Funding and Requirements for the Navy's F-A/XX

Twenty years after the first production model of the F-35 was introduced to the armed services, the sixth generation of fighter aircrafts are beginning to enter development. The Air Force was the first service branch to make headway in the realm of sixth-generation fighters when its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) selected Boeing to lead the manufacturing and development of the F-47.

Following the Air Force is the Navy, whose NGAD equivalent, F-A/XX, is beginning to gain some traction at the start of 2026. The Navy’s next-generation air dominance program will replace the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler fleets. This report will look at progress on F-A/XX, including the latest funding secured in this year’s NDAA.

IDGA’s Air Dominance summit brings together air domain experts from across the U.S. armed services, allies, industry, and academia to discuss these next-generation platforms like F-A/XX. The two-day summit taking place May 12-13 in Henderson, Nevada, will also feature discussions on U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs, sustainment of current systems, logistics challenges, reflect on current conflicts, advanced weapon systems, and explore innovation in air supremacy.