Pentagon Questions U.S. Ability to Develop Two 6th-Generation Fighters Simultaneously

The Pentagon has expressed concerns about the U.S. defense industry’s ability to simultaneously develop and mass-produce two promising sixth-generation fighter aircraft.

The programs in question are the Navy’s F/A-XX and the Air Force’s F-47, The War Zone reports.

The Pentagon identifies the high complexity of both programs, a shortage of skilled personnel, and limited production line capacity as the main risks.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Dale R. White, Director for Critical Major Weapon Systems Programs, confirmed the challenges. According to him, defense industrial base capacity constraints are affecting several programs at once, forcing the military to seek compromise solutions.

General White added that Boeing, the prime contractor for the F-47 program, is making significant investments in production. Despite this, before the aircraft enters serial production, the manufacturer still has to complete the complex stages of finalizing the design, conducting flight tests, and software configuration.

The official also highlighted the risk of a skilled-personnel shortage for both programs. In his view, a key challenge remains whether the companies have sufficient overall capacity to sustain high-rate serial production of the fighter jets.

Despite these concerns, the F-47 program for the U.S. Air Force is progressing successfully. According to Air Force officials, years of prior research and risk-reduction efforts mean the fighter’s first flight is expected within the next two years.

Meanwhile, the Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program has faced significant delays. The U.S. Navy Command has yet to select a prime contractor to develop the new carrier-based aircraft, although the decision was expected earlier.

The finalists in the competition to develop the F/A-XX for the U.S. Navy are Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

Doubts about the future of the carrier-based fighter emerged after the Pentagon attempted to effectively freeze the program last year.

However, Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, assured that the need for the F/A-XX remains important due to the growing capabilities of potential adversaries’ air defense systems and aviation.

Boeing Defense and Space officials previously said the company can produce both aircraft. Design commonality of units and systems between the F/A-XX and F-47 could help accelerate development.