F/A-XX Deadline Slips: Navy's August Commitment Falls Apart

The F/A-XX competition, which will decide what aircraft flies off American carrier decks in the 2040s, has missed its August deadline. The U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle, said in April that the winner would be named by August 2026, a commitment repeated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

Despite this promise, no announcement has been made as of August 24th, leaving many wondering what is causing the delay. The programme's status was described as 'out of our hands' by an Aviation Week report on August 22nd, suggesting that the hold-up lies above the Navy, possibly at the Office of the Secretary of Defense or in budget mechanics.

The F/A-XX contract will replace the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft currently used by the Navy for striking and electronic attack. The winner of the competition will operate alongside the F-35C, not replace it. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are the two remaining competitors, with Lockheed Martin having been eliminated in 2025.