, according to Reuters.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
