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........

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