What we know about the Navy’s next stealth fighter: This is the F/A-XX carrier based jet

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cleared the Navy to select a contractor for the F/A-XX - a future sixth-generation stealth carrier fighter that is slated to replace the ageing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C by the start of the 2030s.

US Navy and Air Force both developing stealth fighters

The Pentagon is running two sixth-gen fighter programs, the F/A-XX and F-47 to remain combat competitive with China, who unveiled their J-35 and J-35A stealth fighter jets at the weekend.

On Tuesday, the US Congress approved a $1.4 billion special allocation to revive development of the F/A-XX in 2026. Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp are competing to produce the F/A-XX.

The aircraft is set to become the centerpiece of future Carrier Strike Groups, integrating advanced sensors, extended range, resilient datalinks and stealth capabilities to counter threats in increasingly contested environments. The F/A-XX will also feature compatibility with unmanned aircraft as well as current naval air defense systems.

By 2030, both China and Russia are expected to have sixth-generation fighter jets in active service—a prospect that is a concern to the US defense community. Analysts warn that any delay in finishing the F/A-XX and F-47 programs could leave the Navy at a serious technological disadvantage in the Indo-Pacific.

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