U.S. prioritizes Air Force F-47 stealth fighter jet development over US Navy F/A-XX carrier fighter
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On June 5, 2025, the US Department of Defense’s decision to shift funding from the US Navy’s F/A-XX program to the Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter has sparked renewed tensions in Washington’s defense circles. The move reflects concerns that simultaneous development of two sixth-generation fighters could overstretch industrial capacity and lead to production delays. This strategic reallocation of resources is drawing bipartisan resistance in Congress, as lawmakers warn of potential risks to US naval air superiority at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pentagon is now recommending that development of the F/A-XX be deferred to avoid overstressing the defense industrial base. Boeing, which secured the F-47 contract in March under the Trump administration, is already fully engaged with that Air Force program (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
The F/A-XX is the US Navy’s flagship next-generation fighter program, intended to replace the aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets. Initially launched in 2008, the program aims to develop an advanced stealth aircraft capable of operating in highly contested environments and performing a broad array of missions including strike, surveillance, electronic warfare, and aerial refueling. As of March 2025, Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain the key competitors following Lockheed Martin’s withdrawal from the contest. The US Navy envisions the F/A-XX as a carrier-based system designed to complement the F-35C, addressing the evolving threat landscape where adversaries are rapidly fielding next-generation air defenses.
However, the Pentagon is now recommending that development of the F/A-XX be deferred to avoid overstressing the defense industrial base. Boeing, which secured the F-47 contract in March under the Trump administration, is already fully engaged with that Air Force program. Pentagon officials argue that phasing F/A-XX development after the F-47 would allow time for greater technical maturation and mitigate production bottlenecks. This logic echoes historical patterns: the Navy’s fighter programs have frequently trailed their Air Force counterparts, as seen with the delayed introduction of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet relative to the F-15E Strike Eagle, and later with the late entry into service of the F-35C variant.
From a strategic standpoint, this shift carries significant implications. The F/A-XX is central to the Navy’s future ability to project power and ensure air superiority in maritime environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where China continues to enhance its anti-access/area-denial capabilities. Any delay in fielding the F/A-XX could impact the Navy’s operational readiness and its capacity to maintain a technological edge in carrier air wing operations through the 2030s and beyond.
Budgetary dynamics are further complicating the situation. The Department of Defense has requested that Congress reallocate $500 million from the F/A-XX’s accelerated development budget to support the F-47 program, which benefits from strong presidential backing and is slated to achieve operational capability by the end of Donald Trump’s current term in 2029. However, key Congressional committees remain divided. The House Armed Services Committee has included $500 million for the Navy’s F/A-XX within the broader $3.9 trillion defense package now before the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee has gone further, proposing $750 million to accelerate F/A-XX development, thereby rejecting the Pentagon’s funding shift.
The Pentagon’s prioritization of the F-47 reflects broader trends in US defense planning, but it also reignites debates over the Navy’s ability to maintain parity with the Air Force in next-generation combat aviation. Navy leaders continue to emphasize the urgent need for the F/A-XX, particularly as threats in the Indo-Pacific continue to intensify. Congressional opposition to the funding transfer underscores bipartisan recognition of the critical role the F/A-XX will play in future naval operations. A delay in its development could risk eroding the US Navy’s deterrent capabilities at a time when maintaining technological superiority remains essential to preserving freedom of navigation and strategic stability in contested regions.
{loadposition bannertop}
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On June 5, 2025, the US Department of Defense’s decision to shift funding from the US Navy’s F/A-XX program to the Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter has sparked renewed tensions in Washington’s defense circles. The move reflects concerns that simultaneous development of two sixth-generation fighters could overstretch industrial capacity and lead to production delays. This strategic reallocation of resources is drawing bipartisan resistance in Congress, as lawmakers warn of potential risks to US naval air superiority at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pentagon is now recommending that development of the F/A-XX be deferred to avoid overstressing the defense industrial base. Boeing, which secured the F-47 contract in March under the Trump administration, is already fully engaged with that Air Force program (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
The F/A-XX is the US Navy’s flagship next-generation fighter program, intended to replace the aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets. Initially launched in 2008, the program aims to develop an advanced stealth aircraft capable of operating in highly contested environments and performing a broad array of missions including strike, surveillance, electronic warfare, and aerial refueling. As of March 2025, Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain the key competitors following Lockheed Martin’s withdrawal from the contest. The US Navy envisions the F/A-XX as a carrier-based system designed to complement the F-35C, addressing the evolving threat landscape where adversaries are rapidly fielding next-generation air defenses.
However, the Pentagon is now recommending that development of the F/A-XX be deferred to avoid overstressing the defense industrial base. Boeing, which secured the F-47 contract in March under the Trump administration, is already fully engaged with that Air Force program. Pentagon officials argue that phasing F/A-XX development after the F-47 would allow time for greater technical maturation and mitigate production bottlenecks. This logic echoes historical patterns: the Navy’s fighter programs have frequently trailed their Air Force counterparts, as seen with the delayed introduction of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet relative to the F-15E Strike Eagle, and later with the late entry into service of the F-35C variant.
From a strategic standpoint, this shift carries significant implications. The F/A-XX is central to the Navy’s future ability to project power and ensure air superiority in maritime environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where China continues to enhance its anti-access/area-denial capabilities. Any delay in fielding the F/A-XX could impact the Navy’s operational readiness and its capacity to maintain a technological edge in carrier air wing operations through the 2030s and beyond.
Budgetary dynamics are further complicating the situation. The Department of Defense has requested that Congress reallocate $500 million from the F/A-XX’s accelerated development budget to support the F-47 program, which benefits from strong presidential backing and is slated to achieve operational capability by the end of Donald Trump’s current term in 2029. However, key Congressional committees remain divided. The House Armed Services Committee has included $500 million for the Navy’s F/A-XX within the broader $3.9 trillion defense package now before the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee has gone further, proposing $750 million to accelerate F/A-XX development, thereby rejecting the Pentagon’s funding shift.
The Pentagon’s prioritization of the F-47 reflects broader trends in US defense planning, but it also reignites debates over the Navy’s ability to maintain parity with the Air Force in next-generation combat aviation. Navy leaders continue to emphasize the urgent need for the F/A-XX, particularly as threats in the Indo-Pacific continue to intensify. Congressional opposition to the funding transfer underscores bipartisan recognition of the critical role the F/A-XX will play in future naval operations. A delay in its development could risk eroding the US Navy’s deterrent capabilities at a time when maintaining technological superiority remains essential to preserving freedom of navigation and strategic stability in contested regions.
