Exclusive Analysis: Inside Secretive F/A-XX Project U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Stealth Fighter Jet for Aircraft Carriers.

The United States Navy is charting a bold course toward the next generation of aircraft carrier-based air superiority with the development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation fighter intended to replace the aging fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. This initiative forms the centerpiece of the Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, distinct from the Air Force's similarly named effort, and aims to maintain the Navy's tactical edge in contested maritime environments through the 2030s and beyond.
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Concept rendering from Northrop Grumman video depicting a possible design for the U.S. Navy’s future F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth fighter, featuring a tailless configuration optimized for carrier-based operations and low observability. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)

The F/A-XX will be a manned aircraft designed to operate alongside unmanned systems and legacy platforms such as the F-35C Lightning II. As envisioned, it will embody a comprehensive leap in capability across multiple domains, incorporating stealth, advanced sensors, resilient communications, increased range, and adaptability to network-centric warfare environments. The aircraft is being developed with an open mission systems architecture to enable rapid upgrades and modular payload integration, allowing the Navy to adapt the platform to emerging threats and technological advances over its lifecycle.

While the U.S. Navy has kept many specifics of the F/A-XX classified, early concept art and defense analysis suggest a tailless, stealth-optimized design, likely with a larger airframe to accommodate increased fuel capacity for extended range and potentially larger or directed-energy weapons. The fighter is expected to carry both kinetic and non-kinetic systems and will be capable of operating in a highly contested anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environment, leveraging artificial intelligence and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for maximum operational flexibility.

In terms of combat capabilities and armament, the F/A-XX is expected to feature a highly flexible internal weapons bay to carry a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including beyond-visual-range missiles, hypersonic weapons, and precision-guided bombs. The integration of directed-energy weapons such as high-energy lasers for missile defense and anti-drone operations is also under consideration. The platform will likely possess advanced electronic attack capabilities and next-generation radar systems with enhanced detection and targeting ranges. Furthermore, modularity in weapon configurations will allow rapid tailoring of loadouts for specific mission profiles.

Key mission sets for the F/A-XX include air dominance, long-range strike, suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), and electronic warfare. Importantly, it is intended to serve as the "quarterback" of the future carrier air wing, orchestrating both manned and unmanned assets in real time. The Navy envisions the F/A-XX working in concert with systems like the MQ-25 Stingray for aerial refueling and future combat drones expected to take on ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and strike roles.

The fighter aircraft is being designed to be fully compatible with current U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, including the Ford-class and Nimitz-class vessels. It will utilize existing launch and recovery systems such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), minimizing the need for extensive carrier modifications. This ensures that the Navy can deploy the F/A-XX without disrupting current naval aviation operations, while also preparing for more advanced carrier operations in the future.

In March 2023, the U.S. Navy awarded contracts to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to develop preliminary designs for the F/A-XX under the NGAD umbrella. The service has indicated that fielding should begin in the early 2030s, with the first units reaching operational capability shortly thereafter. These developments reflect growing urgency as peer adversaries like China continue to modernize their military capabilities, particularly in air defense and anti-ship missile technologies that threaten U.S. naval air power projection.

According to information published by Reuters on March 25, 2025, the U.S. Navy is expected to announce in the coming weeks which defense contractor will be selected to build its next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter. The decision will mark a pivotal milestone in the F/A-XX program, which is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars over its lifetime. In the short term, the contract for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase is projected to be worth several billion dollars, but its long-term significance lies in its central role in maintaining U.S. naval superiority in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness.

The new fighter jet is expected to feature enhanced stealth characteristics, improved range and endurance, and seamless integration with uncrewed combat aircraft as well as the Navy's shipborne air defense networks. The Navy did not comment on the anticipated announcement, but the recent confirmation of Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan adds weight to the strategic timing of the decision. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are the leading competitors, having already submitted detailed proposals and prototypes for evaluation in what has become a closely watched and intensely contested competition. The competition has been intense, with Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman Corp submitting detailed proposals and prototypes for evaluation.

One of the major technological enablers of the F/A-XX will be its engine. The aircraft is expected to benefit from the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP), which aims to deliver propulsion systems with improved thrust, fuel efficiency, and thermal management compared to current-generation powerplants. This is especially critical for sustaining stealth and high performance over long distances in the Indo-Pacific theater, where vast ranges demand significant endurance.

Beyond performance enhancements, the F/A-XX will integrate cyber-resilience and electronic warfare systems as core capabilities rather than add-ons. Survivability in the electromagnetic spectrum will be as critical as aerodynamic performance. Integration with space-based assets and undersea platforms is also anticipated, making the F/A-XX a true node in the larger Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) network the Pentagon is building.

The development of the F/A-XX also carries significant implications for the U.S. defense industrial base. The program represents one of the U.S. Navy's largest future procurement priorities, likely amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars over several decades. Ensuring competitive innovation while maintaining affordability will be central to its success. Moreover, the evolution of the carrier air wing structure will need to adjust to accommodate new operational concepts centered around manned-unmanned integration.

As the F/A-XX progresses through its design and prototyping stages, it will help define the character of future naval warfare. With legacy aircraft approaching obsolescence and adversaries rapidly improving their ability to deny air superiority, the F/A-XX is not merely a replacement for the Super Hornet—it is a keystone in the Navy's strategic vision for power projection in the 21st century. The choices made today in its development will shape U.S. naval aviation for generations to come.