Trump's defense cuts ground Lockheed Martin from navy jets
After President Trump decided to cut defense spending by 8 percent, the F/A-XX program, which aims to develop a new carrier-based aircraft as part of the NGAD initiative, is facing challenges. Lockheed Martin, previously the favored contender, has been excluded from participating in the work on the Navy aircraft.
The F/A-XX program aims to design a future carrier-based aircraft for the U.S. Navy. American aircraft carriers' air groups include the F-35C and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet planes. These combat-proven and well-regarded machines are gradually being depleted of their potential for modernization.
The F/A-18E/F is based on the F/A-18 aircraft, which was developed back in the 1970s. In its current version, the Super Hornet has been enlarged compared to the original, and its equipment has been modernized. However, it is not a forward-looking design, and production of this model is set to end in 2027.
The F/A-XX program is intended to produce the successor to the Super Hornet, a future Navy aircraft. This program is part of the broader NGAD initiative, through which the Pentagon aims to develop not only a sixth-generation aircraft but an entire ecosystem in which it will operate.
The Navy's requirements differ from those of the Air Force (USAF), so the F/A-XX program is conducted separately. The naval aircraft will have a different airframe and probably a different propulsion system than the future USAF aircraft, but other equipment will be harmonized as much as possible.
Lockheed Martin excluded from the F/A-XX program
Until recently, three competitors were involved in developing future aircraft for the U.S. Navy: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. The latter was considered the favorite, as Lockheed Martin is responsible for the current, most advanced aircraft of the American armed forces, such as the F-22 and F-35.
Breaking Defense first reported the favorite's exclusion. However, aside from Lockheed Martin's elimination from further competition, no details about the reasons for this decision or the Pentagon's stance on the matter are known; the military refused to comment.
Trump administration savings
Moreover, the future of the F/A-XX program is in question. Although the development of naval aircraft has not officially been abandoned, the U.S. Navy has postponed the allocation of one billion dollars that was supposed to enable progress in the development work in fiscal year 2025.
This fits into a broader trend tied to President Trump's decision to reduce the defense budget by eight percent annually. One consequence of these savings is canceling the NGAS program, which aimed to develop a future aerial tanker. The future of the NGAD program is also uncertain due to the predicted costs of sixth-generation aircraft.
