Pentagon Backs Navy F/A-XX 6th-Generation Fighter to Replace F/A-18
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 11
Pentagon Backs Navy F/A-XX 6th-Generation Fighter to Replace F/A-18
6 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 11
The Pentagon said it is now committed to the Navy’s F/A-XX, backing the sixth-generation carrier-based stealth fighter after earlier resistance to the program.
The endorsement signals support for replacing the Navy’s aging F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet with a new aircraft the Defense Department said would deliver “unmatched capability.”
The shift matters because Pentagon leadership had previously pushed back against the F/A-XX effort, making the new statement a notable reversal on a major future combat-aircraft program.
As China tests its new stealth fighters, can the F/A-XX program overcome past delays to maintain America's air superiority at sea?
Will the Navy bet on a proven design or a revolutionary new concept for its next-generation fighter in the upcoming August contract decision?
Is the F/A-XX America’s last manned fighter or a command hub for a future fleet of AI-driven combat drones?