In March, Chairman Donald Trump announced the Air Force’s new F-47 stealth fighter built by Boeing. So where is the Navy’s secret new aircraft carrier?
Fifteen years ago the US Navy Taking cues from China, he secretly began developing a stealthy, long-range aircraft that could be launched from aircraft carriers. The Navy’s newest bird looks more like a fighter-bomber, with the smart AI to guide drones into battle and enough range to scare China.
Today, that plane – known only as F/A-XX or Fighter, Experimental – is ready to take off. Both Boeing and Northrop Grumman have flown test aircraft. Their prototypes are waiting in the wings; or rather, in discreetly guarded hangars, most likely in Missouri and Florida.
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Yet for some reason the Pentagon is not in the mood to make a ‘downselect’ purchasing decision. The delay is shocking and dangerous.
Congress wants the Navy aircraft so badly that they added almost $1 billion to the budget to speed up F/A-XX. “The U.S. Navy needs sixth-generation fighter aircraft. I fear that any hesitation on our part to proceed with the planned procurement of sixth-generation fighter aircraft for the Navy will dangerously outpace us in a fight in China,” said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., the head of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said on May 14.
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Of course, the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18EFs have been pounding targets in the Middle East in various air campaigns for nearly three decades. Just look at the damage they caused to Houthi missile sites and weapons caches in Yemen last spring during Operation Rough Rider. But for the fierce combat scenarios of the Pacific, Navy pilots who fly from aircraft carriers need a new aircraft.
All President Trump needs to do now is take this opportunity to choose the best aircraft for the Navy.
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Here are six things to know about the Navy’s secret project.
Delta wing. Of course, the Navy didn’t show us any photos of the F/A-XX. Tantalizing concept art released this summer reveals a smooth stealth shapewith a cockpit canopy similar to the F-35. The diamond or delta wing shape provides lift and range, especially at higher cruising altitudes.
Range of a thousand miles. In April, the Navy announced that the F/A-XX would have at least 25% more range than current fighters. According to a top analyst, the range could be as much as 1,000 kilometers estimation. Add in mid-air refueling and longer-range missiles, and you have the ability to compete across the Pacific Ocean. I can tell you this: the Navy has been short of a true long-range fighter since the retirement of the A-6 Intruder and the F-14 Tomcat of TOPGUN fame, so range is a priority.
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Two engines. While the F-35C excels with just one engine, the Navy’s preference has always been for two engines because of all that flying over water. You won’t see the engines because they are tucked away inside the plane to reduce the heat signature. U.S. engine technology is far ahead of China’s in areas such as thermal management and overall thrust.
Grayscale. Early stealth aircraft such as the SR-71, F-117 and the B-2 had flat black coatings to help absorb radar waves. The current trend in stealth materials is bird gray, such as the B-21 Raider bomber now in production. Fortunately, the US is the world leader in aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites.
Large bomb bay. Expect an impressive bomb bay for the internal transport of long-range missiles. Current fighter planes such as the Superhornet hang missiles from hard points under the wings. To achieve stealth, the FA-XX will follow the path of the F-35C and insert missiles into it. Sawtooth bomb bay doors help maintain the aircraft’s stealth profile.
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Refueling by drones. Part of the Navy’s plan is to resupply aircraft carriers drone tankers such as the new MQ-25 Stingray that accompanies the F/A-XX on its stealthy missions. As you ask: no, drones can’t do everything. A naval attack requires cargo to carry heavy bombs and missiles. Moreover, a pilot turns out to be quite useful. The FA-XX can also fly wingmen drones in the battlespace. FA/XX allows the Navy to target enemy ships, land bases and radar locations.
Trump certainly understands the value of stealth after the B-2 bomber’s destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites. It is unclear whether anyone has explained to the president the enormous risk the Pentagon is taking with naval aviation by delaying F/A-XX.
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Keep in mind that China flew a stealthy demonstrator designed for aircraft carrier landings over a year ago. On November 7 China ordered its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, and is building modules for a fourth aircraft carrier – designed to be larger than the USS Gerald R. Ford and run on nuclear power for the first time. In a few years, China could have six of its own airlines. That is a serious threat.
An aerial view of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower together in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on November 3, 2023. (Photo by USNavy Janae Chambers/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Simply put, the Navy must have this stealthy, long-range fighter. The idea is to pair the FA/XX with long-range missiles, giving the aircraft carriers back the long-range power they need to maneuver and strike against China in the Pacific.
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No one wants to say this, but without FA-XX, the airline’s mission may decline in the future.
It’s time for President Trump to make a decision.
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