Summary and Key Points: Congress has sharply increased 2026 funding for the Navy’s F/A-XX program, reviving momentum for a sixth-generation, carrier-launched fighter meant to complement the F-35C.
-The concept centers on next-level stealth, longer range, and AI-enabled sensing and data processing, potentially moving toward a cleaner, more “bomber-like” low-observable shape while still delivering fighter agility.
F/A-XX. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F/A-XX Fighter. Image Credit: Boeing.
-Range is a key driver in the Pacific, where carrier standoff and Chinese anti-ship missile coverage complicate operations.
-The program also reflects growing concern about China’s expanding fifth-generation fleet and rapid work on sixth-generation designs.
Navy’s F/A-XX Is Back: Congress Just Pumped $972 Million Into the 6th-Gen Fighter
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of potential destruction, the Navy’s once-moribund sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter jet has received a new influx of funding from congressional appropriators. Congress increased 2026 funding for the jet from $74 million to $972 million—enough to resurrect efforts to develop the future jet.
This is a major development for the Navy, which has been waiting to resolve the lingering uncertainty surrounding the F/A-XX.
The service needs a next-generation stealthy carrier-launched fighter to support and fly alongside the F-35C. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are considered the leading contenders to build the platform, but there have been concerns about whether the U.S. industrial base could build two sixth-generation fighter jets at one time.
Boeing & Northrop Grumman
Boeing is already tasked with building the future F-47 for the Air Force, and Northrop is busy manufacturing B-21 Raider stealth bombers.
B-21 Raider Bomber.
Nonetheless, the increase in funding suggests there is enthusiasm for the F/A-XX—these funds could be enough to award initial development deals.
Ocean Launched 6th-Gen Attack
The F/A-XX program could introduce the stealthiest, fastest, and most capable maritime fighter the world has ever seen. After all, it is moving forward amid advances in stealth technology, range capability, sensing and targeting fidelity, and AI-enabled computing and data processing—all technologies likely to figure prominently in sixth-generation aircraft.
Available renderings of F/A-XX configurations indicate substantial breakthroughs in radar-signature reduction. The F/A-XX might deliver a fully horizontal, ultra-stealthy bomber-like blended wing-body fuselage.
Stealth bombers such as the B-2 and B-21 are regarded as the stealthiest in existence because of their horizontal, rounded exteriors. The absence of protruding structures, tails, and vertical shapes offers ground-based enemy radar pings very few contours off which to bounce and generate a return rendering. A B-21, for instance, is expected to appear like a small bird to enemy radar systems.
The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in
Palmdale, Calif. Designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)
U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to recover the second B-21 Raider to arrive for test and evaluation at Edwards AFB, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. The arrival of a second test aircraft provides maintainers valuable hands-on experience with tools, data and processes that will support future operational squadrons. (U.S Air Force photo by Kyle Brasier)
Fighter jets are considered less stealthy than high-altitude bombers, because they have historically needed fins, tails, sharp angles, and other protruding structures for vectoring and combat agility. However, breakthroughs in aerial maneuverability may enable a purely horizontal stealth fighter such as the F-47 or F/A-XX to achieve F-22- and F-35-like air dominance with a much stealthier, bomber-like airframe. In essence, the F/A-XX could have B-21-like stealth capabilities combined with the speed and aerial maneuverability of an F-22.
AI, Sensing, Range
The F-35 was deliberately engineered to accommodate sensing, computing, and weaponry upgrades as they emerge. This will serve the aircraft well into the future and helps explain why the Pentagon plans to fly the F-35 into the 2070s. However, significant advances in AI, sensing, targeting, and range might require a new jet. For example, the F-35 arguably suffers from a range challenge in the Pacific.
F/A-XX & F-35C
The F-35C has a range of roughly 1,300 miles—it would need to operate roughly 500 miles from the coast of mainland China to be able to project power with some dwell time and return to its carrier.
However, China’s famous DF-26 “carrier killer” missile can travel to ranges of 2,000 miles, so it is unclear whether U.S. Navy carriers could risk projecting power from only 500 miles offshore. This is why the Navy will deploy its MQ-25 carrier-launched refueler drone, which could double the strike range of an F-35C.
A new F/A-XX might be engineered to travel much longer distances. With greater attack range, longer-range sensors, and next-generation weapons, it might have more success operating at greater distances offshore, making it more survivable for carriers.
Chinese 5th and 6th-Gen Threats
Then there is the question of “mass”—whether the Navy might be at a deficit compared with the size of China’s fleet of fighters during a potential conflict in the Pacific. China is now believed to operate as many as 300 J-20 fifth-generation fighters.
Although it is a land-launched fighter, the J-20 could certainly reach the waters around Taiwan and extend several hundred miles off the shore toward the first island chain.
The Chinese threat equation extends far beyond the J-20 as well, given the fast emergence of the now-operational carrier-launched J-35 fifth-generation aircraft. The J-35 is already flying from People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carriers, and a sizable fleet of J-35s is expected to arrive in coming years.
The J-35 looks like the F-35C and may rival its capabilities, depending upon the performance of its computing, sensing, fire control, weapons, and agility.
Perhaps of even greater concern to the Pentagon, the PLA appears to be accelerating the development of two new sixth-generation aircraft, the Shenyang J-50 and triple-engine Shenyang J-36. One or both may be carrier-launched.
Range Deficit
Early speculation and some reporting related to the F-47 and F/A-XX indicate the future stealth fighters will be developed to fly to much longer ranges than existing fifth-generation aircraft—the Pentagon has indicated the F-47 will likely operate with a range of 2,000 miles.
That is considerably longer than an F-35C’s overall combat range of 1,300 nautical miles, so if the F/A-XX flies to a similar range, it would introduce a wealth of tactical and strategic options. The F/A-XX could strike from greater distances, operate with more dwell time, and attack from carriers farther off shore without refueling.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
