The sky over the Pacific is quiet, for now. But inside the Pentagon’s windowless rooms, there’s a massive, high-stakes brawl happening over the future of flight. Specifically, everyone is losing their minds over the US Navy sixth generation fighter jet, or what the military nerds call F/A-XX. It’s supposed to be the successor to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the workhorse you’ve seen in every carrier deck video for the last twenty years. But here’s the thing: it might be the most complicated piece of machinery ever conceived by humans, and it’s currently in a bit of a mid-life crisis before it even exists.
You’ve probably heard of the F-35. It was supposed to be the "one size fits all" jet. It wasn't. The Navy realized pretty quickly that while the F-35C is cool, they need something with more legs—meaning longer range—to keep carriers safe from Chinese long-range missiles. If you have to park your billion-dollar aircraft carrier 1,000 miles away to stay safe, but your jets can only fly 600 miles, you’ve basically got a very expensive floating hotel. That’s why the F/A-XX is a big deal.
What the US Navy Sixth Generation Fighter Jet Actually Is (And Isn't)
Forget everything you know about Top Gun. This isn't just a plane. The US Navy sixth generation fighter jet is more like the "quarterback" of a flying sports team. The official term is Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), though the Navy’s program is distinct from the Air Force’s version. While the Air Force is building a big, stealthy beast to dominate the air, the Navy needs something that can survive the brutal environment of a salt-sprayed carrier deck.
The Navy’s F/A-XX is expected to be a "family of systems." This basically means the pilot isn't up there alone. They’ll be flying alongside Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). Think of these as loyal, autonomous robot wingmen. These drones do the dangerous stuff—carrying extra missiles, acting as decoys, or jamming enemy radar—while the human stays back in the "quarterback" role.
It’s gonna be fast. It’s gonna be stealthy. But honestly, the most important part is the "open architecture." In the old days, if you wanted to upgrade a jet's computer, you had to tear the whole thing apart. With the F/A-XX, they want to be able to swap software like you update apps on an iPhone. If a new type of radar comes out, you just plug it in. That's the dream, anyway.
The Budget Drama Nobody Tells You About
Earlier in 2024 and 2025, the Navy did something kinda shocking. They signaled a "pause" or a "rephasing" of the F/A-XX funding. They’re basically looking at the couch cushions for spare change because the costs are spiraling.
Rear Admiral John Lemmon, the guy in charge of tactical aircraft programs, has been blunt about the trade-offs. The Navy is currently trying to buy new submarines, build new carriers, and keep the current fleet from falling apart. Something had to give. They cut about $1 billion from the F/A-XX budget for the 2025 fiscal year to prioritize "near-term readiness."
- The Air Force is rethinking their NGAD design because it might cost $300 million per plane.
- The Navy is watching this and sweating.
- If the F/A-XX gets too expensive, the fleet might end up with only a handful of them, which defeats the whole purpose of having a navy.
There’s a massive debate right now: do we even need a human in the cockpit? Some analysts, like those at the Hudson Institute, argue that long-range drones are the real future. But the Navy is stubborn. They want a human on the scene to make the final call on pulling the trigger, especially when GPS is being jammed and communications are cut off.
💡 You might also like: Calculating 5 million times 1 million: The Math Behind the Massive Numbers We See Every Day
Stealth 2.0 and the "Cranky" Carrier Problem
Building a stealth jet for a carrier is a nightmare. Land-based planes like the F-22 have it easy. They land on nice, long, flat runways. But a US Navy sixth generation fighter jet has to slam onto a moving deck and be jerked to a stop by a wire. That puts insane stress on the airframe.
Then there’s the skin. Stealth coatings are notoriously finicky. On the F-22 and F-35, they require tons of maintenance. Now imagine trying to maintain that delicate, radar-absorbing skin in the middle of a salt-water mist with 100-degree humidity. It’s a logistical horror show. Engineers are working on new "broadband stealth" that is more durable and can hide the plane from a wider range of radar frequencies, not just the high-frequency ones used for targeting.
