Navy's Next-Gen Fighter Gains Momentum After Pause

Congress boosts funding for F/A-XX program to replace aging Super Hornets, but program still needs a prime contractor

Jan. 31, 2026 at 10:39am

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The U.S. Navy's F/A-XX fighter, intended to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and fly alongside the F-35C, has regained momentum after a pause under the previous Pentagon leadership. Lawmakers have significantly increased funding for the program in the FY2026 budget, but the F/A-XX still needs a prime contractor to be selected. The new fighter is seen as crucial to keeping aircraft carriers relevant in the face of China's growing anti-ship missile capabilities.

Why it matters

The F/A-XX is meant to provide the Navy with a stealthy, long-range fighter that can operate from aircraft carriers and help them stay out of range of China's growing arsenal of anti-ship missiles. Without a replacement for the aging Super Hornets, the Navy risks seeing its aircraft carriers become as obsolete as World War II-era battleships.

The details

The F/A-XX program is slated to receive $972 million in the FY2026 budget, a significant increase from the previous $74 million. This should help move the program forward, but it still needs a defense contractor to be selected. The new fighter is expected to have features like hypersonic weapons, speeds up to Mach 3, greater stealth than the F-35C, and the ability to control unmanned 'Loyal Wingman' drones. The goal is for the F/A-XX to have around 25% more unrefueled range than current carrier-based fighters, allowing carrier strike groups to operate farther from shore-based threats.

  • The F/A-XX program was previously paused under the Pete Hegseth-led Department of Defense.
  • Lawmakers have now increased FY2026 funding for the program from $74 million to $972 million.

The players

Pete Hegseth

Former leader of the U.S. Department of Defense who previously paused the F/A-XX program.

Rear Admiral Michael 'Buzz' Donnelly

Head of the Air Warfare Division within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, who discussed the F/A-XX's planned range increase.

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What they’re saying

“F/A-XX will offer probably over 125 percent of the range that we're seeing today to give us better flexibility operational reach. So it will definitely have a longer inherent range.”

— Rear Admiral Michael 'Buzz' Donnelly, Head of the Air Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

What’s next

The F/A-XX program still needs to select a prime contractor to move forward with the new fighter's development. Congress' increased funding should help, but the Navy will need to act quickly to field the new aircraft before the Super Hornets reach the end of their service life in the early 2030s.

The takeaway

The F/A-XX is a critical program for the U.S. Navy to maintain the relevance of its aircraft carrier fleet in the face of growing anti-ship missile threats from China. By providing significantly greater range and capabilities than the aging Super Hornets, the new fighter could help keep carrier strike groups out of harm's way while still projecting power across the Pacific.