In the midst of continuous test flights of China's Shenfei sixth-generation aircraft, the highly anticipated F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth fighter program of the US Navy is facing a major crisis. According to The War Zone column citing an anonymous US official, the future of F/A-XX remains under review by the Pentagon, the White House, and Congress, with the possibility of delaying the project contract for up to three years, further exacerbated by funding shortages. This not only threatens the US Navy's plan to replace its aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers but also gives China's Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAC) a significant advantage in the competition for its sixth-generation fighter project.

It has been reported that there are disputes within the Pentagon regarding the engineering and production capabilities of F/A-XX, with some officials proposing to delay the project by three years. More critically, the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Office of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to transfer the $454 million allocated for F/A-XX in the fiscal year 2025 budget to other projects, while the Pentagon intends to request Congress to cancel a $500 million supplementary appropriation originally aimed at accelerating the development of F/A-XX.

A US official told reporters, "Nothing is delayed, but no final decision has been made," "This involves complex discussions on budget allocation, and the leadership is weighing whether to continue investing." However, delaying the contract award by three years could effectively lead to the cancellation of the current plan, as existing contracts and pricing will expire during this period, forcing the project to restart the bidding process.

Designed as the main fighter for the US Navy in the 2030s, F/A-XX aims to replace the Super Hornets and Growlers. According to the Naval Aviation Manual, F/A-XX will have outstanding range, speed, and sensor capabilities, emphasizing manned-unmanned teaming operations, including cooperation with autonomous drones as force multipliers and electronic warfare assets. However, last month, the Navy revealed that the range of F/A-XX will only increase by 25% compared to current tactical fighters, far below expectations, raising doubts about its performance.

Meanwhile, competitors Boeing and Northrop Grumman are still competing for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract of F/A-XX, while Lockheed Martin was eliminated in March due to an unqualified proposal. Although the Navy stated it is "committed to the F/A-XX program," dual pressures of funding and timeline make the project outlook bleak.

In contrast, China's sixth-generation fighter program is advancing rapidly. These aircraft are believed to have breakthrough designs in all-round stealth, sensor fusion, and unmanned collaborative combat capabilities, specifically tailored for the complex combat environment in the Pacific region.

A US military analyst said, "China's progress in sixth-generation fighters is remarkable," "If F/A-XX continues to be bogged down by budget and decision-making dilemmas, the US Navy's technological superiority in future air combat will face serious challenges."

The potential delays in F/A-XX not only affect the Navy's tactical aviation plans but may also force it to rely longer on its aging Super Hornet and Growler fleets. This will result in additional maintenance costs and decreased operational effectiveness. Meanwhile, the US Navy may need to increase investment in the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter to fill the capability gap. However, the design of the F-35C was not intended to fully replace the role of F/A-XX, and its range and multi-role performance struggle to meet the Navy's needs against high-end threats in the Pacific.

Additionally, the delays in F/A-XX may also impact the Navy's integration plan with loyal wingmen. Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly once stated that CCA drones would operate alongside F/A-XX, and any delays could disrupt this strategic layout.

The US Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) project (now called F-47) has made progress, while the Navy's F/A-XX is mired in difficulties, highlighting the resource allocation and prioritization dilemmas within the US military. When the head of the household has surplus resources, one child will eventually go hungry, it just depends who that child will be.



Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7509488375356572196/

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