Posted on 08/28/2025 8:28:44 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
The U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program, once nearly dead and starved of funds in favor of the Air Force’s F-47, has been potentially resurrected. A surprise move by the Senate Appropriations Committee restored over $1.4 billion to the program. Although it is far from being passed, it prompted top Navy officials to signal that they are now ready to select a prime contractor. This sudden reversal has breathed new life into the critical effort to replace the aging F/A-18 fleet.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...
I wonder what the potential cost in American lives would be if we don’t have them when the chicoms get serious...
In the next conflict it will probably RAIN DRONES ,LOL
The Navy needs a massive re vamp of it's entire fleet structure to make carrier aviation relevant as a viable day one option against an adversary like the Chinese and against anyone else except maybe the Russians, the Navy does not need the F/A-xx .
But doing the right thing means the Navy acts a vital force multiplier for combined air operations rather than a primary player running their own show in the early stages of a conflict and that is the last thing the Navy wants.
The reality is it's going to take a very long time for the Navy to field a viable 6th gen aircraft and 1.4 billion does not go a very long way in this type of program
I agree. Drones seem to be the future for sure. We make very little, by the way.
Foolish...drones are the future of warfare.
They better check with the Chicoms bc they probably already have the design and working on the 1st prototype.
It seems now a days by the time the next generation fighter is starting to be deployed it is already obsolete by the next generation designs.
How do we preserve our air craft carriers for more than 24 hours?
By having anti-drone defenses, which we are developing.
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