For the Trump administration to allow for the F/A-XX to move forward would be strategic malpractice.
Whatever happened to the legendary U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth fighter?
A little more than a month ago, on the heels of the Trump administration’s announcement of the Air Force’s new “F-47” sixth-generation multirole warplane, we were all teased with the idea that the Navy would soon be getting the official nod for their new plane. But weeks have since gone by, and everyone involved remains in limbo.
Has the F/A-XX Been Delayed By Three Years?
“Nothing is being delayed,” reported one Navy official to Howard Altman of the defense publication, The War Zone.
Images of the John Candy meme saying, “Sure, sure,” dismissively come to mind when reading those words from the Navy officials. In fact, everything related to the F/A-XX fighter that is slated to replace the Navy’s supposedly aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet is delayed. And The War Zone reports that it might be delayed by at least three years. Under present conditions, one could even hope the plane will never take wing, given the costs and drain on resources.
That’s because the Trump administration, whether they admit to it publicly or not, is realizing how far down the wrong path of defense procurement the U.S. military really is. As evidenced by the Ukraine War, the crisis in the Middle East, and even the dismal showing of the Indian military in the recent four-day India-Pakistan war, the way Western militaries have been preparing for war is wholly untethered from the realities of modern warfare.
Consider the Ukraine War. The two most ubiquitous systems—the most effective—have been anti-tank weapons and drones. In the Middle East, the Houthis have run roughshod over both the Israeli and American militaries using a combination of advanced, mass-produced anti-ship ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons such as the Palestine-2 missile—both cheerfully provided by their patrons in Tehran.
And Pakistan’s cheaper, more numerous Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles, as well as Chinese warplanes that are less advanced than their Western counterparts that the Indian Air Force (IAF) owns, completely stymied India’s best-laid war plans. Chinese- and Turkish-built drones in Pakistan’s arsenal did much damage to India, too.
Recently, Elon Musk expressed deep skepticism about the US military’s commitment to manned fifth-generation warplanes, notably the F-35 Lightning II. But one can extrapolate his derision of manned combat aircraft and apply it to the proposed F/A-XX sixth-generation warplane.
Frankly, it is hard to understand why the Trump administration allowed for the Air Force’s F-47 boondoggle to go forward. For them to then allow for the F/A-XX to move forward would be strategic malpractice—especially in the wake of all the examples where modern warfare is making fools out of the best intentioned Western defense acquisition project managers.
The F/A-XX Is a Gigantic Waste of Money
The F/A-XX, according to its promoters within the defense establishment, will be the most advanced warplane the U.S. Navy has ever developed. It is intended to have a greater range than any of its predecessors—or rivals—speed, sensor capabilities, and it will integrate manned and unmanned systems.
There’s just a few problems here with the sales pitch. Under current budgetary constraints, defense industrial base capabilities, and the complex technical specifications of the proposed F/A-XX, these planes are entirely impractical for a Navy that is struggling to maintain sea superiority.
Just go back to the Houthi example. Their strategy of denying key waterways, like the Red Sea or the Bab El-Mandeb, was precisely calibrated for repelling U.S. carrier capabilities. And the key to the U.S. carrier is its ability to launch warplanes like the F/A-XX. Sure, the new planes will boast a greater range, but all the hype in the world won’t make them worth the cost, time, and resources that will need to be committed to this project.
The F/A-XX Is Being Reassessed by Trump’s Team
And that’s why the Navy is dragging their feet with the announcement. There is a great and sweeping reassessment underway of U.S. military capabilities.
Already, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered that the Pentagon rededicate itself to developing hypersonic weapons—as well as countermeasures to these weapons. Hegseth wants every unit in the military to utilize cheap, effective drones as well. The list goes on. But it seems clear that the F/A-XX is rightly caught up in this reassessment.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / ranchorunner.
