Reference News Network, July 21 report - According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post website's July 18 report, government documents and media state that the U.S. sixth-generation fighter project is expected to face supply chain challenges leading to development delays.

The "Defense News" website reported on the 17th that the engine system of the F-47 sixth-generation fighter is likely to face a two-year delay, and will not be completed before 2030.

The report cited a June-published 2026 budget document stating that the development of the engine is expected to be completed in early 2030. The original schedule estimated it would be completed in the second half of 2027.

A U.S. Air Force spokesperson told the "Defense News" website, "The updated schedule in the budget document reflects the supply chain challenges encountered by this project."

The ongoing F-47 project of the U.S. Air Force is part of the "Next Generation Air Dominance" (NGAD) program, and the project to develop the sixth-generation fighter engine is called the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion System (NGAP).

In March this year, President Trump announced that Boeing had been awarded the contract for the development of the F-47 fighter. It is reported that the aircraft has undergone multiple test flights over the past five years and is expected to have advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and long-range strike capabilities. The design work for the F-47 prototype engine is being carried out by General Electric Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney.

These two companies initially received contracts to develop NGAP prototypes in August 2022. As of January this year, the total potential value of each company's contract was $3.5 billion. The program requires the final elimination of one of the designs.

Both prototype engines passed the design review in February, allowing the contractors to procure, assemble, and test the prototype ground demonstrators.

However, the delay in the NGAP project is likely to affect the overall development progress of the F-47, which is planned to replace the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in the 2030s.

Concerns about the U.S. Navy's sixth-generation fighter project, the F/A-XX, are also emerging, as there is internal conflict between the Trump administration and Congress regarding the budget allocation for the sixth-generation fighter project, which could affect the F-47 schedule.

The White House released a government policy statement on the 15th, outlining its concerns about the U.S. House Appropriations Committee's 2026 defense budget, particularly the F/A-XX project, stating that the Navy project may delay the F-47 schedule.

The White House statement said the government "strongly supports the re-evaluation" of the F/A-XX project, citing concerns about whether the industrial base can simultaneously develop two sixth-generation fighters.

The statement said: "Written contracts for the F/A-XX are likely to delay the higher-priority F-47 project and are unlikely to shorten the deployment schedule for the Navy's sixth-generation fighter."

The House's spending plan released at the beginning of the month allocated $972 million to continue developing the Navy's sixth-generation fighter, while the Navy requested $1.4 billion for the project, which is listed in its official budget request as a "wish list" item not included in the budget.

However, the Pentagon said last month that it would only fund the Navy fighter development application with $74 million.

The F/A-XX project aims to replace the U.S. Navy's aging fourth-generation F/A-18 Super Hornet carrier-based fighter. Although the contract is expected to be awarded to Boeing or Northrop Grumman after the announcement of the F-47 in March, the Trump administration has yet to decide which company to choose.

The conflict between the White House and Congress over the F/A-XX project's budget reflects earlier reports of disputes over the "Big and Beautiful Act." This act was passed by Congress and signed by Trump earlier this month.

It is reported that the Pentagon has asked Congress to transfer the F/A-XX budget to the F-47 to give the Navy's fighter technology maturity and development time, citing expected "schedule delays and cost increases involving numerous airframes." However, Congress rejected the Pentagon's request, stating that it did not provide sufficient explanations. (Translated by Wang Haifang)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529390520079909422/

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