Range is the "killer app" here. The Super Hornet is a great jet, but it's "short-legged." To hit targets deep inland, the Navy has to use tankers to refuel them in mid-air. Those tankers are big, slow, and not stealthy. They are basically giant "SHOOT ME" signs for the enemy. The F/A-XX needs to be able to fly much further on its own internal fuel. We're talking about a massive leap in engine efficiency, likely using "adaptive cycle" engines that can switch between high-thrust (for combat) and high-efficiency (for cruising) modes.
The Three Horsemen: Lockheed, Boeing, and Northrop
Right now, it’s a three-way fight. Lockheed Martin (who made the F-35), Boeing (who made the Hornet), and Northrop Grumman (who made the B-21) are the primary contenders.
Northrop actually dropped out of the Air Force's NGAD competition to focus on other things, but everyone is watching to see if they make a play for the Navy’s jet. Boeing desperately needs a win here because the Super Hornet production line is winding down. If Boeing doesn't win the F/A-XX, they might be out of the fighter jet business for good. That would be a huge deal for the US industrial base. Imagine only having one company in the whole country that can build a fighter jet. That’s a monopoly nobody wants.
Why This Matters to You (Even If You Don't Care About Planes)
You might be thinking, "Cool, a fast plane. Why should I care?"
It’s about the money and the shift in global power. We are talking about hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars over the next few decades. If the Navy gets this wrong, they spend 20 years building a "silver bullet" that is too expensive to use or doesn't work in a real conflict.
👉 See also: Why Pictures of the Rover on Mars Keep Getting Weirder
Also, the tech usually trickles down. The sensors, AI, and materials developed for the US Navy sixth generation fighter jet will eventually end up in commercial aviation, self-driving cars, and even your phone.
But more importantly, the F/A-XX represents a shift in how we think about war. It’s the transition from "pilot as a hero" to "pilot as a system manager." It’s the moment AI officially enters the cockpit in a way that can't be reversed.
What Happens Next?
The Navy is currently in the "concept refinement" phase. They are trying to figure out exactly what the "Family of Systems" looks like. We expect a contract award sometime in the late 2020s, with the first flights maybe—and that’s a big maybe—happening in the 2030s.
If you want to stay ahead of this, watch the Navy’s budget requests every February. That’s where the real story is told. When they cut the "RDT&E" (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation) line, it means the jet is in trouble. When that number goes up, it means they’ve finally settled on a design.
👉 See also: Tineco Pure One S11: What Most People Get Wrong
Don't expect a big reveal anytime soon. This stuff is "Special Access Program" (SAP) level secret. You’ll see blurry concept art that looks like a sleek, tail-less triangle, but the real jet will look different. It always does.
Actionable Insights for Following the F/A-XX Program:
- Monitor the "Re-Engining" Debate: Keep an eye on the F-35 engine upgrades (AETP). The tech developed there is a direct precursor to what will power the sixth-gen jet. If those engines fail, F/A-XX is in trouble.
- Watch the CCA Progress: The Navy is increasingly looking at "Ghost Bat" and other drone programs. If these drones get good enough, the Navy might actually reduce the number of F/A-XX jets they buy.
- Track the Industrial Base: If Boeing closes its St. Louis fighter plant, the Navy loses a massive amount of leverage. This would likely force the government to step in with more funding for the F/A-XX just to keep the lights on.
- Check USNI News and Breaking Defense: These are the two most reliable sources for actual Navy insiders. Avoid the "hype" YouTube channels that promise "The Jet That Will End China." It's never that simple.
The road to the sixth generation is messy, expensive, and full of political landmines. But it’s the only way the US Navy stays relevant in an era where missiles are getting faster and the ocean is getting "smaller."
The F/A-XX isn't just a replacement for an old jet; it's a bet on the future of American power at sea. Whether that bet pays off depends entirely on if the Navy can stop the "scope creep" and actually build the thing before they run out of money.