Reuters: U.S. Defense Secretary Approves Development of Next-Generation Carrier-Based Fighter
Reuters, Washington, October 7th: A U.S. official and two sources familiar with the matter said that after months of delay, the Pentagon is expected to select a defense company this week to design and build the U.S. Navy's next-generation stealth fighter, which is seen as a core force for the United States in countering China, with development costs reaching billions of dollars.
The report said that Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corp are competing to produce the fighter jet named F/A-XX. This new carrier-based fighter will replace the F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" aircraft that the U.S. Navy has been using since the 1990s.
The report said that according to a U.S. official and one of the sources, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth decided last Friday to continue the selection process. One of the sources said that the U.S. Navy may announce the winner of the fighter jet bidding as early as this week. However, sources said there could be difficulties at the last minute, which could cause the naval aircraft project to face further delays, as has happened before and may happen again in the future.
The report said that the Navy and the Pentagon did not respond to multiple requests for comment from journalists.
The report said that the delay of the F/A-XX fighter highlights broader issues regarding the future of naval aviation and the role of aircraft carriers in countering China. Delays in the plan, or the inability to develop the new fighter due to lack of funds, could leave the U.S. Navy without modern aircraft capable of taking off from carriers in the 2030s and beyond, potentially weakening the fleet's ability to project power.
The report said that the F/A-XX fighter is expected to have advanced stealth capabilities, improved range and endurance, and the ability to integrate with unmanned combat aircraft and naval carrier-based air defense systems.
The report said that according to Reuters' report in May this year, the progress of the plan was slow due to funding disputes between the Pentagon and Congress during the spring and summer. The Pentagon sought $74 million for the jet to keep it on "minimal development funding." Some Pentagon officials had tried to delay the plan by up to three years, citing concerns about engineering and supply chain capabilities.
Both Congress and the Navy hope to continue advancing the development of the new fighter, and Congress also allocated an additional $1.4 billion for the F/A-XX in the 2026 fiscal year. In addition to the funding disputes, there were debates during the months-long delay over whether defense contractors Northrop and Boeing would be able to manufacture the fighter as planned. Sources said that defense officials debated whether Boeing, after winning a contract in March to build the U.S. Air Force's F-47 jet, could hire enough engineers for the project. They also debated whether Northrop would face pressure under the expanding costs of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, which aims to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles.
The original title of the report is "Pentagon's Hegseth okays US Navy next-generation fighter, sources say"
(Sources say that Defense Secretary Hegseth approved the U.S. Navy's next-generation fighter development project).
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845335694279706/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.