Washington [US], October 8: After months of delay, the Pentagon will as early as this week select a contractor to design and build the next generation of stealth fighters to be deployed on US Navy aircraft carriers.
The final round is underway between Boeing and Northrop Grumman, the two contractors competing to be selected to produce the fighter jet called F/A-XX . This fighter will be deployed on
US aircraft carriers, replacing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons that have been in use since the 1990s.
Reuters today, October 8, quoted a US official and a well-informed source as saying that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth decided on October 3 to expedite the selection of a contractor, and the results will be announced as early as this week.
The delays that have slowed the F/A-XX program have highlighted larger questions about the future of naval aviation and the role of aircraft carriers.
A program delay or budget shortfall could leave the Navy without a modern carrier-based fighter in the 2030s and beyond, a prospect that could undermine the U.S. fleet's ability to project power globally.
The F/A-XX is expected to feature advanced stealth capabilities, improved range and integration with unmanned combat aircraft and carrier-based air defense systems.
Reuters quoted analyst Roman Schweizer of TD Cowen (USA) as saying that China is extremely ambitious in the race to develop prototypes of the sixth generation fighter and put into service fifth generation fighters and bombers. Therefore, choosing a contractor for the F/A-XX is an important decision showing that the US is not falling behind.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
